WJ TO BE INDUCTED INTO INFINEON WALL OF FAME

Legendary racer Warren Johnson will be honored at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway by becoming the first-ever drag racer to be inducted into the Sonoma, California raceway's Wall of Fame. Johnson, who will retire from the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series following the 2005 season, will be formally inducted into the Wall of Fame during pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, July 31, of the race weekend.

Johnson has been dominant at Infineon Raceway with three Pro Stock championships (1992, 1996 1998), tying him for the track record in Pro Stock with Darrell Alderman and Jim Yates. Overall, he has had five final-round appearances at Infineon Raceway since 1989. Johnson will join NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin in the Wall of Fame. (Jeff Burk photo) [7-20-2005]

NAME DRIVERS IN THE NEWS

The Agent hears that current ESPN commentator Mike Dunn wouldn't mind getting a ride in a Nostalgia Fuel Flopper and giving Ron Capps a little run for his money. Anyone out there interested in putting Mike in the seat?

Also the Agent hears that you can expect Annette Summer to make her return to the AMS/TLR circuit at the Columbus SPORTSNationals and it will be in the turbocharged 'Vette she and her husband have been flogging for a couple of years. As the Agent reported previously, Annette will get backing from Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing for the rest of the 2005 AMS/TLR tour. It will be nice to see another turbocharged entry back in the NHRA Pro Mod series. (Ian Tocher photo) [7-20-2005]

MILLICAN UPDATE

DRO spoke with Clay Millican's crew chief Mike Kloeber who shared a little more info about the team's blowover at the IHRA event at Martin, MI.

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The good news is that apparently the dragster chassis suffered little if any damage. When we talked to Kloeber yesterday he was in an airport headed for the teams shop to look at the car again.

"The way it landed on the wing and the way the body panel acted as a spoiler not only slowed the car down but that piece of body panel hit the ground before the chassis did," Kloeber explained. "Right now I don't think it (the chassis) is hurt but if I see anything I don't like, I'm going to grab a saw and cut the chassis into three pieces so I won't be tempted to run it. We have other cars that we can run."

He also told DRO what caused the accident. The team runs less angle of attack in the front wing than most other teams. They had a lot of front wing in the car at Huntsville because there were a few bumps in that track, but at Milan the track was smoother and they went back to their standard setting but with an extra gallon of fuel.

"It was my mistake," Kloeber said, "but it won't happen again. I'll put more angle in the front wing from here on." [7-20-2005]