MINEO ACCIDENT CORRECTION
We need to correct the item about “Flash” Gordon Mineo’s fatal boat accident yesterday. Early reports out of Oklahoma were that Mineo’s daughter and son-in-law were killed in the accident. However, it has now been confirmed that along with Mineo and his wife, Ann, the other two passengers killed in Mineo’s boat were friends Amy Dawn Lane and Justin R. Lane. The driver of the other boat, Bruce Gibson of Old Hickory, TN, was listed in serious condition Tuesday at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, TX. His wife, Myra L. Gibson, died at the scene. (photos from the Bob Plumer collection) [9-6-2006]
BERNSTEIN, ALLEY RE-UNION GIVING SOME TEAMS HEARTBURN!
The announcement that Ray Alley will be the crew chief for the new Kenny Bernstein “Monster” energy drink-sponsored Funny Car has evidently given some current team
owners and tuners a serious Maalox moment. According to the Agent’s sources, many of the crew chiefs who have had to show Mr. Alley their most secret stuff because of his current position with the NHRA are none too happy with the fact that he will now take that info with him to his new team.
It’s a good bet he won’t be welcome to read the graphs in fuel Funny Car camps the rest of this season. The Agent thinks it would be better for everyone concerned if Mr. Alley, who has already officially resigned but will stay his position with the NHRA, leaves immediately. That way his replacement would at least get a head start establishing himself in the job for the 2007 season.
Note: at 4:48 p.m. CT, we received a press release from NHRA stating that Ray Alley had been relieved of his duties effective immediately. [9-6-2006]