JOHNSON READIES FOR RACE AT NEW 'HOME' TRACK

This weekend's NHRA national event in Atlanta will be the first time at the track since Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Steve Johnson moved his base of operation from Los Angeles. Steve Johnson Racing recently relocated to Birmingham, AL, beginning a plan to build a facility that could support a high profile race team.

"We have got most of the plan coming together," Johnson said. "Racing is such a business these days. What's funny is for so many years we ran good, hand sponsorship, but never lead the points. Now this year we are leading the points and winning, all without a major deal. But we are having a ton of fun." (Jeff Burk photo) [5-11-2005]

FRESNO SAYS NO TO RACING COMPLEX

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Perusing the Fresno Bee, the Agent sees that a group called the Fresno Motor Sports Development Partnership is trying to put together a multipurpose racing complex in the Fresno, CA area. The 600-acre complex would include a motorsports-themed amusement park, a half-mile dirt track, a one-mile paved tri-oval, a two-mile paved road course, a drag strip, and a go-kart/BMX track. An 80,000-seat facility would include 60 luxury skyboxes.

However, on Tuesday, May 10, the group made a presentation to the Fresno City Council, which then voted 5 to 1 against the proposal. No word at this time whether the group will try again. [5-11-2005]

NHRA HIRES JOURNALIST

Lachelle Seymour has been hired as a media relations manager for the NHRA. A graduate of Dennison College in 2003, Seymour served five years as a multiple beat reporter for The Advocate, a Gannett-owned daily newspaper in Central Ohio. While at The Advocate, she covered topics that ranged from the 2004 presidential election to high school football as a news, sports and features writer. She is currently nominated for an Ohio Associated Press Award for her work on "Issue 54," a special school levy section published last fall. [5-11-2005]