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This is not the first time divisions have "tinkered" with their races and points meets. In the past, division 2 has run fast ET cars, and NHRA's Division 6 now hosts Pro or Top Comp, for fast bracket cars. And in division 1, Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania will soon introduce a special Stock and Super Stock race that will be contested on an instant green start, with built-in handicaps in each lane.

Top Sportsman, for fast door cars, has been around for years in the IHRA, and is extremely popular in the south, where NHRA's division 2 resides.

The division 2 Top Sportsman title sponsor is John Bleakley Motor Homes. Ronnie "the King" Davis, motorsports director for the company and current leader of the IHRA Top sportsman points says there will be bonus money for No. 1 qualifiers, courtesy of Davis In-Motion satellite dishes and Track Star Systems of Orlando. A total of 14 companies will put up contingency money for the series, and No. 1 through 4 points finishers will be presented with points money at the end of the season. The No. 1 finisher will receive $2,000 at the end of the year, No. 2 will get $1,000, No. 3 will get $500 and No. 4 $250. Jackets and plaques will be presented at the end of the season, Davis said. [5-9-2002]

TURBOS FOR IHRA PRO MODIFIED?

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Immediately after receiving the press release from IDRC concerning that sanctioning body's problems with turbocharging, Agent 1320 heard that there were racers at the IHRA's Red River Raceway national event lobbying the sanctioning body and some racers about the possibility of allowing turbocharged cars into IHRA Pro Modified. With the problems that IHRA had getting Pro Mod cars to attend the Shreveport race and the possibility that they may have problems getting Pro Mods at the up-coming Cordova event, don't be surprised if the IHRA brass give some serious thought to the possibility.

If IHRA were to make that move it would at the least give IHRA Pro Mod a different look than NHRA Pro Mod. Among the many questions the Agent has about this rumor, the most pressing is: Would NHRA follow suit and allow turbo cars to compete in Pro Mod? The Agent suspects it would be over Rickie Smith's (and other nitrous oxide racers) dead and lifeless body. [5-9-2002]

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