ASHLEY & SMITH GOING "EXPERIMENTAL" AT DARLINGTON WINTERNATIONALS

DRO has learned that Pro Mod racer Mike Ashley has joined forces with R.E. Smith with the same 1963 Corvette that Tommy Mauney campaigned last season. According to their press release, Ashley and Smith have "spared no expense" in making the 'Vette "the ultimate five-second runner."

"All I will say is that this car will be experimental and it's going to be bad to the bone," explained Ashley, who made the switch from a nitrous combination to supercharger last year. "My crew chief Chuck Ford is working on an engine program just for this car. I want to be the first into the Fives and my team is committed to that cause. However, our first priority is to win races and take the NMM/DRO points series championship for the NHRA exhibition series."

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Just how experimental the 'Vette can get is somewhat questionable since the rules only allow the cars to differ from an IHRA/AMS legal Pro Mod by letting the teams take 200 lbs out of the car and increase the blower overdrive to any percentage. One thing is sure: Ashley's veteran tuner Chuck Ford has plenty of experience with lightweight Pro Mods and running a lot of blower boost due to his experience running "Outlaw" Pro Mods in the South. Ford was one of the first tuners to get a Pro Mod to run a sub-four-second eighth-mile lap. (1-9-2003)

BIG BASH AT FAYETTEVILLE

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If you are really "Jonesing" to race your bracket car and don't mind driving or hauling your stuff down South, here's your chance. There will be a 2-day event at the newly NHRA sanctioned Fayetteville (NC) MotorSports Park Dragway Jan. 18-19. Pays $3,000 to Win in Top Eliminator (both days) plus a Quick 32 Gamblers Race ($100 entry fee / payback 75%). See more information at www.fayettevillemotorsports.com. (1-9-2003)

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