FOUR FOR KALITTA?

The Agent heard from a couple of his very reliable operatives at Topeka that Kalitta Motorsports is quietly accepting résumés for the 2006 season. It seems that there is enough future sponsorship money available and liquidity in Connie's racing budget to support yet another Top Fuel dragster for the coming season. Ben Marshall, who competed in a fourth Kalitta digger at Las Vegas, is probably an odds-on pick to take on the driving chores, but unless there's another Oberhofer brother at home the crew chief job may still be open. [5-31-2005]

INTERVIEWING DO'S AND DON'T'S

After watching Ron Capps' first round Funny Car defeat of Schumacher teammate Whit Bazemore at Topeka on the NHRA/ESPN2 telecast, the Agent clearly heard NHRA top-end reporter Alan Reinhart say to Capps, "You hate that guy," referring to Baze. Capps' puzzled response was, "What?" To which Reinhart responded two more times, "You hate that guy." Ron's clear response was, "No I don't," while removing his helmet.

The Agent wonders about the kind of questioning going on for the top end interview these days. Even if there were an issue between the two flopper pilots, is it appropriate for an on-mike NHRA employee to solicit answers from a charged-up winner by utilizing a technique resembling schoolyard baiting? We hope that Reinhart was just kidding.

ADVERTISEMENT

Or is the new marketing strategy to hype (or manufacture) personal rivalries because the on-track action often is so lame? The new NHRA director of advertising and promotions, John Pesetski, said in an interview with the SportsBusiness Journal that the reason he was brought in by the NHRA is "to attract a new audience outside the core motorsports fan." Is this a first step?

Conversely, a tip of the Agent's sombrero to ESPN and Gary Gerould for handing a portable DVD monitor to Tommy Johnson Jr. showing footage of his pedaling-job win over Robert Hight in the semi's. TJ was able to comment on his just finished run providing the kind of fresh insight drag racing TV desperately needs and still get in all of his sponsor plugs. Well done.  (cartoon by Dianne Patrizzi)  [5-31-2005]