WITH RINGS ON HIS FINGERS BUT NOT ON HIS TOES

John Force's latest Castrol GTX(r) Ford Mustang is a primary topic of discussion on the eve of this week's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals not because of its performance but because of its design. This version of Force's Castrol Ford features a caricature of the 10-time Auto Racing All-America selection with NHRA championship rings on each of his 10 fingers and a record 11th hanging from a chain around his neck.

Originally, Force nixed the caricature design but ultimately approved it with one change. "They wanted to put the 11th ring on my toe," Force said. "You've got to draw the line somewhere. I told 'em that was it." [8-28-2002]

DaPREACHER AND THE EXTREME RACING LEAGUE

Bill Kuhlmann will come to the U.S. Nationals with a new associate sponsor on his car. According to Kuhlmann, he received a "substantial" check from DePreacher.com (it's a drag racing internet message board) to carry the name on his car for the rest of the 2002 NHRA AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge season.

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Whoever is behind DaPreacher.com is also behind the proposed Extreme Racing League. If the companies and names that the Agent was told are backing the program are correct, those people and companies could easily afford to back a racing series. According to the Agent's sources, if the interest generated at the upcoming U.S. Nationals by DaPreacher.com is significant then the people backing the proposed new series will start getting very serious.

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The Agent thinks that if a new series is going to be viable for the 2003 season the parties involved will have to start getting the deal started and announce the series no later than the December PRI Show at Indianapolis. Especially if the racers that would be supporting the series have to start building cars and engine combinations for the supposed unlimited Pro Mod series. The Agent and, in fact, the whole staff at DRO are behind this project if it will enable the quest for the five-second doorslammer pass! [8-28-2002]

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