Columns - Agent 1320

SMITH LEAVING THE NHRA PRO MOD CIRCUIT?

When the Agent talked to Rickie Smith at Houston, Smith hinted that, because he feels that his nitrous combination is basically non-competitive on the NHRA AMS Pro Mod circuit, he would probably drop off that tour and concentrate his efforts racing on Don Plemmons' nitrous-only circuit that runs on eighth-mile tracks in the Carolinas. Since eight of the sixteen Pro Mods that qualified at IHRA's Rockingham race were nitrous, the Agent wonders if Rickie might show up at some IHRA events. (Jeff Burk file photo) [4-18-2003]

Desert Drama! Is Banning Banned?

In what is rapidly becoming the Saga of Banning Drag City, a proposed

NHRA Sanctioned Southern California drag strip in the desert on the way to
Palm Springs,or oblivion depending which operative the agent talks to
evidently the desert dessert for drag racers has hit a small snag, which if
you study the history of proposed new tracks in SoCal is par for past desert
drag courses.

One of the latest issues to be addressed by promoter Marocco is that the
original plans called for construction to allow for a 2% downgrade over the
course of the proposed quarter mile. Seems that in order to actually receive
official NHRA sanctioning the downgrade cannot exceed 1%. For more dirt er
the agent meant sand on this subject check out the posts at our friends at
Nitronic Research¹s Headerflames.A TISKA, A TASCA?

The Agent has confirmed the rumor that Bob Tasca III will be driving an Alky
Funny car soon. According to his source, the car that Tasca will drive is
the same Tasca Ford theme car that John Force drove last year at E-Town and
has since been on display at a new Tasca Ford location in Rhode Island. [4-18-2003]

ZR-1 FOR CITCHLEY

Agent 1320 has verified that the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod team's lead driver and engine

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builder, Troy Critchley, is going to have a new ride when the team pulls into Bristol next week. The team has purchased a Tommy Mauney-built, '93 ZR-1 Corvette to replace the team's current '57 Chevy.

It's no secret that Critchley has had problems with the '57. With around 50 laps on the car already this year, the team has hardly ever gone quicker than 6.40's and has never gotten close to qualifying. Critchley has shown in the past that he is one of the best drivers and engine builders, and this new car should allow him to demonstrate that. A tip of the Agent's fedora to AMS honchos Dave Wood and Jeff Lynn for stepping up. [4-18-2003]

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