BYE-BYE BORING BLACK



Basic black may be classic, but a little color tends to draw a lot more attention. That was the thinking of Outlaw 10.5 star Tim Lynch and crew chief Steve Petty when they commissioned Mike Lewis at Gary's Body Shop in Decatur, GA, to re-spray their record-setting 2002 Mustang. After smoothing out any wrinkles left over from a hard season of racing, Lynch said Lewis mixed about 25 different shades of color to achieve the striking "ragged edge" fade job.

The new look was completed just in time for the car to make its '06 debut this weekend at Bradenton, FL, and the Agent predicts it will lead to a lot more magazine appearances for "The Lynch Mob" this year. (Ian Tocher photo) [1-26-2006]

MARTY ON THE MOVE

Marty Reid, co-host of the NHRA POWERade coverage on ESPN2 along with Mike Dunn, will move over to the ESPN/ABC broadcast team for IRL races this season. Joining Reid (at right with Dunn) in covering Indy Racing League races will be just-retired NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and former IRL driver Scott Goodyear.

Reid has worked with ESPN since 1982, hosting NHRA drag races the past four seasons. A spokesman for NHRA said that Reid would continue to work on the NHRA broadcasts that don't conflict with the 14 IRL events which run from April 2 through Aug. 27. A new co-host will join Dunn on the dates Reid will not be available, but no name has been announced yet. (photo courtesy NHRA) [1-26-2006]

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

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Word reaches the Agent that NHRA will be advertising in "alternative markets" in 2006, trying to reach a broader audience for drag racing.

Reportedly, the sanctioning body will be working closely with USA Today to bring the sport to the general public, as well as other mainstream media.

The Agent must give the NHRA management a tip of his marketing-maven hat for trying to expose new potential fans to the excitement we all know and love, something DRO has been advocating for the last couple of years. [1-26-2006]