'LIL NATE RETURNS

'Lil Nate Bugg has been modifying a Murf McKinney chassis to get his Nitro Funny Car ready for the March Meet also. The '76 Monza, which will still be in black primer for the first race, will be powered by a Hemi. Bugsy has signed Mickey Tphompson Tires as an associate sponsor, but is still looking for a major sponsor. [3-10-2005]

VEGAS STRIP EXPANDS PROGRAM TO FIGHT STREET RACING

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will introduce another program to combat illegal street racing - also referred to as "the illegals" - on March 17. Dubbed "Thursday Night Street Wars," the new program will go head-to-head with "the illegals" on what has

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become its busiest night. An illegal street-racing accident took the life of a young motorist two weeks ago and a similar crash last week sent two more to the hospital.

"We learned through the grapevine that Thursday is now the big night to congregate for illegal street racing," said Chris Blair, LVMS senior director of drag racing operations. "Initially, we planned to conduct this new program in the early evening on selected Thursdays, but were afraid we simply might be used as a warm-up session for the late-night 'illegals.'  We adjusted the hours to run directly against the illegal street races, thus offering a safe alternative to this dangerous activity."

The Strip's scheduled Friday night Midnight Mayhems will not be affected. Like Midnight Mayhem, Thursday Night Street Wars will be open to any licensed driver with proof of insurance. All cars and motorcycles must be street legal, driven to the track and pass a safety inspection. As an added incentive, Thursday Night Street Wars will award $100 and a trophy to the drivers turning in the fastest speed and lowest elapsed time (E.T.).

The Agent salutes the track for its efforts to bring younger drivers into the sport while keeping them safely off the public streets. [3-10-2005]

BEARD FEATURED ON HORSEPOWER TV THIS WEEKEND

Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car crew chief Lee Beard will be featured on Horsepower TV this weekend, which airs on Spike Network on March 12 and 13 at 12:30 p.m. ET as well as 12:30 p.m. PT. The show will re-air on May 28 and 29.

Beard and co-hosts Joe Elmore, Chuck Hanson and Mike Galley take on the subject of supercharging and how it has evolved from drag racing into popular use on hot rods and production cars. The Horsepower TV team, with Beard's technical expertise, compares the supercharger on a street rod with the one used on the Matco Tools Dodge Funny Car.

"We had a lot of fun," said Beard, whose illustrious drag-racing career includes 50 national event wins as a crew chief and who has tuned the Matco Tools Dodge Funny Car driven by Whit Bazemore since 2001. "They led into the show with some background on me and racing footage of the Matco Tools car. We also talked a little about their fuel system versus our fuel system. The entire group was fantastic to work with."  [3-10-2005]