800 INCH PRO MOD MOTORS

Agent 1320 has learned that, despite previous statements by many premier nitrous racers that 800 cubic inch engines on nitrous would not make more power than the current 710 cubic inch in use, evidently they will.

According to one reliable source, several currently active Pro Mod nitrous racers from the Southeast have built, tested, and raced 800 cubic inch nitrous engines in Pro Mod cars. The Agent has names but won't name them for obvious reasons. Normally the Agent would discount these rumors, but a series of tips leads him to believe this one. Earlier this season a highly respected individual at a nitrous oxide company told him the name of one racer who had run an 800-inch engine during the 2001-2002 season. What sealed the deal in the mind of the Agent was a recent statement attributed to Shannon Jenkins who, when asked if he would compete in the proposed Extreme Racing League against unlimited blown cars, said he felt he could take an 800 cubic inch Gene Fulton-built nitrous engine and make enough power to compete against the blower cars. Earlier this same guy said that big cubic inch engines weren't an advantage.

And they wonder why journalists and the Agent sometimes doubt the veracity of racers and engine builders! [8-28-2002]

CARTER TO DRIVE SECOND YATES TEAM CAR

Jim Yates announced that Mark Carter will drive the team's second SplitFire/PEAK Pontiac SC/T Grand Am on a race-by-race arrangement, beginning with the 48th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Carter replaces Jamie Yates, who will devote full attention to his primary job as crew chief on his father's car.

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"Jamie has done a great job as a driver, but right now he is way too important to my program and I need him as a full-time crew chief," said Yates, who enters the U.S. Nationals in second place in the NHRA POWERade point standings. "At the last race (at Brainerd), I had to run beside him or right in front of him in three different qualifying sessions. I basically lost my crew chief for three runs and we just can't do that. Having Jamie on the starting line helping me run fast and making the right decisions is our No. 1 goal right now." [8-28-2002]