Bouquet…On the other hand the NHRA Media department did an outstanding job of getting the word out during the event itself. There was a big story on page three of the L.A. Times on the Wednesday preceding the race and both the Times and the Bulletin had plenty of photos and at least two writers covering the race all week. Plenty of coverage in the dailies on Monday too. In fact, there was more coverage of the Winternationals this year than we've seen in many years. The result was that the Fairgrounds had a near full house on Saturday and a big crowd on Sunday.

Brickbat…What is the deal with U.S.A. Today? The Winternationals was a great race with great storylines but all drag racing got in the Monday edition of that paper was a one-column blurb on the front page of the sports section and not even complete results in the agate. The Agent knows NHRA sent results, stories and photos of the event…so, c'mon you guys…what other auto racing was taking place on Sunday?

Bouquet…This is kind of an inside thing but a tip of Agent 1320's hat to NHRA for the new policies and procedures in place for the working press at NHRA events. We won't bore you with details, but just will say that the Media Department made life a lot easier for the working writers and photographers who attended the Winternationals.

SCHULTZ RETURNS, WELLS WANDERS
Long time PR veteran Mickey Schultz, who has been in semi-seclusion for a couple of seasons, has returned to the public relations wars and was at Pomona working for a group of Pro Stock truck teams. Jay Wells, Rick Flair's favorite PR type and former WWF Racing rep, has moved over to the Bob Gilbertson fuel flopper camp.

WILL TROXEL DRIVE FORCE'S THIRD FLOPPER?
Speculation is high that the driver of the third John Force funny car will probably be ex-Top Fuel shoe Melanie Troxel, who has been tutoring Force's daughter, Ashley. Chances are that Troxel would be more attractive to a sponsor than some of the other drivers available.

HELP, HELP ME, RONDA

This is Gas Ronda's last Funny Car body, now sitting in Florida and awaiting restoration. Photographer Steve Gruenwald is the proud owner and DRO will have a story on the car later this month.

'INSIDE MOTORSPORTS' PASSES FROM THE SCENE
If you have a copy of the February 2001 issue of Inside Motorsports hold onto it because it just became a collector's item. Publisher Scott Sparrow and editor Jon Paulette have announced that the monthly newspaper will cease publication immediately.

IMS started life in 1993 covering issues and events from all forms of motorsports, but changed its format to only drag racing in September 1999. Although the change improved the circulation and advertising numbers, it wasn't enough to keep the Wytheville, Virginia presses running.

"…Unless money suddenly begins growing on trees, or there's someone out there that believes in what we do and has a couple hundred grand to spend, it's time to say enough is enough," said Sparrow.

Subscribers will be notified by letter within the next few weeks about how to receive refunds on their unfulfilled subscriptions.