NHRA CUTTING BACK ON STAFF?

The Agent keeps hearing rumors that there could be another staff reduction in the future at NHRA. The only reason the Agent would give this rumor any credence at all would be the fact that an NHRA tech official was overheard complaining about the fact that NHRA cut the number of people that the sanctioning body brought to Houston in half for some departments. [4-24-2003]

IHRA CHANGING QUALIFYING TIMES?

One of the things that has been proposed to level the Pro Mod playing field is for IHRA to do the same thing with the Pro Mods that NHRA has done to some extent with the Pro Stock qualifying, that is, scheduling qualifying at a time of day that ensures atmospheric

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conditions won't favor that session above the rest. Confused? You should be; the Agent certainly is.

Even more confusing, IHRA Tech Director Mike Baker suggested to a DRO reporter that there could be changes in what time of day the IHRA Pro Mods qualified. A check of the Grand Bend and VMP schedules don't reflect any change from the usual qualifying time, but then there's still time for that to occur before they start racing at those tracks. [4-22-2003]

CARPENTER & DOHERTY FORM "SHOEBOX" PRO MOD TEAM

Shoebox Chevy legend Charles Carpenter (above) and northeast Pro Mod racer Pat Doherty will field a two-car team and compete at IHRA events during the 2003 season. Carpenter ran his venerable and overweight (2,530 lbs) car at races during the 2002 season using a motor on loan from nitrous racer Steve Vick. Carpenter will be joined by his 20-year-old son, Michael, who will be part of his crew.

Pat Doherty will have the second team car. His "Shoebox" is a nitrous oxide injected '57 Chevy. (Jeff Burk photo) [4-22-2003]

BRISTOL PRO MOD LIST

Here is the official pre-entry list of drivers who will be racing for the eight-car AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge field at the NHRA Mac Tools Thunder Valley nationals at Bristol: Mike Ashley, Al Billes, Mike Castellana, Troy Critchley, Fred Hahn, Bill Hill, Roy Hill, Shannon Jenkins, Chip King, Bill Kuhlmann, Tim McAmis, Marty McGinnis, Thomas Patterson, Scott Ray, Johnny Rocca, Rickie Smith, Mike Stawicki, Mitch Stott, Quain Stott, Wayne Torkelson, and Steve Vick. [4-22-2003]

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