THOMAS, NORTHROP TO DRIVE KORETSKY PRO STOCK

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Mike Thomas will replace team owner Kenny Koretsky in the driver's seat of the Nitro Fish Wear Dodge Stratus this season. Dave Northrop will run a partial schedule of 10-15 events in another Nitro Fish Dodge.
"I don't believe my body has recovered from the injuries from my accident (with Bruce Allen) in Texas last October," Korestky said. "I will be at most of the races, but watching from the sidelines."

Eddie Guarnaccia, Koretsky's crew chief and race team general manager, will work with both cars. [1-30-2006]

NO DRAGSTRIP SAYS WALLACE

The Agent put up a rumor about a dragstrip possibly being part of the NASCAR facility being built in Iowa that Rusty Wallace is involved with. DRO reader and motorsports journalist Bob Margolis let the Agent know that he had personally asked Wallace about the dragstrip. Wallace said that although there will four different size tracks, a dragstrip will not be a part of the facility.

The Agent is sure that the owners of the Eddyville and Cedar Falls tracks will receive this information as really good news. [1-30-2006]

CORRECTING THE BURKSTER

Fred Simmonds, our friend at GM, brought to our attention that portion of the current Burk's Blast that said NHRA doesn't allow "foreign" cars in Pro Stock competition. Burk was incorrect.

As Simmonds pointed out, the rulebook only excludes "sports cars" such as Corvettes, Vipers, and any other car they deem a sports car.

Conceivably, Toyota, Honda or Nissan could field a Pro Stock team if they built a dedicated carbureted 500-inch engine with blocks and heads approved in advance by the NHRA. These are the same restrictions that NASCAR placed on Toyota for entry into their series.

"My sincere apology to the folks at NHRA for my gaff," Burk said after the Agent beat him about the head and shoulders with his oft-tipped hat. [1-30-2006]

HAWAII STRIP TO CLOSE

Hawaii Raceway Park, which opened on the Fourth of July weekend in 1964, is closing down after 42 years of racing. Mike Oakland, the historic track's owner, said that his last race will be held either March 31 or April 1 (no fooling!) followed by a month of clean up to return the 66-acre parcel to the landowner.

In this case it wasn't the local neighborhood that put the race plant out of business but a Federal EPA issue. According to a news story in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper, Oakland recently received notice from the Environmental Protection Agency that he could no longer allow racers and fans to use the antiquated cesspool system connected to the raceway.

The park's impending end comes after years of unsuccessful lobbying by Oakland to develop a permanent 140-acrew center dedicated to a variety of motorcycle and car racing events at the former Barbers Point Naval Air station, now known as Kalaeloa.

Stan Adams, Track Manager of Pomona Raceway was Track Manager at Hawaii
Raceway Park in the mid-60's. Adams reminisced, "That was really the heyday of Top Fuel racing and to be able to bring famous mainland teams to Hawaii during that period was a real treat for the island fans. I'm sad that I can't get back there to see the track before it's gone."

Photo of Linda Vaughn and Jim Hawthorne at Hawaii Raceway Park 1965. (courtesy of the Hawthorne Archives) [1-30-2006]