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NHRA RETHINKING THIS RULE?
NHRA apparently tried to compound the fallout from its newly-adopted and ill-conceived "substitute driver policy" which made it possible for driver-and-car combinations not a part of the original qualifying program to compete in the rain-delayed Mac Tools Gatornationals.

According to the Agent's sources, NHRA wanted to withhold all or part of the $9,000 first round loser money from Doug Herbert, owner of the car Paul Romine qualified at Gainesville and of the one towed to the line for eliminations with Mike Smith in the harnesses.

Since the car never fired, the NHRA cried "foul" even though the rule as written by the sanctioning body made no such stipulation.

The Agent has been told that NHRA and team owner Doug Herbert have come to an amicable settlement of the situation.

DUPUY NEW CREW CHIEF FOR GRAY RACING
Veteran nitro crew chief Wayne Dupuy will be tuning Johnny Gray Racing's Firebird Funny Car, replacing Rick Cassel, who was let go after the Bristol race.

Last season, the 37-year-old tuner worked with three different drivers in the Nitro Fish-sponsored ride, including Phil Burkart Jr., Todd Paton and Christen Powell. He also tuned Top Fuel pilot Don Lampus to a career-best 4.58/321 at Houston.

"It's going to be tough for Dupuy to come in here with someone else's tuneup and try to figure this deal out," said Gray, "but I definitely have the confidence in him to get the job done."

Also added to the Gray team will be co-crew chief Chris Cunningham, who earlier worked with the Darrell Gwynn team and Whit Bazemore.

Jered Nichols, one of the three Gray crewmembers injured in an automobile accident leaving the NHRA Las Vegas race, has returned to the team. Robert Beresford is now at home in Carlsbad, New Mexico and has begun physical rehabilitation. Clayton Williams remains in a coma in Arizona where the accident took place. (photo by Bill Walters)