Photo by Jeff Burk

... and now your mid-year report

6/9/03

he June Swoon. Drag racing is headed for the bowels of the muggy, hot summer months and drag racing fans' ability to get used to summer tune-ups. Always slower (probably save for Chicago) and always immeasurably more uncomfortable. Below are my bashful conclusions of what I have seen so far. This should be an easy read what with lots of smaller paragraphs and the usual booze-and drug-infested summations. The one on Greg Anderson will be a little longer, but the rest should be as digestible as a White Castle "Slider."

GREG ANDERSON

Who is the first "NEW(!)" drag racing star of the "New" (as in 1,000 years) millennium? To my mind, it's Greg. I know what you're saying. . .Gee, C. Bley Motorsports Au Go Go, way to hang your neck out; he has been impressive lately.

Yeah, he has. But in the immortal words of Duke Ellington's big band arranger, "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it." Anderson, of course, was Pro Stock immortal Warren Johnson's "crew chief" for many years prior to his 1998 debut at the NHRA Springnationals. And I, like many, viewed Greg as I did "Fuzzy" Carter with Eddie Hill, Herb Parks with Don Garlits, or "Porkchop" with Chris Karamesines. These guys were good talented mechanics, but we all knew where the real whack came from. Garlits, Hill, and my pal from Chicago called the ultimate shot.

And is so many times the case, these "crew chiefs" may have gone on to reasonable careers, but they never even came close to surpassing their one-time employers. Not so with Mr. Anderson. After his 6.6-second, 207-mph barrage at Englishtown, I feel that we may be looking at a new member into that rare-air club in Pro Stock that includes the Bob Gliddens, Warren Johnsons, etc. He now has the NHRA points lead and I believe he will go on to win the POWERade title.

Sure, there are new faces on the block. Not like Anderson's, though. He's competing in the only really competitive Pro class in NHRA and, to my mind, may be ready to pull away. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Warren, Darrell, Yates, hang on to your hats, the four-time 2003 winner is going to be very, very hard to deal with in the coming months.

TONY PEDREGON

Think of the great two-car teams in Pro racing, in particular, nitro racing. How many number two drivers (in other words, secondary to their bosses) have gone on to pass the boss and win the NHRA or IHRA title or whatever? None! However, that's what it appears Tony Pedregon is going to do in Funny Car. As much as I love John Force, it's taking too much time for the new combination, and only the greatest comeback in drag racing history will land him a 12th NHRA Funny Car season championship. Meanwhile, Pedregon, on the skates provided by the world's most underrated crew chief, John Medlen, is kicking ass and ignoring names. Right now, I think they've got it.

KENNY BERNSTEIN

Think of other sports that you watch on TV. There's this great athlete, race driver, you name it, who has put his cue in the rack. Retired. Then, because of some calamity, he is forced to strap on his guns again and get into the mix. I have not seen the newspapers in Englishtown and won't see them in the papers that cover races where Kenny Bernstein has replaced his son Brandon at the wheel of the "Budweiser King." However, and I'm assuming here, NHRA, if it hasn't, should jump on this with all it's worth. A sixty-some retired all-time great hops in the saddle to duel with the "young" hotshots of today and try and keep the momentum established by his red-hot rookie Top Fuel-driving son. Sure, those of us on the inside know that it's so much promotional bullshit, but not the people who are looking at drag racing as a potential spectator and need something to draw them in more. Come on, "Kings Go Forth."