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PATON NOT SO FUNNY NOW

After driving a Funny Car since the age of 16 and winning two IHRA World Championship in Alky Funny car, Todd Paton is the latest to make the switch to a Top Fuel car. He and his dad have acquired the Top Fueler formerly campaigned by Colorado's Peek Brothers and driven by both Brady Kalivoda and Jim Cavalieri last year. The Canadian team will concentrate on the IHRA circuit and especially the three IHRA events held in Canada, starting with the end of May race in Grand Bend, Ontario.

They also will compete at the May 8-10 U.S. Open event at Cordova.

The team's last fuel flopper race will be at the NHRA Bristol race and then they will remove the engine and drivetrain and install

it in the dragster. [4-22-2003]

HEY MR CULLINAN MAN

Add Funny Bike racer "Turbo" Tim Cullinan to the list of drivers to go from two wheels to four and from running 200mph to over 300...maybe. The Agent has learned the Chicago, Illinois racer, who has two "National Event" bike titles to his credit will be wheeling his J.P. Phillips-backed Top Fuel dragster at the upcoming U.S. Open of Drag Racing at Illinois' Cordova Raceway Park with veteran crew chief/driver Mike Smith tuning the car. He'll also race at the NHRA race at Route 66 later this year. Cullinan has career-best performance numbers of 4.811/ 305.08 mph. (photo by Cheryl Boone) [4-22-2003]

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR LAWNMOWERS!

Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway has plans to build a grass oval track specifically for the sport of lawn mower racing. Yes, sports fans, you can bring that ol' John Deere out

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of the garage and onto the racetrack. The first race is scheduled for May 10 and will be sanctioned by (the Agent kids you not) the U.S. Lawnmower Racing Association.

"We've already had a really good response from many of our drag racers," said BIR President Bill Singleterry. "They typically haul ATV's or golf carts with them to get around the track and tow their car, but many have told us that, instead, they'll bring along a riding lawn mower and race it."

There are several different classes, from stock machines to modified mowers that barely resemble a lawn mower and can top out at more than 60 mph.

We'd like to see what Austin Coil can do with one of these. Or better yet, since it's in Minnesota, how about the Professor? [4-22-2003]

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