MENDY VISITS WITH SAMMY & BOB ON SATURDAY

AA/FC pilot Mendy Fry will be a guest on the Sammy and Bob Motorsports Show this Saturday on Houston's ESPN radio 97.5 FM from 10:00 a.m. to noon (Central time). The Hot Rod Heritage Series nitro funny car points leader will talk about her runner-up finish and low ET of the recent Las Vegas event and final round crash driving Gary Messenger’s “Future Flash” Dodge Charger. For more information on racing, hot rods and more check out http://sammyandbobshow.com. [5/8/2008]

PRIZES ADDED FOR WORLD FOOTBRAKE CHALLENGE

The World Footbrake Challenge presented by Jeg’s and Bill Taylor Engineering, which last year drew nearly 300 competitors, will be held May 23-25 at Bristol Dragway. The Saturday champion will win $50,000 with a total purse of over $125,000 and several prizes recently added.

Prizes in the first five rounds of competition each day will be awarded by Mickey Thompson Tire, CSR Performance Products, B&M Performance, Goodyear Tires, and Nitrous Express.

In addition, Jeg’s will sponsor a ”Duck” Race open only to entrants who fail to win a round all weekend. All will then compete against each other in a shootout and the winner will get a free entry to next year’s World Footbrake Challenge. Huntsville Engine and Performance will give the “Safety Safari” award to the first competitor to cause a lengthy track cleanup due to an engine malfunction. (The Agent isn’t sure how happy the track will be on this one.) For more details go to www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com. [5/8/2008]

NITRO SHORTAGE ON THE HORIZON FOR THE NHRA?

There were several team owners who expressed their opinion to the Agent at the recent NHRA St. Louis race that there might be a shortage of nitro at Bristol and going forward. While there haven’t been any shortages of nitro at any event -- drag boats, sand drags, IHRA or the NHRA -- rumors persist that those supplying the horsepower elixir are struggling to maintain enough inventory to meet demand.

According to a one of the Agent’s very reliable sources, who asked not to be quoted due to legal issues, the nitro crisis is imminent because the “official” suppliers (like everyone else) get their 100% drums of nitro in 80 drum containers from Wego in China. But the fly in the ointment is that the Chinese reportedly are going to close down the factories that make nitro and stop shipping it during the months before and during the upcoming Olympics.

So the question then becomes, if the official supplier’s pipeline dries up, where do they get nitro? The answer is simple. They have to buy it from sources that have already bought and stockpiled product from China or a source in the U.S., Dow Chemical. If that scenario happens, look for the price of nitro, if you can find it, to rise to the $30-40 a gallon price of the bad old days when a drum cost $1,500.

Of course it could always just be another rumor, but the Agent has heard from enough racers, owners, and investors to at least be a little concerned. Hopefully, all of the series “official” suppliers have a Plan B to get nitro this summer!  [5/8/2008]

WE’RE HEADED FOR BRISTOL!

Well, it was a tough choice, but we’ve chosen the winners of tickets for the NHRA national event nest week in Bristol, Tenn. Thanks to the track for furnishing the tickets.

We think Dominic may have had a little help from a slightly older person, but how can you discourage a future drag racer and DRO reader.
Winners of the three-day tickets are Dominic Carpinelli and John Cassidy. Randy Vowels and William Sparks will receive Sunday tickets. [5/8/2008]