ONE BAD BUICK

West Coast Pro Mod hitter Kip Dupuis sent the Agent this photo of his '57 Buick Roadmaster Pro Mod. The car was built by Tim McAmis and is powered by the Hemi that was in Bob Rieger's short-lived '57 Chevy Pro Mod. The car ran on the West Coast last year but Dupuis says he is looking to make a few NHRA and IHRA events in 2004. The Agent loves the port holes on the front fenders. Cool, dude! (Rich Carlson photo)
[12-03-2003]

NEWS CARS FOR THE NEW YEAR

The Agent hears that there will be a lot of new cars on the NHRA and IHRA Pro Mod scenes next year. Mitch Stott reportedly will have a new Tommy Mauney '63 'Vette to replace his current Murray Anderson/Tommy Mauney car. The Agent also hears that Jim Oddy will have a new car. He's sworn to secrecy as to the body style and builder but it will

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be something the team hasn't had before. Agent 1320 hears that Canadian Al Billes is getting yet another new Pro Mod. But this one is being built in a New York State chassis shop. [12-03-2003]

NMCA/NSCA FIASCO CONTINUES

The soap opera that is organized street car racing in the U.S. continues. On Nov. 29, the (then) National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) website featured a message from organization president Tony DePillo saying he was "shell shocked" after learning "the deal that I had put together with PriMedia at the SEMA show has been, for the lack of a better word, nullified." Apparently, ProMedia, owners of the PRO Fastest Steet Car series, bought the rights to the NMCA name right out from under him.

Undaunted, DePillo said his series would revert to its original National Street Car Association (NSCA) label and its 2004 season would go on as scheduled. As of Dec. 3, the NMCA/NSCA web site had disappeared. The Agent suspects we haven't heard the last of this one. [12-03-2003]

COMPTON SECURE WITH ESPN

The 2004 season will be the fourth of a five-year contract between the National Hot Rod Association and TV partners ESPN and ESPN2. NHRA president Tom Compton said any rumor about the POWERade Drag Racing Series switching to the Speed Channel is unfounded.

We're in discussions in extending that contract. We're ESPN all the way," Compton said. "You'll see things on that in the near future." [12-03-2003]