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OH, CANADA

Canadian racer Rob Atchison, the current IHRA Funny Car points leader, was voted 2002 "Drag Racer of the Year" by readers of Inside Track Motorsport News, a Canadian racing magazine. Pro Mod racer Al Billes was second in the voting.

The Funny Car and Pro Stock portion of the IHRA ACDelco Nationals, which Atchison won, will be televised on SPEED Channel Saturday June 28th at 11:00 PM Eastern Time with Top Fuel and Pro Mod televised June 21 at 11:00 PM. (Ian Tocher photo) [6-18-2003]

'RACE WITHIN A RACE' AT VMP

Fans and drag radial racers alike will enjoy two races for the price of one at Virginia Motorsports Park. BW-AirWerks, the new aftermarket forced-air technology program from BorgWarner Turbo Systems, has joined Innovative Turbo Systems as the sponsor for the Race Within A Race, a new addition to the 5th Annual Fun Ford Weekend Old Dominion event, which will be held June 27-29 at VMP in Richmond, VA.

The eight quickest drag radial qualifiers from the first round of qualifying will be eligible to compete in the Race Within A Race, which is scheduled for June 28. BW-AirWerks and Innovative Turbo Systems will present the winner with a check for $2,000. Plus, the runner-up will receive $500. In addition, BFGoodrich will present a set of drag radial tires to both the winner and the runner-up. [6-18-2003]

FLAME OUT

Amid repeated computer code problems and server failures, one of the drag racing chat rooms has ceased to exist. Header Flames and its parent company Nitronic Research, have had the plug pulled by its founder Cole Coonce. Coonce commented, "I came to the conclusion that this is a nifty time to just stick a bullet in it."

No word at this time as to the fate of the Nitronic Research 5 Second Club and its 15 current members. [6-18-2003]

FORCE TEAM AT NORWALK'S 'NIGHT UNDER FIRE'

Following his record-setting performance in last week's Pontiac Excitement Nationals at Columbus and preceding his appearance at the "Night Under Fire" at Norwalk Raceway

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Park, drag racing champion John Force made a stop at the Sandusky, Ohio Wal-mart store to meet the participants in one of the retailer's regional TLE "rodeos."

TLE is an acronym for Tire and Lube Express, a specialty automotive service available at selected Wal-mart stores. The top technicians from such Wal-mart locations in the Ohio region competed in a series of contests that will determine finalists for the national TLE rodeo to be held at Wal-mart world headquarters.

In addition to the reigning NHRA Funny Car champion, the three other members of the Force Racing Team, Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, and daughter Ashley Force, each supported by Castrol, will compete in the June 21 "Night of Fire" at nearby Norwalk Raceway Park.

And if John's season gets any more frustrating, he may be planning a return to driving a truck in that TLE rodeo himself. [6-18-2003]