WE SALUTE THE HAPPY COUPLE

The Agent and the entire staff of DRO want to give our best wishes to "Now 'n' Then" columnist Dave Wallace and Donna Guadagni (third and fourth from right in the back row), who were married on June 25. Okay, Wallace, just this one time, your next column can be late. Happy honeymoon. (Gary Rhine photo) [6-29-2005]

PATTERSON RACING ROBBED

Sometime during the night of Monday, June 27 someone broke into Patterson Racing's shop in Augusta, Kansas and stole two national event winning Competition Eliminator engines used by David Rampy and Tony Stephenson.

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It appears the intruders knew what they were looking for as other engines and many components in the same area were untouched. All the phone lines at the back of the shop were cut, the alarm system disabled, and the back door was pried open. Both engines were placed in the back of a 2003 Chevrolet truck that is kept inside the facility. The Sheriff's Department found the truck four miles east of Augusta abandoned on a country road, but both engines were gone.

The team is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the recovery. Contact Patterson Racing 316-775-7771 or info@pattersonracing.com. [6-29-2005]

HOGAN & SECOND TOP FUELER FOR SCHUMACHER TEAM

Don Schumacher today announced the addition of a second Top Fuel Dragster team to the Don Schumacher Racing operation. A multi-year agreement has been reached with Torco Gear and Torco Racing Fuels to sponsor this new team.

Richard Hogan will be crew chief of the second car, having resigned from the David Powers team. Many names are being mentioned as the new Schumacher TF driver. Who will it be, who will it be? [6-29-2005]

RACIN' FOR PINKS

The Agent has been waiting for this one to premier. There's a new show on Speed-TV that promises to bring back memories of a classic 1950's drag race. "Pinks" will pit contestants in a best two-out-of-three race with the loser giving up the title to his car. The rules are simple: lose the race and lose your car.

The new show will help fill the void left by NASCAR coverage moving from FOX/SPEED-TV to NBC at mid-season under the current TV contract. "Pinks," hosted by Rich Christensen claims to be the ultimate test of both driving and negotiating skills without a Christmas tree or timing lights. The new show will air every Wednesday at 8:30 PM Eastern time. Check out the preview at http://www.pinks.tv/banner/vPlayer_content.html. (Photo courtesy of SPEED-TV) [6-29-2005]