SPIESS' IHRA PRO STOCK 6.36/220.40! (IN TESTING)

When current IHRA Pro Stock point leader Steve Spiess decided to shake down his brand-new Rick Jones-built Chevy Cobalt, his choice of venues was obvious. As part owner (and founder) of Route 66 Raceway, the Manhattan, IL racer knew corrected elevation of 300 feet above sea level, a 10 mph tail wind, and an 80 degree track surface were gifts from the racing gods.

After an intial 6.39/218, Spiess returned with the Cobalt (painted in his trademark "Spiess Blue") and unleashed an amazing string of progressive times (0.989 60ft., 2.714 330ft., and a 4.129/174.35 eighth-mile), which culminated in a 6.362-second blast at an incredible 220.40 miles per hour. With that one pass, the contractor responsible for the World's Quickest Dragstrip had, in fact, become the driver of the quickest naturally-aspirated, full-bodied passenger car as well as the first to pilot the same configuration over 220 mph.

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Spiess, who won the recent IHRA Advance Auto Parts Spring Nationals at Rockingham, NC with five consecutive runs under 6.50 seconds, used the same Jon Kaase-built 814-cubic inch GM powerplant with Bob Book-massaged carburetors which hit 6.42 at Rockingham and 217.11 mph at the IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio.

"Right now, it's only worth bragging rights, but it's still awesome," said Spiess after making the historic run. "I never dreamed I'd go this fast with this car. Usually, new cars have those 'gremlins' that take a while to get out."

Only three days later, chassis builder Jerry Haas drove Dean Goforth's Sonny Leonard-powered, Haas-built Cavalier to a 6.47 at 218.41 mph at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL, which, due to Spiess' historic run, became the second-fastest Pro Stock effort. -- B.K. [5-11-2005]

LAS VEGAS STARTS 'AMERICAN HEROES' PROGRAM

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and GlobePC.com have announced the creation of a new class which honors active-duty military personnel, police officers, firemen and EMTs. The American Heroes Street-Legal Challenge will be contested as part of GlobePC.com Show 'n' Go Fridays Presented By Short Line Express Markets. Racers who meet the qualifications of the category will receive a free race entry.

The new program is open to street legal-vehicles. The races will be contested in a standard bracket-racing format and will feature six racing classes, open testing and a street rod cruise night. The events are scheduled for May 13, June 10, July 15, August 12 and September 9. [5-11-2005]

'HUTCHINS 3' PASSES SFI

The name of the new head and neck restraint device that recently passed the SFI Spec 38.1 test procedure is the Hutchins 3 model manufactured by Safety Solutions. This is not to be confused with the original Hutchins device, which has not passed 38.1. [5-11-2005]

ESPN SHOWS ITS 'MUSCLE'

The 3rd Annual Detroit Locker NMCA Hot Rod and Muscle Car Nationals event, the first stop of the PRO-Edelbrock drag racing series, will be televised on ESPN as a part of "Inside Drag Racing." The show will air Sunday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) and repeat May 22 at 4:30 a.m.

The final rounds of the Jegs.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals will be shown on the same program. [5-11-2005]