KORETSKY AND NICKENS FORM PRO STOCK TEAM

Veteran NHRA Pro Stock driver Kenny Koretsky and former driver and engine builder David Nickens (photo) have joined forces on a NHRA Pro Stock team for the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Koretsky will handle the driving duties on the team's Dodge Neon R/T and Nickens will supply the engine power and work with crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia, Jr. on tuning and setup operations.

"This is something that we have been trying to do for quite some time. Kenny and I have been friends for a long time and actually tried to put this program together last year," said Nickens. "I think Kenny is a good racer. He has done a very good job with his racing program in the past but has lacked the complete package, namely a sound engine program, to put him in the winner's circle. I think Kenny can win races if he has all the right ingredients."

The KPK Motorsports/Nickens Brothers Racing Dodge Neon will take to the track for testing in mid-January. Current plans call for the team to run the pre-season 10th annual Pontiac Excitement Pro Stock SuperBowl at Houston Raceway Park, January 30-February 1, and then head straight to Pomona, Calif., for the season-opening NHRA K&N Filters Winternationals, February 6-9. (DRO file photo by Jeff Burk)[1-14-2003]

COUGHLIN TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW PRO STOCKER

Last week current NHRA Pro Stock World Champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. picked up a brand new 2003 cavalier for 2003 from the Jerry Bickel race car manufacturing facility in Troy, MO. The team will add that car to the Bickel Cavalier they already have (which has just a few laps on it) to open the 2003 NHRA POWERade season. Several other teams have cars under construction at the shop including Mike Edwards (2003 Grand Am), Greg Anderson (2003 Grand Am), and Mike Thomas who is having two new cars (2003 Cavaliers) for a two car team that he will field at the POWERade events in 2003. [1-14-2003]

PRE-ENTRY LIST FOR DARLINGTON DRAGWAY'S WINTERNATIONALS IMPRESSIVE

Agent 1320 got a call from an operative at Darlington Dragway. Seems like a lot of Pro Mod racers have been calling to say that they would be coming to the Feb. 13-16 event for the "Race to the Fives." The Agent figured his readers would like to see a list of the racers that say they're coming. The normal rule of thumb in the racing business is that about half the people that call and say they are coming actually show up. If that rule holds true at Darlington it has the possibility of being the best pre-season Pro Mod show in the history of the sport.

Here is a list of racers that have verbally committed to attending: Mike Ashley (Supercharged), Zach Barklage (S), Mike Castellana (Nitrous), Shannon Jenkins (N), Mitch Stott (S), Quain Stott (S), Tommy Grey (S), Mike Stawicki (S), Mike Janis (S), Ed Hoover (N/S), Bill Hill (N), Troy Critchley (N), Tommy Grey (S), Chip King (S), Bill Kuhlmann (S), Tim McAmis (S), Steve Vick (N), Rickie Smith (N), Scott Ray (S), Rick Stivers (S), Dale Brinsfield (S), Annette Summer (N) [1-14-2003]

IHRA ADOPTS NHRA TOP FUEL RULES

In a move that can only help the occasionally dismal IHRA Top Fuel fields, IHRA announced on their internet site (www.IHRA.com) that they are adopting Top Fuel rules for the 2003 season that are believed to be the same as NHRA's current rules. This move allows NHRA Top Fuel teams, that in the past had to change their combination if they wanted to compete at IHRA, to compete without change; it also makes it easier for those IHRA teams that want to compete at NHRA to do.

DRO feels that this move by Bill Bader and his management team is good for drag racing in general and IHRA more specifically. A tip of the hat to all concerned. Now, if he would just think about those entry fees for Top Fuel teams...Oh well, Rome was built or burned in a day, was it? [1-14-2003]

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