MR. MUSI'S WILD RIDE
Everything was going fine for Pat Musi at the NMCA race at Rockingham, N.C. until he passed the 330-ft marker. A suspected failure in the rear housing area sent his car careening across both lanes before Musi could get it stopped. The driver was only bruised, but the car probably will require a new front frame, complete composite body, all new tinwork, and a new rear end housing.

While awaiting repairs on "Popeye" or a new Camaro which had already been ordered, Musi is running the Firebird owned by Leo Utley and driven by Steve Grebeck, and Grebeck is borrowing a Pro Mod Corvette from a friend of Musi.

Please get these cars back to their proper drivers…the Agent is getting a headache.

SCIALPI TAKES "WOPPADO" TO SUPER CHEVY WIN
Although John Scialpi calls Pomona his home track, he hasn't had much luck running there, so getting the Nitro Coupe win at the March 18th Super Chevy Show was very special.

"I almost never have any luck here," explained Scialpi, who lives in nearby West Covina, Calif. "When we used to do exhibitions here for NHRA, I could never get my car down this track very well."

It was Scialpi's second time running the 30-percent nitro blend allowed in Nitro Coupe competition. His first outing at Las Vegas ended with four burned pistons in qualifying. Running consistently at 6.60 and 6.59 to get to the final at Pomona, Scalpi's '57 Chevy ran a 6.576/211.41 in the final against a red-lighting Dan Nickelson.

IHRA MOVES WEST INTO SNAKE RIVER, IDAHO
IHRA and Snake River Speedway, Inc. have reached agreement to build the first IHRA-sanctioned track in Idaho. The complex will include a quarter-mile dragstrip and a 3/8-mile paved oval. Snake River will also host a museum for cars and memorabilia, including a sports bar and lounge, called E-Z Street Auto Show Case.

"Snake River is part of our westward expansion and we look forward to building a strong relationship with area racers," said Bill Bader. "As a property owner and part-time resident of Idaho, I have a particular love for the area."

Construction of the drag strip began in early March and is expected to be completed this fall or early next spring. Dick Street will serve as General Manager. Located in Blackfoot, the new facility will be located near to recently shuttered Drag City Raceway in Pocatello.

LAYTON NAMED GM AT COLUMBUS
NHRA has named Jim Layton as general manager and Patrick Schartz as sales and marketing manager at National Trail Raceway. Layton has been associated with NTR since 1967 and has been event director since 1996 on a part-time basis. Schartz comes from Heartland Park Topeka where he was director of sales and hospitality.

Schartz will report to Layton, who will report directly to Cary Menard, vice president of business and legal affairs for NHRA.

KUHLMANN TO JOIN HAGERTY TEAM
Pro Mod racer Randy Hagerty has hired Bill Kuhlmann, two-time Nitro Coupe World Champion and the first man to drive a doorslammer over 200 mph, as consultant for his race team. Hagerty, a former ADRA Pro Stock World Champion, has run a limited schedule of West Coast Pro Mod races in years past. Running this year in NHRA Competition Eliminator, Hagerty's '63 split windowed Corvette is currently eighth in points.

"I want an invitation to one of the NHRA Pro Mod exhibition races," Hagerty admitted. "I know that my car's performance hasn't warranted an invitation, so I've hired Bill to help us find the performance we need to give us a cushion in Comp Eliminator and to run with the big dogs.

"With our Tim McAmis car and Gene Fulton engine we feel we've got the car and engine to run the 6.30/225 laps that have become the standard for first line Pro Modifieds. These cars have become so sophisticated that it's become increasingly difficult for one person to tune and drive at the same time. The team needed someone who had a proven track record as a chassis, clutch, and engine tuner to help us get to the next level. Bill Kuhlmann is that person."

Kuhlmann will join the Hagerty team at the SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas, April 5-8.

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