Brett Stevens arrested on drug charges

Filling in the missing information about the sudden retirement of Australian racer Brett Stevens is the news in Queensland, Australia’s Courier-Mail that Stevens and four others were arrested for drug trafficking. Among the $6.1 million (Australian) worth of property seized were 11 racing vehicles, alleged to be the proceeds of crime.

Robyn Ironside reports that four pill presses capable of making 1,000 pills a minute were seized, along with more than 2,000 ecstasy tablets and 4.5 kg of MDMA (ecstasy) powder.

Stevens faces charges on six offenses including the production of MDMA and cannabis, supplying amphetamines and trafficking illicit drugs. He had unexpectedly announced his retirement from racing last December after earlier announcing the formation of the largest drag racing team in Australia.  (DRO file photo by Jon Van Daal)[2/3/2009]

Deere signs on with IHRA

John Deere (who at one time had its livery on a Tommy Johnson Top Fuel Dragster) and the International Hot Rod Association have entered into a marketing and sponsorship agreement that will make John Deere the official equipment provider for the IHRA. [2/3/2009]

Daytona State College employee promotes new auto program on the IHRA circuit

When Myron Piatek straps himself into the cockpit of his race car Feb. 6 for the start of the International Hot Rod Association’s season kickoff in Immokolee, FL, his new co-sponsor, Daytona State College, will be looking to draw attention to its newest program in Performance Engine Technology.

“This is a unique opportunity for myself and the college to introduce race fans to our high performance engine building program,” Piatek, a longtime maintenance specialist at the college, said as the finishing paint and decals were applied to his 1975 Dodge Dart that competes in the Stock class. “With Daytona Beach being so well known in the racing community, it seems only natural that Daytona State College launch a program of this nature.”

The new three-semester Performance Engine Technology program will prepare students to become high-performance engine builders. “We are emphasizing various types of racing engines,” said Stan Sidor, associate vice president of Daytona State’s College of Engineering Technology and Occupational Programs. “This program covers a wide array of topics that students won’t find in a typical automotive program - blueprinting, engine block machining, cylinder heads, welding, performance engine theory and assembly, performance fuel and ignition systems, electronics, custom tuning, and high-performance chassis and brakes. It’s a great way for students to be introduced to the motor sports industry and its many levels.” For more program details or for information on how to enroll, call Sidor at 386-506-3612 or email at sidors@daytonastate.edu. [2/3/2009]

Wave of the future?

The Agent notes that short fields appear to be reality in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series. With the big series struggling to fill a 43-car field, now we hear that only 10 Truck Series teams are set to run the full 25-race season with sponsorships. The rest of the 30 teams either have not yet found a 2009 sponsor or have sponsorship for selected events only. For the first race of the NHRA season the entries are 21 Top Fuel, 18 Funny Car and 23 Pro Stock. [2/3/2009]

Time change for Sunday’s Pomona TV coverage

Another year, another opportunity for ESPN2 to bump drag racing. ESPN2 has announced a programming change for Sunday's coverage of eliminations for the Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The network's scheduled three and a half hours of coverage of the NHRA Full Throttle Series season-opener will now start a half-hour later, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET). [2/3/2009]