CANNON TO DRIVE A PRO MOD

A Cannon will be driving a Pro Mod -- it just won't be Scotty. Agent 1320 has heard from a fairly reliable source that Scotty's son, Scott (oh boy, is this going to get confusing), will be driving a Pro Mod. Chances are also good that Scott will be behind the wheel of the CP-built '53 Studebaker that Dad last drove in competition. [11-15-2002]

HERBERT NAMES RON DOUGLAS CREW CHIEF

Doug Herbert has named Ron Douglas as crew chief of his Snap-on Racing Top Fuel dragster for the coming season. Douglas, 32, has been a crew member of Herbert's Cherryville, NC-based team since 1998.

"We need some new, young crew chiefs in this sport and I believe Ron has the talent to be one of the best," said Herbert, adding that he released crew chief Johnny West following the Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif. "Ron has worked with Dick LaHaie, Larry Frazier and West when they were my crew chiefs. He is knowledgeable and very capable of doing the job.

"I do plan to add a tuning consultant to the team," continued Herbert. "I know he will probably have gray hair -- because most of the tuners seem to be older and have gray hair -- but I don't know who that will be." [11-15-2002]

WANT TO GET PERFECTLY STRANGE?

Strange Engineering has signed a three-year non-product contingency Sportsman program with NHRA. The NHRA Perfectly Strange Performance Award will begin in 2003 for Stock, Super Stock, Super Gas, Super Comp, and Super Street classes. The Perfectly Strange decal must be displayed on both sides of the race car and the winner must run right on his index or dial-in in a winning round at any or all of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events. The $250 cash prize will be awarded at each event, but if no racer wins the award at an event, the amount will accumulate until it is won.

More information and the NHRA Perfectly Strange Performance Award decals are available from Strange Engineering (phone 317-745-9168), NHRA or all NHRA Division offices. [11-15-2002]

SCELZI, CAPPS HAVE DATE WITH MIDGETS

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DRO has learned that "Funny" car drivers Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps have dates in January with a couple of midgets...midget race cars that is. Pay attention when I'm talking to you, son. Both Scelzi and Capps have accepted invitations from Chili Bowl Nationals promoters to compete in the first annual Ford Focus Midget Race of Champions on Jan. 11, 2003. They will drive identically prepared Ford-powered midgets in a celebrity race.

Wonder if Doug Kalitta knows about this deal? The DRO official book makes 9-5 that either Scelzi or Capps will dump (roll) their race car during the event. [11-15-2002]

KALITTA WANTS IROC RIDE

Agent 1320 has it on good authority that Top Fuel shoe Doug Kalitta would like to drive in the IROC/NASCAR series. The Agent would like to see this happen. If Kalitta were to get a ride, chances are very good (we'll make the odds 5-1) that he would win one of the events and finish in the top five in points. Kalitta is a former USAC champion in the open wheel division. [11-15-2002]

RACIN' ROY HILL GOES PRO MOD

The Agent has been hearing for a while that popular racing school instructor and part time Pro driver Roy Hill has been wanting to get back in the seat of a fast doorslammer. One of the Agent's west coast sources informed that Hill had recently taken delivery of a Brad Anderson blown Hemi and has another in the works. A call to the Jerry Haas race car plant in Fenton, MO verified that Haas will deliver a new Mustang to Hill in approximately three weeks. The Agent thinks that "Rapid" Roy's return to NHRA racing and Pro Mod will be good for everyone concerned. [11-15-2002]

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