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Now, a cautionary note regarding the NHRA / AMS scenario.
What happens the first time a slew of Wild Cards make the
cut, leaving some of The 20 on the outside looking in? If
Management is smart (and I believe they are), they will not
go the route of NASCAR, and more recently, the World of Outlaws
dirt late model tour. And the route in question is the Way
of the Provisional. As long as all Pro Mod racers have to
race their way into the starting lineup, there should be no
problem. If they do as the WOO DLM folks are (where outsiders
will be trying for a handful of open spots per A feature),
I'm not sure that will fly with the fans. But when all is
said and done, it's NHRA/AMS's show, and thus their decision.
I guess we will just have to wait and "observe."
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And now, for something different, how about those Turbo Pro
Mods? Hate them, can't live without them-what say you? Talk
about history repeating itself. Years ago, the Large Editor
and I "assisted" the good folks at Kansas City International
Raceway on one of their Summer National races. Our assistance
came in the form of suggesting a match race within the race
that would capitalize on that year's Title Rights sponsor,
Motorcraft. Mark Oswald, the Motorcraft standard bearer that
year, with his T-Bird nitro funny car.
Oswald demurred from KCIR's invite, as he was not much into
match racing. What to do, what to do? The Burk and Leonard
brain trust suggested this- a match up between Motorcraft's
other big gun Rickie Smith (IHRA Mountain motor T-Bird) and
Buddy Ingersol (small motor, turbo-fired Buick Skyhawk). This
was to take place within the framework of an open 8-car Outlaw
Pro Stock elimination race. With the rest of the field being
what is was (weak), we felt sure the dynamic duo would meet
up in the final round.
And for once, it all went as envisioned. For the gold, it
was Tricky Ricky over a broken Ingersol. Cheers abounded,
but not so much for the Rickie win, as happy-to-see-it-broke
against the turbo. I remember being surprised at the crowd's
reaction, and being a reporter, I decided to get some insight.
I asked some of those lining the fence trackside what they
didn't like about the turbo. I got a variety of responses
(didn't sound right the most frequently given reason), but
the bottom line was the paying customers didn't care for the
turbo. It's now a good twenty years later, so maybe times
and spectators have changed. But I've got a shiny new Missouri
quarter that says the Turbo Guys will get a "lively"
response at some venues. But it's all good -- every show has
to have someone to root for, and against. That's what drag
racing is all about.
Since I have been out of the loop for a while, that's about
all I have to offer you this month. Here's an open request
for news from racers, tracks and drag racing businesses located
in the Midwest. There is only so much room in Agent 1320 for
news - I've got room for you here at the Lenny Factor. But
ya gotta let me know you're out there, if ya want me to do
you any good! It's good to be back, let's have some fun with
drag racing in 2005!
See Ya!! 
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