CRUZ-N BACK TO SNAP-ON

Snap-on Tools has signed a multi-year agreement with Cruz Pedregon Racing as an associate sponsor for the Advance Auto Parts Funny Car. Snap-on was associated with Cruz from 1992-1994 with team owner Larry Minor and 1996-1998 with Joe Gibbs. This marks the first time that Cruz has been both the driver and team owner.

In pre-season testing at Southwestern International Raceway at Tucson, Pedregon's best run was 5.207 at 253.33. Maybe those new Snap-on tools will help with the Firebird's tune-up. (DRO file photo by Jeff Burk) [1-27-2003]

ASHLEY UNVEILS "X" CAR

New York mortgage banker Mike Ashley has teamed up with R.E. Smith to field a special "experimental" 1963 Corvette that looks like a Pro Modified, sounds like a Pro Modified, but is far from being a conventional version of this brand of doorslammer. Ashley will run the X car at the InfiNet Ultimate Doorslammer Challenge to be held March 22, at Virginia Motorsports Park. In that event, drivers only have to have a suspended chassis, right or left-hand driven and contain a piston-driven engine.

Crew chief Chuck Ford has created a special engine just for this endeavor. Ford also tuned veteran Pro Modified outlaw racer Joey Moore to the first recorded doorslammer three-second run in the eighth-mile several years ago. [1-27-2003]

WHO GIVES A HOOT?

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Updating an earlier 1320 note, comes the staff and uniform information about the newly formed Hooters Air. On Jan. 25, the airline rolled out a freshly painted Boeing 737 from a hanger at Delta TechOps Center in Atlanta. The plane features an orange and white paint scheme with a large owl on the tail, from the famous Hooters Restaurant chain. Hooters Restaurants is the title sponsor of the IHRA's national event series. Two Hooters Air 737s will be manned by a flight crew consisting of two pilots (wearing traditional pilot uniforms), three flight attendants (wearing khaki pants and orange Hooters Air polo shirts), and two Hooters Girls (wearing traditional Hooters Restaurant uniforms). The flight attendants will be experienced, certified, and the position will be gender neutral. The Hooters Girls will be restaurant employees who will assist with hostess and food/beverage functions as allowed by FAA regulations. [1-27-2003]

ROMINE READY TO ROCK WITH NHRA

Paul Romine and the John Mitchell-led Montana Express Top Fuel team concluded testing last week at Firebird International Raceway with the CARQUEST Auto Parts-sponsored car running a best time of 4.710-seconds at 299.06 mph.

"We're happy with the results at Phoenix," said Romine, who will be driving at all 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. "The .71 was an early shutoff pass and we tested some different clutch setups on our other runs, which resulted in tire smoke. We're still a new team, but everyone worked well together in Phoenix so we're going to Las Vegas to test again before Pomona." (DRO file photo by Jeff Burk) [1-27-2003]

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