MATCH RACE MADNESS, AND MORE

4/8/05

month or so ago, I put out a plea for any and all information regarding match race action slated for the 2005 season. I got a lot of response from race tracks and groups putting on races, but not much from individual racers. So what else is new? Racers, God luv 'em, are their own worst enemies when it comes to letting the outside world know what's going on. Heck, if you don't see these guys on TV, or subscribe to National Dragster, you might never know these racers even exist!!

Be that as it may, the call is still open for ANY racer who feels his program could use a little public recognition to contact me, Jeff Leonard. I'll do what I can to get the word out, publish your race schedule, whatever works for you and me and the drag racing public. Hey, if I'll write up drag racing snowmobiles, I'll probably like what you race also. Give me a holler!!

And speaking of match races, here's a new one for you. Longtime Midwest alky Funny Car racer Rick Krafft has partnered up with friend Dave Hill to stage two Match race Madness events in 2005. Race dates are July 23 and August 20, 2005. The two shows will take place at U. S. 41 Dragway in Morocco, Indiana. A widely varying array of feature cars are scheduled to appear, with more to be added as race day(s) near. Many of the names already on board will be familiar to Midwest drag fans, some will not. Tom Motry and Mike Faser will be among the headliners, wheeling their familiar Drastic Plastic and Chicago Fire fuel altereds. These two have been at it for years, and put on a good show.

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Funny Cars will also be a large part of the action at US 41. At least three nostalgia nitro burners will be on hand, led by Troy Martin's Chi-Town Hustler tribute car. It's a looker, and with some early season testing, should be a runner too! Also scheduled are John Dunn's Dunn and Gone '72 Vega, and the Martin Brothers' flamed '72 Satellite. A bevy of alcohol Funny Cars will also see action, including Greg Jacobsmeyer, Mike Dolph, Rick Cortino, Kevin Lennin, and Dave Kovar.

If ya like nitro Harleys, there will be one of the best on hand at Morocco. Mike Romine will deal out some 200 mph two-wheeled action, and race organizers are searching out some suitable competition for him. Stay tuned for further developments on the Harley front.

Jets and wheelstanders are also in the Match Race Madness mix. Richard Hutchins' Chevy Rebellion and Danny O'Day's Superwinch Express will face off for the umpteenth time, and relative newcomer Scott Kennedy will have his Controlled Insanity Cutlass wheelstander on hand to keep them honest. Two flame throwers have been signed to date, with Al Zukauskas' Hot Blade dragster and the Speed For Hire Dodge truck of Paul Stender ready for duty. Krafft and Hill will doubtless have more on hand by race time, as jets go over big with race fans everywhere.

Lest the fans at US 41 get bored after watching the aforementioned acts play out, Krafft and Hill Inc. have taken an astute step to round out the show. They contracted with three different circuits, racing three distinctly different types of vehicles, to flesh out their Match Race Madness showbill. Pro Mod type action will be provided by the Chicago Wise Guys race circuit, a group of about twenty upper Midwest outlaw doorslammer racers. Luminaries among them include Pete Demos, Doug Roden, Dennis Firkus, Mike Recchia and Hector Laracuente - the top five 2004 Wise Guys points winners.