CHRIS VANDERGRIFF INKS SPONSOR

Rookie Top Fuel racer Chris Vandergriff has signed a sponsor for his appearance at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals this year. Vandergriff, an executive Vice President for Hedman Hedders, has a one-race deal with Efans.com, a new organization that, according to a press release, "gives avid auto racing fans the opportunity to participate in the sport's inner circle through direct sponsorship of racing teams in a variety of racing series."

"Since our successful Atlanta debut, we have been stockpiling the necessary parts it takes to compete at this level," Vandergriff said. "We feel our inventory is sufficient to go out and compete with the best of the best. We're not just out there to show up. We're out there to win. We're ready to compete at the top level. Preparation is the key to a successful team. Without it, you might as well stay home and not embarrass yourself or your sponsors."
[8-5-2003]

DENSHAM OUT OF FORCE CAMP?

Agent 1320 has been hearing for three weeks now that Gary Densham may be replaced next season in the John Force Funny Car operation. Depending on whom you talk to, the reasons vary from (1) Ford wanting a woman (maybe Ashley Force?) in one of the Force Fuel Coupes to (2) Densham's long-time, main sponsor, AAA of California, pulling the plug.

The Agent has heard for a while that AAA was looking to shed themselves of the Densham deal because the company reportedly is having cash flow problems relating to their main source of income -- the travel agency service -- losing a lot of business after 9/11 and the airlines refusing to give travel agencies the discounts they used to. Agent 1320 also hears that if Densham does have his own team next season he won't have a Mustang body but will still receive support from the Force camp. [8-4-2003]

SCHUMACHER SOAP OPERA

The Agent watched the NHRA Sonoma broadcast on ESPN and it was obvious from watching the interviews with team owner Don Schumacher, drivers Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore, and Bazemore's tuner, Lee Beard, that those folks weren't all on the same

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page when it came to the subject of lane choice and what, if anything, would be done to insure that a Team Schumacher driver got every opportunity to win a POWERade World Championship. It was pretty obvious that there were several points of view in the camp on the subject.

The Agent hears that Jim Jannard, who is the main backer of Scelzi's ride, was more than a little upset when Scelzi was relegated to the bad lane the week before at Seattle and made his feelings known. Rumor has it that he let it be known that he wouldn't be involved in NHRA drag racing in the future if that kind of "team orders" continued. Schumacher's comments after Scelzi's win in the final would seem to indicate that there is some merit to the rumor.

The Agent would remind everyone that -- unlike the John Force operation which is really a three-car team with one or two main sponsors that functions as a team operating out of one main shop -- the Schumacher operation is made up of individual teams and racers with their own shops, sponsors, and tuners, and they aren't really an Army of one.
[8-4-2003]

WILL THIS ONE FLY?

For the second time in recent weeks, the Agent heard rumblings of a possible schedule change for the 2004 NHRA POWERade drag racing season. The rumor going around is that NHRA would like to compress the racing season, moving the opening Winternationals at Pomona a little later in the month and move the World Finals a little earlier. Another part of this scenario includes making three 3-race swings like the just completed Denver, Seattle, Sonoma Western Swing.

This change is also looking into swapping some race dates that have been perpetually plagued with lousy weather, sticky humidity, or excessive heat.

Apparently one of the main reasons for this "trial balloon" is to gauge the reaction from racers, officials, sponsors, and spectators, but ultimately the idea is to allow more time off in the off season. If that's the reason, let's all hope nobody suggests adding a few more national race dates to fill in the newly available weekends. [8-4-2003]