WALLY'S BEST BASH EVER

The 90th birthday bash for NHRA founder Wally Parks was truly a night to remember. Things kicked off at the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, and concluded with dinner and tributes at the Sheraton Fairplex, right next door. The list of heroes included legends such as Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Gary Beck, Parnelli and Parnelli Jones (to name a few), while the younger hero contingent saw Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Joe Amato, and John Force in attendance. Door prizes were up for grabs at each table, and several items were auctioned off in silent and live fashion, with all proceeds benefiting the Museum. In a special announcement, from now forward it will be known as "The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum." (photo by Typo Bass) [2-6-2003]

OAKLEY NOW 'LIFESTYLE MARKETING PARTNER' OF NHRA

The Agent is a bit confused (or is that bemused) at the latest news out of Glendora. Seems like Oakley, Inc. will become a lifestyle marketing partner of NHRA, beginning with the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season.

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What, the Agent asks, is a lifestyle marketing partner? NHRA provides the answer: "As a lifestyle marketing partner of NHRA, Oakley will continue its involvement with NHRA race teams and will continue to have the 'O' store on-site at every NHRA national event. The popular 'O' store features a vast array of Oakley products and merchandise available for purchase by NHRA fans."

Oh.

Currently, Oakley is the primary sponsor of the two Funny Cars owned by Schumacher Racing and driven by Scotty Cannon and Gary Scelzi and is an associate sponsor on Schumacher Racing's Matco Tools Funny Car driven by Whit Bazemore and the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster piloted by Tony Schumacher.

According to the press release from NHRA, "Oakley is a world brand, driven to ignite the imagination through the fusion of art and science."

Wow. [2-6-2003]

31 NATIONAL EVENTS FOR HARTMAN RACING T/F TEAMS?

After the announcement by the Virgil Hartman Top Fuel teams that they would enter the IHRA season opener at San Antonio, DRO contacted Virgil Hartman to verify his plans. He told DRO that he plans to also attend the second IHRA national event at Rockingham the week after NHRA's Gatornationals. He also said his teams could attend as many as eight of IHRA's national events in addition to the NHRA schedule. Two Top Fuel teams, 31 national events...whew! [2-6-2003]

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