An unimpeachable source has informed Torco's CompetitionPlus.com to look for a second Bob Vandergriff, Jr. team to be announced as early as the Las Vegas race, this one we hear, comes with a partner from the NASCAR world.
What if Coca-Cola officials were to decide in mid-season they were going to
switch brands from the current POWERade title sponsorship to their energy drink
brand – Full Throttle? Would the NHRA follow a similar pathway as NASCAR and
grandfather existing sponsorships to the point a sponsor would be locked in to
the current program and unable to switch or lose their placement? Or, would
prospective companies have to go to court ala ATT to gain the opportunity?
An unsubstantiated rumor passed on to Torco's CompetitionPlus.com suggests that second-generation Pro Stock driver Billy Glidden is scheduled to drive the Boscoe HVAC GTO of Robert and Jean Perry during this weekend's NHRA Springnationals in Houston, Texas. We are presently investigating this item and will convey our results later in the day.
Wouldn't it be neat if Chrysler used Don Garlits to pitch the brand-new Dodge Challenger in 2009? A source close to the situation tells us this could be the first of at least two major programs featuring Garlits and involving Mopar.
Multiple sources close to Richard Hogan have confirmed with Torco's CompetitionPlus.com that the noted tuner was relieved of his duties as crew chief for Morgan Lucas Racing.
A source close to the situation tells us that sportsman icon David "Rambo" Rampy is hanging up his driving suit and his equipment is for sale. The immediate word coming to us is that Rampy's current sponsorship situation is leading him to make the tough decision. Stay tuned. We'll have more as the story develops.
If the Torco’s
CompetitionPlus.com investigative expose’ Tubular Tales didn’t do enough to
provoke skepticism, what we’re hearing should raise the crescendo of dissension
even higher. A prominent source close to the situation indicates the NHRA plans to add an
engineer to their payroll whom SFI will agree upon.
Racers will be paying more at the pump in more than one location - on the way to
the track and once they get there. Multiple teams have confirmed they
received a letter from the official nitro distributor of the NHRA informing them
that not only has the quantity been limited to 395 pounds (roughly 42 gallons), they will also face a $300 per barrel increase bringing the total to $1250.
Reportedly, this increase is attributed to Homeland Security restrictions.
A source indicates the IHRA is looking closely at the feasibilty of returning to Baton Rouge during the 2009 season. If the idea comes to fruition, the event will likely be held in March. The last time the IHRA held a national event at Baton Rouge's State Capitol Dragway the race featured qualifying but was cancelled and never completed.
J.R. Todd’s NHRA Winternationals top-end guard-wall mishap may have been set in motion before the car even turned a tire under power for the burnout. A source close to the situation reports the NHRA’s Dan Olson recently notified chassis builder Brad Hadman of the results obtained in an independent study conducted by a well-known welding industry figure. The report was conclusive the cause of the A-arm failure was not in the stress associated with that particular run.
