GAHM PUTS IHRA PRO STOCK RECORD IN THE 6.40'S

A tip of the Agent's fedora to IHRA Pro Stock Racer Brian Gahm. Gahm drove his Jerry Haas-built Mustang powered by a Jon Kaase 815-inch Ford engine to consecutive laps of 6.485/213.16 and 6.476/213.82 at Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada. He not only broke the barrier but set the IHRA Pro Stock record. [6-3-2003]

INSTANT GREEN

The Agent has learned that NHRA officials at the highest levels are entertaining the idea of changing the program on the "Christmas Tree" starting system from a .500 and .400 delay for the heads-up classes to an "instant green." The Agent talked to several pro drivers in the Pro Stock and nitro ranks and all were in favor of an "instant green" starting line program.

The reasons for making the change would be to reduce the number of red light starts and make driver's reaction times a bigger factor. The general opinion among many drivers is that the new LED lights have helped the marginal drivers and hurt drivers who used to be able to cut a light when they needed one. John Force has said that the LED lights now being used have contributed to his recent red-lights.

The Agent was also told by one official that NHRA may consider going to a .300 tree just for the Pro classes, but retain the same delay they have now for the Sportsman classes. (photo by Jeff Burk) [6-3-2003]

HE JUST KEEPS COMING BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

The Agent's sources have told him that the ever entertaining Bob Rieger is coming back to drag racing one more time. According to these sources, Rieger is going to campaign an IHRA mountain-motored Pro Stocker with engines from Sonny Leonard's Lynchburg, VA shop. That makes some sense because Rieger's first efforts in Pro Street was in a Pro Stock Pontiac with 800-inch Sonny Leonard engines for power. [6-3-2003]

NEXT PAGE >>