THEY AIN'T GOT NO BODY

A rumor heard in the Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing Funny Car pits at Sonoma was that GM Racing has blessed the development of a new Funny Car body to replace the Camaro body on the cars currently driven by Tommy Johnson and Ron Capps as well as the Pontiac of Del Worsham. Since neither the Camaro or Firebird are still in production by any GM Division, they'd like to have a new body to reflect that change on the drag strip. Teams running the remaining GM bodies have long needed the corporate backing to develop a new body, needing cooperate backing for the engineering and wind tunnel time required.

Earlier this year, a GM Racing official was heard to say that they "are just trying to get somebody at GM Corporate to listen."

Although not confirmed by anyone at GM Racing, the current wisdom is looking at a swoopy, carbon fiber Cavalier or Grand AM body style similar to those already campaigned in Pro Stock. [8-4-2003]

FRAM, PRESTONE RENEW SPONSORSHIPS

Honeywell Consumer Products Group announced Aug. 3, that it will continue through 2004 as the primary sponsor for Rhonda Hartman-Smith (above) and her husband John "Bodie" Smith (below) through its FRAM Filters and Prestone Products divisions. FRAM has supported Rhonda Hartman-Smith throughout her driving career and came onboard as primary sponsor in 2000 for several races.

In 2002, Hartman Motorsports, owned by Rhonda's father, Virgil Hartman, added a second team dragster driven by Smith that originally was entered into competition to help fill out 16-car fields at NHRA national events. However, the Prestone-backed car has since joined Hartman-Smith's car as a top-10 entry in the points chase. (DRO file photos by Ian Tocher) [8-4-2003]