YEAH BUT... 24 PERCENT INCREASE OVER WHAT NUMBER?
The IHRA announced attendance at the CARQUEST Empire Nationals at New York International Dragway, Leicester, NY increased by 24% over last year. Attendance at the race established a three-day track record, while the crowd for Saturday's "Night of Fire" was the largest one-day crowd in New York International Raceway Park history.

"Our partnership with Clear Channel Motorsports and Communications is already paying dividends with increased advertising and promotion in our IHRA markets," said IHRA president Bill Bader. "Clear Channel radio stations in Rochester and Syracuse were active partners in our race promotion. It was a plus to have management and on-air talent from the radio stations attend our media day and the race. They got to see the excitement of IHRA Drag Racing and relay it to their listeners. You couldn't turn on the radio in Western New York the weeks leading up to race weekend and not hear about the Empire Nationals."

Hmmmm, how about that... it pays to advertise.

MAYBE WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' PERMITS...
With management at Seattle International Raceway set to change hands Jan. 1, 2002, one of the biggest concerns about the future of the NHRA Northwest Nationals centers on the permit process. Curiously, neither the NHRA nor representatives of track owners Dan and Joe Fiorito seems to be worried that Pacific Raceways hasn't applied for the first building permit. The process, by all accounts, takes about 18 months. That allows for environmental impact statements and public hearings, as well as paperwork.

Both groups insist that the NHRA will be back in July 2002. Maybe they're right. Maybe they don't have to fret about such details as county-issued permits, or at least their own poor timing.

During the July 6-8 weekend, King County Executive Ron Sims was given the VIP treatment at SIR by Jason Fiorito, son of Dan Fiorito, at the track's annual vintage auto races charity event. As of July 18, the county had no record of any SIR-related permit applications.

Word is that a joint agreement by NHRA and Pacific Raceways sometime during the July 27-29 Northwest Nationals will reveal the Fioritos' vision of the facility's future.

MORGAN GIVES NEON A 'GLOWING' REPORT
Larry Morgan stopped by National Trail Raceways before he left his home state of Ohio for the Mile Highs in Denver and made a few runs with his new Pro Stock Dodge Neon.

The Agent hears that the first-ever run on the car was a 7.11 at 195 mph and the second run was 7.07 at 196 mph, with a 1.03-second 60-ft time.

Just for comparison, Morgan ran the old Avenger, turning in a definitely slower 7.17/194. Needless to say, Morgan is very happy with the new Neon.

WINSTON OFFICIALY SAYS BYE-BYE TO NHRA

On July 17, 2001 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. officials announced in a teleconference that in accordance with the stipulations set forth in the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between the U.S. Justice Department and the tobacco companies the 2001 season would mark the end of the Winston brand's sponsorship of NHRA Drag Racing. Although there had been rumors that RJR might be able to find a way to continue sponsoring NHRA drag racing, knowledgeable insiders have been telling anyone that would listen that the MSA would force RJR to drop its sponsorship of NHRA drag racing.