ASHLEY SUED FOR FRAUD

According to New York Newsday, Mike Ashley, Pro Mod driver and New York mortgage banker, has been named in several lawsuits brought by home buyers who claim they were defrauded by Ashley, his wife, Mindy, and other business associates while Ashley was vice president of marketing at Consumer Home Mortgage. Ashley has denied the charges.

For a more detailed article go to New York Newsday's Newsday.com. [11-7-2002]

ROMINE TO DRIVE FOR MITCHELL IN 2003

Paul Romine will take over the driving duties full-time for the John Mitchell-owned Montana Express Top Fuel Dragster, beginning at the NHRA season ending Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.

"My ultimate dream in drag racing has always been to compete full-time in NHRA and be competitive with a chance for the NHRA Top Fuel championship," said Romine. "I think John gives me the best shot at that goal and I'm looking forward to racing at Pomona as we prepare for an all-out assault on the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Top Fuel championship."

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Romine is a three-time IHRA Top Fuel champion, winning titles in 1997, 1998, and 2000. His best NHRA event finish came at the 1998 NHRA all-star event in Rockingham, N.C. where he lost in the final to Kenny Bernstein. He has numerous NHRA semifinal finishes and has NHRA career bests of 4.648-seconds at 320.28 mph. Prior to his association with Mitchell, Romine drove for NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert in 2001 and 2002. Romine owned his own Top Fuel operation from 1997-2000. [11-7-2002]

THE FINAL CUP

The DRO/NMM Cup presented by AMS Staff Leasing was presented to Shannon Jenkins as champion in the NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Prod Mod Challenge. Sponsored by DragRacingOnline.com and Nowling Motorsports Management, awards were presented at the unofficial banquet after the final 2002 race in Las Vegas. [11-7-2002]

Front row (L to R): Thomas Patterson, Shannon Jenkins (Champion), Rickie Smith Back row (L to R): Jim Oddy (team owner for driver Fred Hahn), Kenny Nowling (NMM), Mike Ashley, Dave Wood (AMS Staff Leasing), Troy Critchley, Mitch Stott, Bill Kuhlmann. (photo by Jeff Burk)

FORCE STILL HOPING FOR TOP FUEL DEAL

At a pre-Pomona Finals press luncheon, John Force let it be known that he isn't giving up on the team's entry into the Top Fuel Wars for next season.

While Force stated that the Home Depot deal wasn't completely dead and the Rocky Mountian beer sponsorship deal fizzled, he'll be meeting with his Castrol sponsor in the week following the Finals to discuss which brand could be "spun-off" to support the new Top Fuel operation.

Could Dickie Venables be ready to move over to crew chief duties with Gary Ormsby Jr at the wheel? [11-7-2002]