COWIN SERIOUSLY INJURED

Top Fuel dragster driver Andrew Cowin was injured when he apparently fell from a truck-mounted crane. According to a hospital spokesperson, the 23-year-old Cowin was brought to the hospital in critical condition. He's now in the Intensive Care Unit awaiting a brain scan and listed in serious condition at the Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn. Cowin currently drives the Carrier Boyz Top Fuel dragster owned by Mark and Andy Carrier. In 2002 Cowin finished eighth in NHRA POWERade points driving Darrell Gwynn's dragster, but then lost his seat to Cory McClenathan. (Jeff Burk photo) [3-27-2003]

STEVE JOHNSON VINDICATED

At the recently completed Gatornationals, an NHRA official insinuated on national television that veteran Pro Stock Bike competitor and one of NHRA's most staunch public supporters, Steve Johnson, was cheating by using an oversized engine to qualify. Despite Johnson's prostest that he was legal, he was disqualified. Now, it turns out that Johnson was right and the NHRA tech department screwed up. What follows is the press release from NHRA.

"GLENDORA, Calif. (March 24, 2003) -- After an extensive investigation by NHRA tech officials regarding Pro Stock Bike participant Steve Johnson's disqualification at the 34th annual Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, NHRA's technical department has determined the engine did not exceed the specifications for two-valve engines (maximum 1508 cc, 92 cubic inch displacement).

"As a result, Johnson will be awarded the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series championship points he would have earned at the event as a qualified first round participant. Those points include two points for qualifying 12th at the event and 20 additional points for first round participation. Johnson currently has 32 points, which

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includes 10 points earned for participating in qualifying at the event. Johnson is tied for 10th in the chase for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series championship in Pro Stock Bike. Johnson also will receive 105 points towards the K&N Filters Pro Bike Klash, a special event held during the Mac Tools US Nationals.

"'After the event, NHRA officials had some questions regarding the engine measurements we had observed and recorded,' said Cary Menard, vice president of technical administration, NHRA. 'In the interest of fairness to the team, we visited Steve's shop in Birmingham (Ala.) last week and conducted follow-up displacement measurements on the engine. The results of the investigation determined that the device used at the event to measure the engine displacement registered a false reading, despite verifying calibration of the device at the event. As such, the engine was legal at the time Johnson was participating and thus led NHRA to award the additional points.

"'This was clearly an extraordinary occurrence. We continue to have the utmost confidence in our technical staff and equipment and, moving forward, are taking every step we can to eliminate this sort of situation in the future.'

"Joining Menard was Jim Collins, NHRA's Division 2 technical director. The decision by NHRA will not adversely affect any points earned by John Smith, who was inserted into the bike lineup upon Johnson's disqualification." [3-27-2003]

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