BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT MOVES TO VEGAS

Not only will the format change, but the location as well as The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway becomes the new host of the Budweiser Shootout. The event for Top Fuel teams will be contested Oct. 30, 2004 during the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals.

The Shootout will change for next year with all Top Fuel drivers competing at each event to earn points in order to secure one of seven guaranteed positions in the Shootout. The eighth "wild card" spot will be awarded in a special lottery drawing to one of the eight drivers who qualified in positions 8-15 in the final qualifying points order. Three alternates also will be selected to substitute for any qualified driver who may be unable to compete in the Budweiser Shootout. The No. 1 qualified driver will face the No. 8 (wild card) driver in the first round. The six drivers who qualify for positions 2-7 will then participate in a lottery-style drawing to determine their final starting positions on the eliminations bracket.

The winner's share of the $239,000 purse is a cool 100 grand. No word yet if they get any extra bonus for figuring out the rules. [12-02-2003]

FUNNY CAR NEWS, NOTES AND RUMORS

The Agent got word that Jim Head is buying Team Schumacher's surplus funny car equipment and could be getting back into a fuel flopper for the 2004 season. The Agent wonders if Alan Johnson will continue to help Head should he run a flopper or will all of Johnson's spare time be used up by the team that Jerry Toliver has been rumored to be putting together with Johnson's Toyota remnants?

The Agent hears that IHRA Pro Mod World Champ Mitch Stott put in a bid for the third CSK flopper ride. Supposedly he brought a low six-figure deal to the team but it wasn't enough

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do-ray-me to get the ride. The number the Agent keeps hearing for a nitro rent-a-ride this year is around a half-million bucks. [12-02-2003]

BRACKET CIRCUITS IN THE NEWS

Agent 1320 has learned that a couple of the premier bracket circuits have gone through some changes that should benefit both. A.J. Ash and Tommy Casteneda have bought the B&M Racer Appreciation series from John Spar. The pair has also secured television coverage of the series by Ted Jones' Masters Entertainment that will be broadcast on ESPN2. Our information is that Spar will stay with the program in an advisory capacity and that B&M will remain as the title rights sponsor of the series.

Million Dollar man, George Howard, is going to announce Dec. 4 at the PRI Show in Indianapolis that his bracket series, as well as his Million Dollar bracket race, has a major title rights sponsorship. There will be some other changes in store for the 2004 season. [12-02-2003]