MILLION DOLLAR DIVA

Angelle Savoie who signed a deal with the Mohigan Sun Casino for either the rest of the 2002 season or through the 2004 season (depending on who you talk to) also got a chunk of George Howard's cash to carry the livery of his "Million Dollar" bracket race (No one to our knowledge has ever won a million at one of those races) on her bike at the U.S. Nationals. Wouldn't it be a gas if Angelle actually ran a bike at the Million Dollar race? That might get the race some mainstream media publicity. [9-05-2002]

CAPPS DOUBLES UP AT INDY

Although he didn't make it to the final round of Funny Car competition, Ron Capps did have a couple of wins while in Indianapolis. He not only won the Big Bud Shootout, but more noteworthy, he won a go-kart race. He battled for the win against Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta at Stephan Johansson's karting track. Tommy Johnson Jr. finished fourth in the 10-minute event despite spinning twice, but he did register the quickest time during the race. "I did run low elapsed time but I had no consistency," Johnson said with a laugh. [9-05-2002]

ANOTHER NOSTALGIA ORGANIZATION IS FORMED

ADVERTISEMENT

A new drag racing organization has been formed to bring nostalgia drag racing to smaller racing venues. The Classic Thunder Nostalgia Drag Racing series will concentrate first in the Southeastern United States, but plans to organize events across the country in a slow but steady pattern of manageable growth.

Classic Thunder series promoters will partner with individual track owners to tailor events to their budget and seating capacity. The organization's inaugural event, titled Southern Classic Thunder, was held at the venerable Ware Shoals Dragway in South Carolina. The event featured funny cars, front engine dragsters, gassers, nostalgia super stocks, and pro modified cars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Classic Thunder can provide nostalgia dragsters or funny cars that run on nitromethane or methanol, depending on each individual track's insurance coverage and available safety equipment. All Classic Thunder events will feature the 20-plus members of the Southeastern Gasser Tour, plus supercharged altereds and nostalgia super stocks. In addition, all Classic Thunder events are open to any racer with a classic, vintage, or nostalgia drag racing machine. The new Classic Thunder website is www.classicthunder.net. [9-05-2002]

(next page)