AMERIQUEST TAKING A HIKE?

The Agent heard a rumor that the Ameriquest people will leave the NHRA scene after just one year as an associate on Don Prudhomme's car and as a presenting sponsor for an NHRA national event. One of the Agent's operatives said that a hospitality tent set up for Ameriquest associates at Chicago apparently never had any Ameriquest folks in it the entire weekend.

Add to that info the fact that the attendance at the event was absolutely miserable and the rumor appears to have some legs. The Agent called one of his sources in the lending industry who said that she has heard that although Ameriquest wasn't unhappy with the number of applications they were getting through NHRA, their management felt they could spend their advertising dollars better elsewhere. This is one rumor the Agent definitely hopes is wrong. [10-05-2005]

MARRIOTT GETS FIRST OUTLAW FUEL ALTERED WIN

The eighth-mile Abilene (TX) Dragstrip was the scene of the ninth event of the Outlaw Fuel Altered season, but it was the first win for Bobby Marriott. In the final, Marriott's "Shockwave" took a holeshot win over Tim Hay's "High Voltage Hayride" entry by just a few inches. It was the first final round this season for both drivers.

Travis Bouchey's "Excitation" Fiat burst into flames just past the 60-foot mark during the first round when the motor went lean, torching a head and the block. "I hit the fire bottles once I felt the flames on my feet," Bouchey said. The fire was put out and Bouchey was not injured. They hope to have the car repaired in time for next event.

Brad Rigler, who came to Abilene just one point behind Travis Bouchey, regained the lead by the same margin, and Marriott moved into third place with just one event left on the 2005 schedule, Oct. 15 at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, TX. (photos by Chris Graves) [10-05-2005]

TOP FUEL SPONSOR RUNNER-UP

Kalitta Top Fuel sponsor Jesse James was busy last weekend as he entered the Cisco Burger Figure 8 World Championship one-hour enduro at SoCal’s Irwindale Speedway. The 20-car field included drivers from Washington, Arizona, Indiana and California, with Jesse driving his own Petty Enterprises-prepped racecar #666 with lots of the latest NASCAR speed parts. James was one of two drivers to complete 100 laps, taking home a second place finish and a $3,500 check. He’s now in the top ten in Figure 8 points standings this season. The winner of the timed event was “Barefoot” Billy Ziemann who took home the $10,000 winner’s purse. (Darr Hawthorne photos) [10-05-2005]