|
AMATO/RUSSELL "WALSH" ON THE DEAL
Darrell Russell, in case you didn't hear, was the first NHRA Top Fuel
driver to debut with a win at an NHRA national event since Gary Scelzi's
1997 romp at the same race. What also really impressed the big mouth
here, though, was Jim Walsh's ultra-impressive step up to crew chief
for Amato. Think about it, when was the last time a Top Fuel crew chief
debuted with a national event win? Off the top of my head, Gary Beck
at the 1972 U.S. Nationals, but I'll bet there are others after that.
(CM)
FINE Shelly Anderson's explanation of NHRA's restructured oildown fine
format did little to win the Association any friends. She reported that
the first three qualifying sessions were free for oildown infractions,
but if you oiled the track on the fourth, you got tagged with the $500.
Then if, you spit up blood in eliminations, the price went to a thousand.
If you coughed up in the finals, the inflation went to $2,000. 90-percent
- okay, I guess begrudgingly. 75 minutes - okay. Inflated fines for racers
trying hard to put on a good show - A resounding NO. Throw in NHRA's questionable
clipping of Gary Scelzi for the $50,000 bonus, hmmmmm .....(CM)
GOOEY…GOOEY…GOOD
If you saw more smiles at Pomona on the faces of those who make up the
NHRA's Safety Safari crew, there was a good reason. A new liquid traction
compound produced by Texas-based VP Racing Fuels and used for the first
time at Pomona Raceway produced results beyond the expectations of even
the most positive member of the Safari team.
According to Chief Starter Rick Stewart, the new compound required
less track scraping, less dragging, and produced fewer bald spots than
what was used before.
FUN AT THE TOP END
TV viewers must've gotten a rise out of Whit Bazemore's 4.91 to 5.15
win over John Force in round one. Bazemore exited the car on the shutoff
road, and Force came over to offer his congratulations. Bazemore went
on to say, "Hey, it's good any time when you beat a guy like Force,":
and then the mike veered over to Force, who promptly went off in the
manner fans know and love. About midway through the rap, Bazemore took
back the mike ala a wrestler and said, "Hey, it's my interview this
time ..." For Force fans, a declaration of war, for Bazemore's ... I
don't know ... new sheriff in town? (CM)
|
|
