CHECKING SMITH'S BLUEPRINTS
The Agent heard that a Las Vegas journalist has uncovered
the original 1991 plans for the Strip at Las Vegas. Those
plans may have revealed one of O. Bruton Smith's visions for
the future of NHRA drag racing if his purchase goes through:
a four-lane dragstrip. If you notice the actual layout of
the Las Vegas venue you'll notice it's offset to the left
with the right side Musco lighting system and scoreboard offset
the distance of two more lanes.
More Bruton rumors out of Vegas indicate the
"Official" announcement of NHRA's purchase will
be at the up-coming Bristol event held at Bruton's Tennessee
facility. Probably the wackiest one overheard was that NASCAR
Speedway Children's Charities will be the ultimate buyer
of NHRA since they are both 501-C-6 corporations and will
be a "slam dunk" transition into Bruton's control.
[4-18-2005]
PRUDHOMME HITS CENTURY MARK
Drag
racing legend Don 'the Snake' Prudhomme chalked another
milestone to his list of career accomplishments April 17
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway becoming just the
third driver/owner in NHRA history to collect 100 career
victories.
Prudhomme, who won 49 races during his 32-year driving career,
earned his 51st win as a team owner when two-time Top Fuel
champion Larry Dixon blasted his Miller Lite dragster to
his 36th career NHRA Top Fuel victory. All of Dixon's 36
career wins have come under Prudhomme's watchful eye.
"We don't really keep track of all of those statistics,"
Prudhomme said. "We're just out here trying to win
the race each week."
Prudhomme becomes just the third driver/owner in NHRA history
to record 100 career victories, joining fellow drag racing
stars John Force and Warren Johnson. Force and his stable
of drivers have amassed 151 career wins, while Johnson,
a six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, and son Kurt have combined
for 121 victories. (Jeff Burk photo)
[4-18-2005]
