TROY’S TURBO-MOD NOT HURT BAD
Reports were circulating around the net that Troy Coughlin had “destroyed” his Jerry Haas-built turbocharged Pro Mod. Cobalt. A quick call to Jeg’s World Headquarters by the Agent revealed that the car just suffered basically some cosmetic damage to the nose and rear
quarter-panel and would be repaired shortly. The team plans to head south soon for testing and also might show-up at the second test session at the Strip in Las Vegas. [1-5-2007]
BAZEMORE SET FOR FIREBIRD TESTING
You’ll have to wait one additional week and head south to Arizona in order to see the new Matco top fueler driven by 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner Whit Bazemore's making his Top Fuel debut. Baze and new teammate "Hot" Rod Fuller won't test until the National Time Trails at Phoenix on Jan. 26. The newly expanded two-car team is awaiting delivery of enough parts and pieces so they can hit the track at 100-percent and crew chief Lee Beard prefers to test in what may be a little warmer weather at Firebird Raceway. [1-5-2007]
DISTEFANO HAS IN-HOUSE MOTOR PROGRAM
The Agent speculated at to whether Rick DiStefano might be having Al Billes building his team a turbocharged motor combination for the 2007 NHRA Pro Mod series. A reader dropped the Agent a note to say that the team has its own in-house engine program and won’t be getting outside help. [1-5-2007]
STARDUST IN HIS EYES
Justin Grant sent along an updated photo of his Don Schumacher "Stardust" tribute Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car. The 'Cuda is coming together with some help from flopper veteran Dale Pulde and Schumacher. Grant will run the car in the Nostalgia Pro Comp Association in the Midwest and some select match races. [1-5-2007]
VINNIE ARCADI PASSES
The staff at DRO was saddened to hear that independent Fuel Funny Car racer Vinnie Arcadi from the Buffalo, NY, area died from cancer a couple of days ago. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. Arcadi was a fixture on the IHRA Fuel Funny Car scene and from all evidence was living his life-long dream of owning and driving a nitro funny car. He will be missed. Donations (which we assume will be going to the Cancer Society) should be sent to: “In memory of Vinnie Arcadi”, attention John Arcadi, 1970 Jamison Road, East Aurora, NY 10452. [1-5-2007]
NEW MOPAR HEADS AND WEB SITE FROM ODDY’S
The Agent doesn’t normally plug a web site, but we will if properly bribed. This is one of those times. Oddy’s Automotive’s Billy Leverentz, who is a pretty successful truck puller in upstate New York with his 440 Mopar-powered truck, called to let us know that he has just about completed work on a set of billet 440 cylinder heads for his pulling motor and other applications. Leverentz promised that DRO would get the first pics and info, so in return the Agent agreed to plug the new web site so here it is: www.oddysracingengines.com. Tell ‘em you saw it on DRO. [1-5-2007]
