WIN MAJOR AWARDS — TAKE THE DRO SURVEY

Just a reminder that the DRO survey is up until Oct. 7, so if you haven't filled it out, please take a few minutes and do so. We need your feedback to make DRO even better (although, judging from the returns so far, you seem pretty happy with us). So here's your chance to let us know what you'd like to see more of (or less of). And did we mention that you get a chance to win some great prizes too? Just click on the survey on the Table of Contents. A Major Award could soon be on its way to you. And thanks for taking the time. We appreciate it. [9-30-2005]

A CHALLENGE FROM VP FUELS

The 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock world champion will be the 30th consecutive such champion to be powered by VP Racing Fuels, and the company is issuing a challenge to other racing product companies.

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"We believe this may be the longest such streak in the history of the NHRA, or at least the longest current streak," said Fred Morrison, VP's president and CEO. "Not knowing what other product sponsor streaks might be in play, we thought it would be fun to issue a challenge to see if any other NHRA sponsors could disprove our claim to the longest current sponsor streak."

So how does the challenge work? There are just two rules: 1) The product must have been one that actually affects the performance of the vehicle, i.e., it can't be a hat, or cigarette, or any other "non-performance" product; 2) During at least 24 years of the streak, the competitors in the designated class must have had a choice regarding use of the sponsor's product.

Any NHRA sponsor who wants to accept the challenge should contact Steve
Scheidker, VP's Global Marketing & Communications Manager, at
vpmarketing@sbcglobal.net. The challenger should provide by Friday, October 28, documentation sufficient to prove a streak of 30 or more years during which the champions of one NHRA class used the sponsor's product. If any other NHRA sponsor proves it owns a streak longer than VP's, VP will acknowledge and salute all such sponsors with a full-page ad in National Dragster and a commemorative plaque.

The Agent applauds VP's actions, but just has one question: uh, doesn't NHRA force all Pro Stock competitors to use VP racing fuel? [9-29-2005]

WHEELIE BARS MANDATORY FOR TOP FUEL CARS IN 2006?

One of the Agent's Top Fuel operatives called to say a letter from NHRA Top Fuel guru Ray Alley purportedly states that NHRA is looking into a spec for mandatory wheelie bars for Top Fuel cars. This bit of news brought a smile to DRO editor Jeff Burk's face as he has long lobbied for wheelie bars for T/F and Funny Cars, and he opined to the Agent that "They're probably going to do this because Doug Herbert went on NHRA2day and lobbied for an increase of the current minimum weight for the Top Fuelers."

The Agent would bet that Dick LaHaie and Alan Johnson aren't too thrilled about this possible rule change, but "Dougzilla" Herbert, who tips the scales at around 230, probably will favor the change. (Julie Sword photo) [9-29-2005]