NHRA Pro Stock racer Johnny Gray, drag racing’s richest man?

NHRA racer Johnny Gray, who has an NHRA Pro Stock team with his son Shane and who in the past also drove Fuel Funny Cars and Alky cars, may be drag racings’ richest man. He recently sold around 2300 oil and gas wells for over $1,600,000,000! According to published reports that deal become official in November.

The Agent has been hearing Gray’s name associated with rumors that he is looking into buying the NHRA and his name has also surfaced as a potential buyer of Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. The Agent has no idea if the rumors are true but when anyone has capital gains of over 1.6 billion bucks they usually start looking for investments that will afford them some income tax relief.

Reliable sources have told DRO that Gateway International has an annual tax bill that exceeds $8 million a year, making turning a profit nearly impossible. And parts of the NHRA organization (but certainly not all) are not-for-profit organizations, so Gray acquiring those two properties is at least feasible, if not practical. (file photo by James Drew) [9/14/2010]

Carter’s Top Fueler runs first 4.5 in Europe

Here are a couple more photos from the European Drag Racing championships in Santa Pod, England. And a quick check with European correspondent Ivan Sansom provided the Agent the information that Wayne Dupuy isn't tuning Erbacher this season, his crew chief is Brit Robin Grice.

Outgoing champion and first round loser Andy Carter was writing headlines of his own in qualifying, blasting to a 4.613 at only 298 mph in the first qualifying session, and then demolishing these numbers with the first four fifty in Europe at a hugely impressive 4.572 at 320.19 mph.

Over in UEM Top Fuel Bike rookie Petri Paljakka came from someway back to take the championship after a dramatic thrash to produce a temporary fix to a broken driveline in the semifinals, with Peter Svensson taking the event win.  (Ivan Sansom photos) [9/14/2010]