FOLK TAKES TCI’S 100,000 GRAND AT MEMPHIS
The 2005 IHRA Top Dragster World Champion, Jason Folk, took home 100 large ($100,000) winning a George Howard’s $100,000 to win race at Memphis Motorsports Park. Folk, the 23-year-old second-generation racer (Jason’s father Randy, uncle Ron and
cousins Brian and Nick are familiar winners on the big-buck bracket tours) drove his Nesbitt Performance-powered Mullis Chassis Dragster to the win over Ricky Jones.
Randy Folk won $100,000 in the same car at another George Howard race last year at Montgomery Motorsports Park, making the two-year-old chassis one of the most financially lucrative machines in sportsman bracket racing history.
“Barney (Jason’s Mullis/Forrester machines features a mainly purple paint scheme) has paid for itself a few times over now!” said Folk. “Seriously, it’s a great feeling. To look around the pits at Memphis and see all of the best racers from across the country competing for one hundred Grand, and then to be able to come out on top is unbelievable. It’s a testament to the entire combination: the Mullis Chassis by Forrester car, the Nesbitt Performance Engine, the Mickey Thompson Tires--all of the manufacturers who had a hand in this car deserve more credit than I do. I just get to ride in it!” [4-4-2006]
NEW NITO TEAM FORMS FOR '07
Agent 1320 heard a rumor in the pits last weekend at the Houston NHRA event that TA/D stars Aaron Olivarez and 2005 NHRA TA/D champ Steve Torrence will be teammates in a new two-car nitro operation in 2007. Reportedly Olivarez is switching to a fuel Funny Car and Torrence is moving up to a Top Fuel ride and the deal is done with a major sponsor. [4-4-2006]
JEG'S & SPEEDCO UNVEIL NEW MANUFACTURER'S MIDWAY DISPLAY
JEG'S Automotive Inc. will increase its presence at NHRA national events through a collaborative effort with SpeedCo Truck Lube and Sioux City Kenworth Truck & Trailer. The three companies used last weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals to unveil a giant, 2,500 square foot, state-of-the-art display trailer on the Manufacturer's Midway to showcase their product lines and services, including Jeg's industry-leading 1-2 Day Free Nationwide Delivery and 24-hour Tech Service and Ordering Helpline. (photo courtesy Jeg's) [4-4-2006]
PAWUK SELLS GTO, BORROWS COBALT FROM KRISHER
Mark "Cowboy" Pawuk was so disappointed with his showing this year that he sold his Pontiac GTO while at the Houston NHRA race and left not knowing what he would be driving for the following week's event. "We've come to the conclusion that we've got to make wholesale changes to turn things around," Pawuk explained.
This week the Pro Stock race team will be running Ron Krisher's spare Jerry Haas-built Chevrolet Cobalt at the Summitracing.com Nationals in Las Vegas.
"I can't begin to thank Ron enough for his generosity," Pawuk said. "We've been working together on engines for a while now, but this goes way beyond that." Pawuk is still looking for a permanent replacement. [4-4-2006]
GOOD SAMARITANS HELP SCELZI
NHRA Funny Car World Champ Gary Scelzi spent Monday after the Houston event testing Whit Bazemore’s flopper and a new Murf McKinney-built chassis to replace the one he’s been racing. He ran a shut-off best of 4.79 with the new pipe, but on Tuesday while on the way toward Las Vegas in his motorhome he reportedly blew out a heater hose. Scelzi made a cell phone call to one of his buddies live on Sirius Satellite Radio to put out a distress call for help. Within a few minutes a couple of good Samaritan long-haul truckers who heard him on the air showed up to help, and Scelzi then called back to report he was on the road again. Ten-four, good buddy! [4-4-2006]
