VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF NHRA

Not only is NHRA going to have a ten race Pro Mod exhibition series next year at their POWERade national events, but they will also have two national events that will feature NHRA's Sport Compact Series cars. The races will be held at Chicago and Dallas. Racers will qualify to attend the races by acquiring points during the regular season of the Summit-backed NHRA import series. According to an NHRA press release, the purse and payout for the two-race deal, known as the "NHRA Sport Compact Extreme Rush," is still being worked out. [11-05-2002]

PRO STREET HITTER DELATTORE RETIRES

Pro Street turbo Mustang racer Elias DeLattore has apparently decided to hang up his driver's suit after a successful career in the sport. At the recently completed World StreetNationals in Orlando, DeLattore announced that he had sold his race car, engines, spares and transporter and that they would be delivered to an unknown buyer after the race at Orlando was completed. DeLatorre didn't rule out a return to the sport in the future. [11-05-2002]

SCOTTY CANNON RUMOR MILL

A source close to the Cannon camp told the Agent that contrary to the many rumors that have been flying around, Scotty Cannon has not made a decision about which sanctioning body he will dedicate his time to in 2003.

"All of his attention is on winning the (NHRA) Winternationals and then he will turn his attention to his Pro Mod team," the source said.

So, any rumors being spread as to where Scotty will run, if he will have a two-car team, or which sanctioning body he will spend the most time at would just be a rumor with no basis in fact. If Scotty doesn't know then no one knows. The Agent thinks we all ought to give the man a little room to breathe and race at least until he finishes this season. [11-05-2002]

HISTORIC ELDORA TO GET A DRAGSTRIP?

Agent 1320 got a call from an Ohio source with a bit if startling info. Seems like there are some folks who are trying to buy the historic Eldora Speedway from owner Earl "the Pearl" Baltes. Baltes' track is best known for its legendary half-mile dirt track and holding races that actually have million dollar purses. Seems like the group trying to purchase the track also want to put in an dragstrip. There are about 400 acres available to put a dragstrip on the property. [11-05-2002]

DELLAMAGGIORE GOING PRO STOCK RACING

Agent 1320 hears that veteran California Pro Street racer and 2002 West Coast Pro Street champion, Joe Dellamaggiore, has let it be known that he is looking hard at Pro Stock racing for the 2003 season. Dellamaggiore is best known for having the longest last name in racing and for being one of the only successful Pro Street racers using gas and carbs only. [11-05-2002]

MORE DEVELOPMENTS AT TOPEKA

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Agent 1320 and his Topeka operatives have been watching the developing story at Heartland Park Topeka. According to published reports, the Corporation that operates the motorsports facility is now for sale, but the City of Topeka owns the real estate.

Frank Sabatini, a prominent Topeka banker is said to have two potential buyers to take over operation of the HPT complex, one of those a local group. Glen Wells, who represents current operator Heartland Park Corporation also claims to have potential buyers in addition to the two with Sabatini, but declined to give any details.

Banker Sabatini, a self-proclaimed racing fan, said that with the current situation it was impossible to manage the multi-use motorsports park from their corporate headquarters in Houston. He feels that if a deal can be structured, the new operator can have a financially successful track. NHRA still plans on a May 2003 date for their POWERade Series race. [11-05-2002]

WALDO CHANGES FROM FORD TO CHEVY

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Veteran Stock Eliminator Mustang racer Jim Waldo, who has won multiple National Events and at least one World Championship with his venerable Cobra Jet-powered 'Stang, finally gave up the ghost, sold the Mustang and got a Chevy with an LSI motor. Waldo told one of the Agent's operatives that although he loved his Mustang he would never go back to a non-EFI combo. He debuted his new C-D Stocker a couple of weeks before the NHRA event at Las Vegas and already has run better than a second under his index.

He told the Agent's source that, "I running quicker than I ever did with the Mustang and I don't even know what I'm doing yet."

The Agent would bet that this is a sign that more and more "professional" Stock and Super Stock racers will be moving to EFI sooner than later. [11-05-2002]

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