MORE TWO-CAR FUEL TEAMS COMING?

Agent 1320 keeps hearing that Melanie Troxel is going to end up in the seat of a second Top Fuel dragster for the Don Prudhomme Miller Lite team. It's just rumor at this stage but

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it would certainly make some sense for the team, from both a history and marketing background. The Snake has a history of hiring talented, young drivers such as Troxel.

The Agent's operative also told him that Kenny Bernstein would like to add a second car but evidently has let it be known that he may retire from the driver's seat permanently when Brandon returns and put someone else in the seat of a second car should there be one.

Now remember, folks, don't take any of this too seriously -- after all it is the silly season, but if it turns out to be true, remember where you read it. [9-15-2003]

THE SARGE GOES LOW!

Thanks to a chance to run at that mineshaft known as Maple Grove Raceway at around 11:41 PM on Friday night and, of course, the tuning expertise of Allen Johnson, Tony Schumacher lit up the boards with an astounding 4.465 -- which is the quickest elapsed time ever. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the number came up on the board considering the way the AJ-tuned car ran at Indy the previous week!

Here are the numbers: 60-ft: .82; 330-f.: 2.692; 660-ft: 3.008/273.94; 1000-ft: 3.789; quarter-mile: 4.465/328.78. (Todd Dziadosz photo) [9-15-2003]

RUMOR, COUNTER-RUMOR

Maybe it won't be the Skoal Challenge that replaces the Big Bud Shootouts after all. The Agent reported a rumor from a reliable source last week that American Tobacco Company's Skoal brand would replace Budweiser as the sponsor of the Top Fuel/Funny Car shootout programs. Now an insider calls the Agent to say that the Tobacco Settlement may not allow that to happen. Stay tuned. [9-15-2003]

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY (AGAIN)

The 19th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway have been postponed due to inclement weather. The race will continue Oct. 3-5.One round of professional qualifying was completed Friday, Sept. 12 and those runs will count towards the rescheduled event. Qualifying will continue on Saturday, Oct. 4 with two professional qualifying sessions and final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.
[9-15-2003]