GARLITS GOING TO POMONA?

Agent 1320 hears that "Big" is so pumped after his Indy adventure that he and Gary Clapshaw are trying to put together a deal to fund a trip for the team to the World Finals at Pomona. Agent 1320 hears that after the "old man" pedaled the throttle several times on his Friday night qualifying attempt, burning up a motor in the process, all was not happy in the Garlits-Clapshaw camp.

Fast forward to Garlits' four-second, 300-mph pass that qualified him for the program. Now, despite a first round loss everything is fine. Evidently the old adage that a good E.T. can cure all ills, really applies.

IHRA REALLY IS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The worst kept secret in drag racing is that IHRA will have at least two National Events in Canada in 2002. The track management at Cayuga Dragway is going to invest about 2.9 million dollars in track and facility improvements and within a week or so IHRA will be announcing a date for the new National Event. What the Agent wonders is how a race at this track will affect the attendance at the nearby National Event at Leicester, N.Y. or the event at Central Michigan or, for that matter, Grand Bend.

TRUCKS AREN'T DEAD YET...MAYBE

The Agent was told that many of the truck owners are contemplating promoting there own series. The source told the agent that it would be called something like Pro Outlaw truck and that the current 358 inch carbureted motor combo would probably be replaced by a 400inch small block on nitrous which would probably put the trucks into the six-second zone at over 200 and they would be squirrelly. The agent would pay to watch that show! The only question is why wasn't this done sooner.

BURKHART CROSSING OVER?

Phil Burkhart Jr. planned to stay over in Indy after the U.S. Nationals in order to obtain his "cross-over" Top Fuel license. He was to drive the Thomas Haynes, Indianapolis based Maelstrom MotorSports Dragster for licensing.

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