HE'S HOW OLD????

The Agent and the entire staff at DRO want to make note of editor Jeff Burk's birthday today (March 7). While we are loathe to reveal his age, if he were making a run down the quarter-mile, his age would be the first "footer" time. Man, he has been in this business a long time! (Ron Lewis photo) [3-7-2005]

NEILSON MAKES LATERAL MOVE

Over the weekend the Agent spoke with NHRA Division 7 director Charlie Neilson who announced that the Phoenix Pacific Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race would be his last one as director. He's not leaving the fold, but switching within the company to head the contingency program for all the racers, "a role that definitely needed to be filled," added Neilson. He'll become the liaison between racers and the manufacturers for all contingency matters and be traveling to all NHRA National and many of the Sport Compact series events.

It's rumored that John Miller, who's been with NHRA since 1993 working with both National Dragster and lately in the NHRA Technical Department, is the leading candidate to replace Neilson. [3-7-2005]

INTERNATIONAL DRAG RACING HALL OF FAME NAMES INDUCTEES

The 2005 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on March 17 at the Gainesville Paramount Resort in Gainesville, FL. The event coincides with the 36th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 17-20, at Gainesville Raceway. The 2005 inductees includes Roland Leong, Nick Arias, Tim Beebe, Kent Enderle, Stu Hilborn, Al Marcellus and Jim Walther.

"To put it into racing terms, it's like winning the U.S. Nationals, drag racing's most prestigious race," Leong said. "It's a real honor." (Jeff Burk photo) [3-7-2005]

ADRL TV SHOW TO MIX REALITY WITH ACTION

Beginning April 5 and continuing for 39 consecutive weeks, The Men's Channel will present drag racing fans a television program unlike any they've ever seen. "Adrenaline: The Series" will be a half-hour mixture of on-track action from the American Drag Racing League's six-event Outlaw Pro Mod season with a reality-style look at the off-track lives of ADRL drivers and others, such as Scotty Cannon, Mike Ashley and John Lynam.

"Adrenaline will forever change how the public views drag racing television," ADRL President Kenny Nowling said. "I had the opportunity to view some of the on-track action from our first event [in Hattiesburg, MS] and as a hard-core fan of drag racing, I really enjoyed it. However, the behind-the-scenes, reality-tv-style footage kept my eyes glued to the screen."

Adrenaline will be televised on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. Pacific) The Men's Channel is currently found on channel 218 on the Dish Network and on many local cable systems (check your local cable listings to see if it is available in your area). [3-7-2005]

BILLES TAKES UP PEN

Al Billes will be writing an occasional column for IHRA's Drag Review Magazine. "Al's Chronicles" will follow the Canadian driver as he joins Jim Oddy's Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored Pro Mod team in their quest for the IHRA Pro Mod championship this year. The first installment is in the March 4 issue. [3-7-2005]