ADRA FALLON RACE ON SPEEDVISION
The Agent has been informed that the only show produced independently for Speedvision under the original "deal" for ADRA TV coverage was the Fallon, Nevada race. It was allegedly a "barter" deal as a trade for commercial positions which Speedvision would then sell to advertisers. Since there was only one ADRA race, they are working it into the late July or August programming schedule.

NOISY NOTES ON POMONA DRAG STRIP, IRWINDALE, AND CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
Since street-legal racing was banned from Pomona Raceway last year because of noise restrictions, Agent 1320 has learned NHRA agreed to limit racing to a total of 15 days at "Parker Avenue." The agreement is between the Citizen's Council of La Verne with the consent of the La Verne City Council. The race dates have been allotted for the Winternationals, the new July race, the World Finals, and one Super Chevy Show. Under this agreement, Junior Drag Racing will continue to run at the Fairplex 10 times per season but is being limited to 90 decibels. As an NHRA source put it, "the citizens of La Verne would rather trade 15 days of noise for 350 days of peace."

California Speedway President Bill Miller has said the ultimate goal in allowing street-legal drag racing at their new Fontana quarter-mile strip "is to eliminate the unsafe practices that take place on local city streets." This was the same goal for the new Irwindale eighth-mile strip. After a huge "Ground Breaking Ground Shaking" ceremony headlined by Wally Parks and other drag racing dignitaries, NHRA shifted its support away from the Irwindale strip because of the organized resistance from the City of Bradbury. Fontana provided a quicker, surer way to a drag strip.

Irwindale Speedway has managed to secure an additional five years on their Conditional Use Permit from the City of Irwindale. But the Drag Strip issue has opened up a "can of worms" with Bradbury residents fighting to control all operations at the Speedway and limit all sound emitted from the raceway to 90 decibels.

NHRA TRACK RUMOR FOR PENSKE'S CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
(Monday, June 18) Agent 1320 hears that NHRA and the Roger Penske organization will hold a press conference on Tuesday, June 19th to announce some kind of joint venture. The Agent hears that the venture will be that Penske's California Speedway will be the site of an NHRA sanctioned dragstrip and home for an NHRA National Event.

Back when the "Captain" built the NASCAR facility, it was heavily rumored that he wanted to build an NHRA-sanctioned drag strip as part of the complex but couldn't come to terms with NHRA. It was also rumored that Penske at one time showed some interest in buying NHRA but after looking into the deal decided to take a pass.

First the U.S. Nationals title rights get sold and now perhaps a new track just down the road from the Pomona Fairgrounds. There was a time when NHRA didn't want to build a track in Las Vegas reportedly because they thought it would siphon off fans that would normally attend the Pomona events. The Agent speculates that the July 4th race that is going to be held at Pomona this year could end up at Roger Penske's facility.

FORD RETURNING TO DRAG RACING?
It's been a while since FoMoCo has had a factory presence in either NHRA or IHRA drag racing but the Agent hears from a pretty good source that the head guys at Ford are making some discrete inquiries about the costs, demographics, television packages and other things related to Ford having a factory presence in NHRA or IHRA Pro Stock or other class. The Agent’s source indicates that under no circumstances would Bob Glidden be returning. But the Agent knows better than to say or believe the word ‘never! ‘

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