FORCE LEARNING SUBTLETIES OF NEW MCKINNEY-BUILT MUSTANG

In his 26th season on the NHRA POWERade tour, after winning 106 races and 12 series championships, John Force finds himself in the unusual position of having to learn to drive all over again. That's because for the first time in his career, the 53-year-old veteran will be at the wheel of a Funny Car built by someone other than long-time friend Steve Pleuger.

Like teammates Tony Pedregon and Gary Densham, Force this year is making the transition to a McKinney Corporation chassis. The problem is that the McKinney chassis has certain nuances with which the 11-time Auto Racing All-America selection is not yet completely comfortable.

For one thing, his new Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang steers differently than did its predecessors, a factor that may have contributed to a Phoenix testing incident in which Force ran over three center line cones and destroyed a carbon fiber body. For another, the 53-year-old veteran commissioned modifications to a strap across the accelerator pedal. Designed to keep the driver's foot firmly planted during five G's of acceleration, the strap initially made it difficult, Force said, for him to "feel" the 7,000 horsepower at his command.

"With the strap (in place), I really didn't have a feel for what was happening," Force said. "I couldn't feel it in my feet."

Because of the chassis change and mixed test results from Phoenix and Tucson, where Force was quick but inconsistent, his third consecutive victory at Pomona Raceway is anything but a certainty. (Tim Marshall photo) [2-6-2003]

RANGOON CALLING MR. RADO

While perusing the Jan. 15 issue of National Speed Sport News, an item in Chris Economaki's column peaked the Agent's interest. Seems like Import drags hitter Chris Rado was in an Orlando, FL nightspot named Tabu. Mr. Rado was using his brand new, $20,000 platinum/sapphire Rado brand cell phone that, according to the item, he outbid Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow to get. Evidently he set the phone down and surprisingly shortly thereafter it disappeared. A $3,000, no questions asked, reward is being offered for the return. Come in Rangoon. (Jeff Burk photo)[2-6-2003]

NHRA PRO STOCK BIKE CLASS IN TROUBLE?

Agent 1320 keeps hearing rumors (no doubt started by the Pro Mod contingent) that, with the loss of Matt Hines and Angelle Savoie due to the lack of major sponsorship, NHRA may axe that class and replace it with Pro Mod as the fourth POWERade professional class. The Agent has two two-word statements for the Pro Mod mavens: "No way" and "Harley-Davidson." [2-6-2003]

IHRA GETS SPEEDY

Agent 1320 got a call today to inform him the IHRA will announce shortly they've inked a deal with the SpeedChannel to broadcast IHRA national events. Last year IHRA drag racing was broadcast on TNN. According to the Agent's source, series sponsor Hooters Restaurants facilitated the deal because of their Hooters Cup oval track series is broadcast on the SpeedChannel. This is good news for IHRA professional and sportsman racers and their sponsors as no television package had been announced or even rumored up to this point. [2-6-2003]

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