AMERIQUEST TO SPONSOR JOLIET FALL RACE

The Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. It is the first NHRA national event title sponsorship for Ameriquest Mortgage, which earlier was named an official marketing partner of the NHRA as well as a

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sponsor of Snake Racing's Miller Lite Top Fueler.

The Agent noticed that CARQUEST was the title sponsor of this event when the 2005 schedule was announced at the beginning of the year, but quietly slipped off, although they kept the title rights to three other national events. The Sept. 15-18 national event in Reading, PA, which was originally announced as the Lucas Oil Nationals, currently has no title rights sponsor. Good thing the Agent writes his schedule with a pencil instead of a pen. [3-10-2005]

A FOURTH CAR FOR THE KALITTA TEAM AT VEGAS!

The Agent has learned that a racer (Terry Sainty, we think) from Australia has agreed to purchase Doug Kalitta's old Top Fuel car. Before he takes the car back down under he will race the dragster at the upcoming NHRA event at Las Vegas. Sainty won't be driving the car, however. Instead, Kalitta crewman Ben Marshall will drive the car at Las Vegas and then Sainty will take it from there. [3-10-2005]

KILLER 'CUDA READY FOR MARCH MEET

The Agent got an exclusive photo of the newly painted Jeff Gaynor '70 Cuda nitro funny car shot by crewmember and DRO photog Zak Hawthorne. The paint by Bob Godfrey also reveals a subtle retro-lace pattern and the finishing touches will be added on Friday morning when legendary painter Kenny Youngblood airbrushes a realistic Barracuda front grill in the Gaynor nitro pits of this weekend's Goodguys 46th March Meet at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA.

DRO columnist Jeff "Killer" Utterback will be starting his second season in the seat, having finished 2004 with two runner-up finishes at three Goodguys events. [3-10-2005]