NOT TONIGHT, I HAVE A HADDOCK

Privateer Terry Haddock is going to take delivery soon of his new Nitro Funny Car being built in the Missouri shop of chassis builder Ty Baumgartner. Baumgartner bought out the Al Swindahl shop our after his untimely death and has built several Top Fuel cars including a car for IHRA regular Jack Ostrander. This is the first nitro funny to come out of that shop. [2-6-2006]

SPONSOR SWITCH

Nick Boninfante Jr. admires his sticker placement on Bob Gilbertson's new Dodge Stratus body they recently purchased from Schumacher Racing and will debut at the Pomona Winternationals.

In addition to Autolite XP Spark Plugs and Prestone Antifreeze, Craftsman Tools has joined as an associate sponsor on Gilby's effort this season with the blessing of Virgil Hartman. According to co-crew chief Tom DeLago,

ADVERTISEMENT

a requirement of the deal was that the sponsorship must be on a car for all 23 NHRA national events and John "Bodie" Smith was not going to be competing at every event this season with his dragster, so Virgil handed the Craftsman backing to Gilbertson.

Gilbertson lost 25 pounds during the off-season and the team has added four new crewmembers for the upcoming tour. Boninfante and DeLago have gelled well enough that the confidant driver left Vegas for his Charlotte home early on Saturday to watch his son Jake Gilbertson race in a motocross event. The team will also compete at four IHRA events this season after running solid 4.89's shutting off at 1000 feet in Vegas testing. (Darr Hawthorne photo) [2-6-2006]