FULTON BUILDING BLOWER MOTORS!?!

There hasn't been a louder voice about the evils of supercharged cars in Pro Modified than engine builder Gene Fulton. Agent 1320 has heard many times that Fulton was among those who lobbied the strongest with IHRA for rules to handicap those engines and the teams that used them. The Agent heard rumors during the IHRA race at Shreveport in October that Fulton was going to start building those powerplants. The question the Agent wants to ask is: If the new IHRA rules for 2002 slow down the blown cars as most experts feel they will, will Fulton lobby on the behalf of his new supercharged engine clients like it is rumored that he did for his nitrous customers?

NHRA ADDS MORE TITLE RIGHTS SPONSORS FOR 2002 AND BEYOND

Lucas Oil has reached a multi-year agreement with the NHRA to become the title sponsor of the NHRA Drag Racing Series event at Seattle International Raceway beginning in 2002. The 15th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals is scheduled for July 26-28, at Seattle International Raceway, Seattle.

O'Reilly Auto Parts has reached a multi-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the NHRA Drag Racing Series event at Heartland Park Topeka beginning in 2002. The 14th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals is scheduled for May 23-26, at Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kan. O'Reilly has also reached a four-year extension for their sponsorship of the NHRA Spring Nationals at the Houston Raceway Park. Next year's event is scheduled for April 11-14.

JOHNNY GRAY TO DRIVE INSTEAD OF FRANK PEDREGON

Del and Chuck Worsham, owners of the Checker-Schuck's-Kragen Pontiac Funny Car team, announced that Johnny Gray will take over in 2002 as driver of the Team CSK blue car. Gray replaces Frank Pedregon, who recently resigned from the position.

Though this year marked Gray's first full season at the wheel of a Nitro Funny Car, he has spent 33 years in racing, driving on drag strips as well as circle tracks, and has competed in seven classes of NHRA drag racing. Gray spent the 2001 season driving his own Gray Racing Pontiac Funny Car, finishing 13th in Winston points. Along the way in 2001, he established career best elapsed time and speed numbers by running 4.82-seconds and 318 mph. He finished the season with two semi-finals and a second round appearance in his final three races.

"When I heard that Frank Pedregon was moving on to other things, I didn't know what the team was looking for but I threw my hat in the ring," Gray said. "I was hoping I'd have a chance to work with the Worshams, Dave Fletcher, Rob Flynn, and the great crew they've assembled, and I was on pins and needles for a few tense days while they made their decision."

"I wish we were starting the 2002 season next week," he added.

The team will test in January, and Johnny Gray will make his debut in the blue CSK Firebird at the 2002 Winternationals in February.

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