Dixon will drive for Alan Johnson!

Larry Dixon gets the third round win over Cory McClenathan at the World Finals. Was Pomona his last appearance for Snake Racing?  (Ron Lewis photo)

The Agent can now report with a high degree of certainty that Larry Dixon will indeed leave the employ of Snake Racing and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and drive Alan Johnson’s Al-Anabi Top Fuel car next season. He will be replaced by Spencer Massey, who is already under contract to Snake Racing.

The behind-the-scenes info on this deal is that the issue was that Larry Dixon was under a personal services contract with U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and they were reluctant to release Dixon as their representative. The Al-Anabi folks simply had to negotiate a release agreement that would salve their pain and allow them to release Dixon from the contract. Very reliable sources tell DRO that has been done and it was never a matter of how but rather How Much?

This is just one more example of how NHRA drag racing and its drivers have gone from the car club culture that it began with some fifty years ago to a full-blown business for the drivers and teams. This deal reminds the Agent of the dealings that go on in NASCAR and Formula 1 with teams, drivers, and sponsors. For better or worse, NHRA drag racing has become just another major league sport with all the baggage that comes with that dubious honor. [11/26/08]

Vegas Thrill Show cancelled due to rain

The inaugural Turkey Thaw Thrill Show at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which was scheduled for tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 26), has been cancelled due to weather. The Las Vegas Bracket Nationals will begin, as scheduled, at 7 a.m. on Thursday. [11/26/08]

Is IHRA restructuring Top Fuel program too?

The RUMOR (repeat RUMOR!) floating around the IHRA Top Fuel crowd is that the IHRA is going to cut the points fund and payout for their Top Fuel Championship. It is also rumored that the IHRA may have a program for Top Fuel similar to their Sportsman program where the eight top teams in points going into the last race of the season at Rockingham will be invited to race for the big bucks and the season Championship. [11/26/08]

Eat more turkey

The DRO staff will be enjoying Thanksgiving off with their families on Thursday and then sleeping in on Friday, so the DRO offices will be closed until Monday, Dec. 1.

Beginning next week, the DRO staff, who work very long hours during the racing season, will get a little well deserved break from the Burkster because the office will only be open Monday through Thursday through the end of the year. The ever-vigilant Agent will be keeping an eye out for any important goings-on and, of course, will bring you breaking news, but sincerely hopes nothing newsworthy happens on Fridays. [11/26/08]

Speaking of turkeys and hirings…

Agent 1320 has learned that old pal Berserko Bobby Doerrer has signed a three-day contract to crew chief Bob Rossberg’s jet Funny Car at this weekend’s Citrus Nationals at the newly refurbished Palm Beach International Dragway in Jupiter, Fla. The Berserk one tells the Agent he intends to be fully involved. Let’s see … Bobby Doerrer, jets, and flames. Now that’s a show the Agent would pay to watch. [11/26/08]