SCHUMACHER AND MOPAR RUMORS NHRA

2day's Bill Stephens told his television audience of a rumor that would have Mopar taking their body deal to Don Schumacher's team. The Agent's lips are sealed but he has good information that would indicate no official Mopar body deal to another team could happen. Mopar spokesmen have repeatedly told DRO officially that they have no interest in a Fuel Flopper team and would be concentrating their factory involvement exclusively with Pro Stock! [11-18-2002]

WEST JOINS HENKELMAN & BACA

Johnny West, just released by Doug Herbert, has been snapped up as crew chief for the Henkelman & Baca Motorsports Top Fuel Dragster.

"The future of the Henkelman and Baca Motorsports Top Fuel Dragster is now in the hands of Johnny West," said Baca, who will drive the team's dragster in 2003. "Johnny West is the crew chief that has always been at the top of our list and he is the crew chief that we feel can take our program to the next level of competition beginning with the 2003 season."

Rick Henkelman added, "We had to give up two first round draft choices and a supercharger to be named later to get Johnny West, the guy that we've always wanted."

"The future for this team will be dictated by how many sponsorship dollars that we are able to generate to operate this car," said West. "Naturally, the amount of dollars generally dictates how well you compete with the teams vying for the championship." [11-18-2002]

SCHUMACHER TEAM TESTS; CANNON IS STAYING FUNNY

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So much speculation about one drag racing team has certainly not been a very well kept secret. Don Schumacher's nitro team has been in Las Vegas sorting out combinations for next season. According to an operative at the LVMS complex, Schumacher Racing rented the drag strip for a couple of days of testing for Gary Scelzi and Scotty Cannon. Also spotted there on Nov. 13 was Tony Schumacher's new T/F crew chief Wes Cerny.

As now officially announced, the new four car nitro team will consist of Tony's U.S. Army car tuned by Cerny, Whit Bazemore's Matco Pontiac tuned by Lee Beard, and two Oakley Fuel Coupes driven by Scelzi and Cannon. Scelzi's car will be tuned by crew chief Mike Neff with assistance from Schumacher Racing's co-crew chief Dan Olson.

Scotty had announced he would leave the Schumacher team to return to Pro Mod next season, but has reconsidered his decision. Founder and chairman of Oakley, Jim Jennard, (photo above) will personally "administer" Cannon's F/C team, which will be based in Indianapolis.

Another piece of Scotty Cannon news is that the tuner for the new Jim Jennard/Scotty Cannon fuel coupe will be Phil Schuler. You may not know the name but Schuler worked with Cannon early in Scotty's career and then parted company to work for John Force. Schuler's departure could be of some concern to the Force camp as he reportedly was very involved in the Force system and had a hand in building engines, blowers, fuel systems, etc. With Schuler on board you can look for Cannon's car to be bad fast right out of the blocks.

The Agent wonders if the Schuler defection from Force's camp might not lead to contracts with non-compete clauses for future Force and other Pro team hires? [11-15-2002]

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