MORE SPEC-ULATING
Agent 1320 hears that NHRA is considering a sealed, spec
crate motor class for a heads-up eliminator to debut in
the 2006 racing season. One scenario calls for an
all door car class and another would be "run what
ya brung" eliminator with dragsters, altereds or door
cars with any trans combo. The power would come from sealed
engines leased from a couple of different engine builders
done the way some local NASCAR tracks run their Spec Truck
series. [3-17-2005]
PORTLAND TO RACERS: SHHHHHHH!
Due to unforeseen delays getting a noise variance from
the City of Portland, Oregon, the fifth LODRS event in
the Northwest Division that was scheduled for August 5-7
at Portland Int'l Raceway will now be held at Mission Raceway
Park in Mission, BC, Canada. All classes and dates will
remain the same.
According to NHRA Northwest Division Director Mike Rice,
the NHRA and PIR officials will continue to pursue the
noise variance with the city in hopes of PIR hosting the
event in 2006. [3-17-2005]
CANNON RETURNS TO INDEPENDENT
OUTLAW ROOTS
Scotty Cannon will be racing without major sponsorship
at least for the beginning of this season, as he announced
the end of his association with Oakley.
"Jim and I had a great run," Cannon said. "I
enjoyed every minute of it both as Jim's friend and as
driver for the Oakley Fuel Funny Car and the Pro Modified,
but nothing lasts forever, especially in racing, and we
are both moving on."
Without a major sponsor, plans have been scaled back somewhat
for the Mohawked One. Scotty will tune and son Scott will
drive the old Studebaker Pro Mod until they get a new '59
Corvette built at Jeffers Pro Cars in House Springs, MO.
Until the team gets major sponsorship, they will concentrate
on the American Drag Racing League six-event series, along
with outlaw races and match racing.
"I see a lot of future in the ADRL with its unique
Men's Channel tv package which includes not only race coverage
but also a reality show based on the racing series," the
six-time IHRA Pro Mod champ said. "Shoot, since it's
legal on that circuit, I will probably start running a
load of nitro in our Pro Mod and go after all of the eighth-mile
records."
Let's see -- Scotty Cannon, nitro and a reality television
show. Yep, the Agent will be watching. (Jeff Burk photo) [3-17-2005]
INTERNET GAINING AS NEWS SOURCE
According to Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal
(NHRA's favorite print publication -- yep, they've got
another full page ad on the back cover of the March 7-13,
2005 issue) the
ADVERTISEMENT
 |
Internet is moving up as sports fans' chosen
source of information. In a Special Report, writer Bill
King concludes that "five years from now, three out
of four sports fans will turn first to the Internet or
a wireless device for sports info."
In a survey of senior-level sports industry executives
conducted by Turnkey Sports Poll, 29.3 percent of the executives
say that currently sports fans go most often to the Internet.
Almost half (49.8 percent) of the executives expect the
Internet to be the number one choice in five years.
But you could have told them that -- you're already ahead
of the curve. [3-17-2005]
