DUPUY LEAVES AMATO, HEADED FOR SCHUMACHER?

Team owner Joe Amato and crew chief Wayne Dupuy (shown) have parted ways. After more than three years together, Amato is searching for a new tuner. Amato owns the Lucas Oil/Keystone dragster driven by 21-year-old Morgan Lucas. Lucas took over driving duties after Darrell Russell was killed at last year's NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at St. Louis.

The Agent hears that Dupuy is considering offers, but most likely will end up tuning the Whit Bazemore Funny Car for Schumacher Racing.

Hey, Joe, do you think it may be worth having a conversation with Lee Beard? (Jeff Burk photo) [6-20-2005]

BILLES EDGES CLOSER TO 5-SECOND PASS

It looks like the 6-second barrier for Pro Mods may be cracked this season, after Canadian driver Al Billes came thisclose with his 6.030 at the AMS/TLR Pro Mod Challenge in Englishtown.

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Driving his Summit Racing Equipment-backed supercharged '53 Corvette, Billes ran a 6.030/236.92 during the final qualifying session to get the No. 1 qualifying position.

Billes also set the IHRA Pro Mod Speed record at 236.22 mph in Jim Oddy's new Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored '05 Dodge Stratus at the Mopar Canadian Nationals.

"I think we're getting a handle on the set-ups for sure," said engine builder Oddy, who also tunes both cars. "To say that we are happy with both cars' performances the last few weeks is an understatement. And what can I say about Al Billes -- he's a great driver and a tough competitor." (Steve Embling photo) [6-20-2005]

TORCO FUEL FOR JANIS FROM NOW ON

After failing fuel check at the IHRA race in Grand Bend, Canada, Mike Janis hopes those problems are behind him as the Pro Mod team has picked up a fuel sponsorship from Torco Racing Fuel.

After the Eaton team's disqualification, the team members came to the assumption that the only possible contaminant in their fuel could be water. According to the team, after a thorough investigation one of the fuel jugs was found to be missing an O-ring seal on its cap. The missing O-ring combined with the high temperature and high humidity caused the methanol to absorb enough water to make the fuel's specific gravity too heavy.
The Janis team asked IHRA official Mike Baker to have further tests performed on the samples. The sanctioning body posted the results (www.ihra.com/news/2005/june/14janisfuelclarification.htm) the Wednesday following the event, clearing Janis and his team of any wrongdoing. In the statement from the IHRA it was noted that while no performance enhancers were found in the fuel, the fuel was still considered illegal due to its heavy specific gravity caused by the presence of the water. [6-20-2005]