IT TAKES AN ARMY

Dean Skuza's Memphis semi-final win over John Force was more validation for his mid-season surge under crew chief Brian Corradi, but nobody was prepared for the thrash they needed to compete in the final round against Schumacher Racing's Matco Funny Car driven by Whit Bazemore. As Skuza said in his top end, post-fire interview, "We're done; that's the worse one I've ever been involved in."

Bill Stevens of ESPN then told Skuza, "Whit Bazemore just told me to tell you that if there's anything you guys need, they will be standing by."

When Skuza returned to the pits with his burned-out Funny Car, he was met by members of at least six other nitro teams, some 30 crewmembers, repeating a fine drag racing tradition of helping a fellow driver. With 75 minutes until the final round, it was a major

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thrash to replace the engine, air lines, wires, hoses and whatever else. With minutes to spare, and under the watchful eye of NHRA's Ray Alley and team owners Don Prudhomme and Don Schumacher, Skuza's patchwork car fired to the cheers of the fans and crew.

According to one of the participants in the thrash, however, it seems that two crew members of Team Schumacher were subsequently fired for their participation in "helping the enemy" get to the starting line against Baze. When the two freshly unemployed team members reported to Scotty Cannon, announcing the Army Racing team commander's verdict, Cannon's reaction reportedly was that the two crew guys worked for him and not for Team Schumacher. According to an eyewitness, Cannon then met with Jim Jannard, who said, "Those are my guys!" If the crewmen were to be fired, Team Schumacher could take the Oakley O off all the racecars and support vehicles right then.

The two crewmen were re-hired on the spot. And another drag racing tradition continues. [9-23-2003]

LUCILLE LEE DIES

Former executive secretary turned Top Fuel dragster pilot, Lucille Lee passed away Aug. 24, 2003 at age 52 after a lengthy illness. Lee worked for Long Beach, CA car was manufacturer TR3 Resin Glaze, who sponsored the dragsters of Steve Hodkinson and "Starvin'" Marvin Graham in the early 1980s. Lee attended her first drag race in 1981 and saw the TR3 team cars racing. Within a year she was in the cockpit of a team car under the mentorship of engine builder Marc Danekas. Lee won the 1982 March Meet, beating Shirley Muldowney. Later that year, Lee went on to meet her teammate Hodkinson in the first all-team car NHRA Top Fuel final at Atlanta Dragway's Southern Nationals. Lee won the final after her teammate lost fire, running a 5.93 at 230.76 mph.

Lucille (Nieto) Lee was the first Latina driver in professional motorsports. She is survived by her husband, Brian, daughter, Serena, a brother and a sister. [9-23-2003]

MITCH STOTT GOING TOP FUEL IN 2004?

Agent 1320's sources have told him that Pro Mod star Mitch Stott, currently in a battle for both the NHRA and IHRA World Championships, is telling people that he is considering moving to Top Fuel for next season and, if he does, Jimmy Rector would go with him as the tuner. Our sources tell us that he has already begun making renderings of the car and has committed to acquiring a newer truck and trailer capable of supporting a Top Fuel operation. The Agent hears that one of the main reasons for the switch is money. Evidently the fact that a nitro car gets three times as much money as the first alternate at an NHRA fuel show as a Pro Mod does to qualify entered into Stott's decision. [9-22-2003]