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HAMLIN MOVING TO NHRA PRO STOCK
Veteran NASCAR crew chief Kevin Hamlin, who was one of
Dale Earnhardt's crew chiefs and currently calls the shots for the Richard
Childress/Robbie Gordon team, announced at the NHRA event at St. Louis
that he would become involved in NHRA drag racing in the Pro Stock division.
Hamlin will lend his name to the Reid and Mark Whisnant NHRA Pro Stock
team in efforts to sign sponsorship for a second Pro Stock team. The
team made it clear that at present they have not signed any sponsorship
for the second team but are negotiating with several potential sponsors.
Hamlin made it clear that he will not be crew-chiefing
a NHRA Pro Stocker nor will he be attending all of the events when the
Pro Stock team becomes a reality and that his main attention would be
directed at his work for Richard Childress and the Robbie Gordon team.
"I've always had an interest in drag racing and someday
I will retire from NASCAR and when I do I would like to do this (NHRA
drag racing) full time.
Hamlin worked as a crew member on Mark Whisnant's 2002
Cavalier Pro Stocker which qualified fourth and went several rounds
in eliminations at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals.
PITCHER LIKES FAST CARS, TOO
Left handed reliever Rod Beck, who last played in the
majors for the Boston Red Sox is the latest sports figure to join the
professional racing ranks as an owner. He is the owner of the Andy Neyer-driven
Pro Modified. The team's supercharged '93 Corvette qualified second
with a 6.340/222.36 and went a couple of rounds. Beck is currently recovering
from "Tommy John" surgery and plans to return to the major leagues for
the 2003 season.
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT SUPERCHARGED PRO MODS
HAVING AN ADVANTAGE?
For the first time in NHRA Pro Modified history, two nitrous
oxide-injected Pro Modifieds were in the final round. Shannon Jenkins
took the win over Ed Hoover in the final. Jenkins and Hoover were the
only two nitrous cars that qualified for the elite eight-car field.
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