GOT CMKX? NO, SAYS AREND

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Funny Car driver Jeff Arend and car owner Paul Smith no longer have a major sponsorship following a mutual agreement to end their association with CMKX Diamonds following the race in Denver. They will be looking for a new sponsor.

"I met with Urban Casavant in Las Vegas on Monday," said Arend, "and we decided that due to the ever escalating cost of running a race team at the level required to be competitive against today’s multi-car teams, it would be in everyone’s best interest to go our separate ways at this time."

The 42-year-old Canadian native has enjoyed a successful 2005 season. Going into Denver, Arend is currently 13th in the NHRA POWERade point standings, just 100 points out of the Top 10. [7-19-2005]

SNAKE GETS 'GOOSED'

Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen (left) beat Bobby Rowe at the 1972 Garlits PRA race. (John Shanks, Jim Kelly photo reprinted from Drag Racing USA, Dec. 1972)

Hold it, tear up the front page, the Agent's attention is further focused on the Snake-Mongoose 35th Anniversary confab at Wally Parks' mausoleum. . .er, make that museum. Don "The Snake" Prudhomme was quoted earlier as saying about pal/competitor and business partner Tom McEwen's Duster that, "I don't remember quite as much polish and chrome. . .I just remember that it ran like crap."

Hmmmm. . .well, as former four-time WWE Champ, The Rock would put it, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!" The Agent's eyes have been somewhat dimmed from watching too many "Law & Order" re-runs, but the picture in said item is of the 1972 Hot Wheels Funny Cars of the prodigious pair.

Uh, how can we say this? That year, McEwen won (among others) the 1972 AHRA Grand American at Olathe, Kansas, the $35,000-to-win Don Garlits PRA Challenge title and the Last Drag Race at Lions where Goose knocked over the Snake. You gotta admit that ain't bad for a piece of "crap" and NOOOOO I'm not busting the Snake's chops. Next year he won the Garlits race and Indy. Funny how them things go. [7-19-2005]

TEEN DRIVERS INVITED TO BRAINERD FOR NHRA NATIONALS

Fifty young drivers from Minnesota will be special guests of Fast Cop Inc., during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 12 at Brainerd International Raceway.

In addition to getting free tickets courtesy of BIR for the Friday's qualifying session, the drivers will get to meet Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock driver Jason Line and hear from Fast Cop's Shaun White and Darin White, who will discuss the dangers of street racing and impaired driving. Fast Cop promotes its message by sponsoring the Wednesday Night Street Drags program at BIR, where "Fast Cops" use the program to influence young drivers to race at the strip - not on the streets.

A tip of the Agent's "Smoky-the-bear" hat to the "Fast Cops" for their efforts. For more information, contact Larry White at 218-546-7160 or visit www.fastcop.com. [7-19-2005]