DAY FOUR, ENTRY NINE

David Connolly, who's just 20 and looking for his first NHRA victory, never watched Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in his driving heyday, when his Grumpy's Toy Chevrolets kept the Pro Stock points races exciting.

But he can attest to Jenkins' engine-building wizardry and said he's pleased that his Bullet Motorsports entry will salute those days with his special edition paint scheme here. Team

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owner Mike Dzurilla came up with the idea and said he figured, ". . .This would be a great way to honor Bill for all he's done for the sport. And all that he's done for our team. Since Indy is NHRA's marquee event, we decided to race the car here so that Bill's many fans could enjoy it."

Jenkins' only U.S. Nationals Super Stock victory in 1967 is one of his 13 total national-event wins. In 1970, at Pomona, he won NHRA's first-ever Pro Stock event. Former driver Larry Lombardo gave Jenkins a U.S. Nationals runner-up finish (to Bob Glidden) as car owner and engine builder in 1979, Dave Strickler and Joe Lepone also drove a Grumpy's Toy Chevrolet to victory.

Jenkins, who retired as a driver in 1980 (three years before Connolly was born), gave his blessing by saying, "I think it's an all right deal. It should generate some noise."

Connolly's first race was at Chicago. He has qualified for five of the six events he has entered but said, "Our team has been improving at each race, and this would be a perfect time to break through for our first win."

DAY FOUR, ENTRY TEN

NHRA President Tom Compton said the Wally Parks Tower at Indianapolis Raceway Park will include a state-of-the-art media center as part of a renovation in 2004. New fixtures in all permanent restrooms will be among the final phase of the three-year construction project.

In addition to the suites -- modeled after those at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- perched above the left-lane grandstands, fans noticed updated signage, right-lane grandstands that sit 30 feet closer to the action, and an awning atop the tower at the 267-acre facility that hosted its first race in 1960.

"It was in need of some freshening," Compton said. "People were always asking what we're going to do to improve the place. Well, here's what we've been doing." Referring to IRP's 50th birthday next year, he added, "For the 50th, we'll have a facility deserving of the honor."

He said NHRA is planning a weeklong birthday celebration, including fan-friendly activities in downtown Indianapolis and at the track. The late Tom Binford, who later would become Indianapolis 500 Chief Steward, and USAC championship-car driver Rodger Ward led a group of 15 Indianapolis businessmen and racing professionals who invested $5,000 apiece to fund development of the facility.