NHRA Pro Stock team owner Bart Price has seen it happen many times. Open your mouth to discuss a potential deal and watch it fade away.

Price is close to securing a deal and his lips are clenched as tight as he can clench them. All he’ll say is that they came to him.

“If everything continues down the path it is headed, our racing efforts will change dramatically,” Price said. “I refuse to jinx myself and I will be content waiting until the deal is inked before I say a word. Once the contract is signed and the check is in my hand – you won’t be able to shut me up.”

The company in question is non-automotive, and this will be their first foray into drag racing. Best of all - Price adds, they are Fortune 500.

Team close to inking major deal; nobody’s talking

NHRA Pro Stock team owner Bart Price has seen it happen many times. Open your mouth to discuss a potential deal and watch it fade away.

Price is close to securing a deal and his lips are clenched as tight as he can clench them. All he’ll say is that they came to him.

“If everything continues down the path it is headed, our racing efforts will change dramatically,” Price said. “I refuse to jinx myself and I will be content waiting until the deal is inked before I say a word. Once the contract is signed and the check is in my hand – you won’t be able to shut me up.”

The company in question is non-automotive, and this will be their first foray into drag racing. Best of all - Price adds, they are Fortune 500.

“They approached us last year,” Price said. “They have been paying close attention to NHRA drag racing, NASCAR and Formula One over the last few years. They want to start in the smaller venue and work their way up. Their assessment is that drag racing provides an excellent value for their investment.”

Price and Stanfield have flown under the radar when compared to the higher financed operations. An influx of operating capital could make the team a household name.

“To have someone come up out of the blue is pretty breath-taking,” Price said. “They were looking for a team they felt had potential but needed financial backing.”

Price added that according to the company’s VP of marketing they were looking at two other teams. Those teams, also unnamed, are still under consideration.

“They have been watching us not only at the track but how we conduct ourselves away from the races,” Price said. “We have built a relationship over the last few years. We are getting really close.”

Price has hinted that an announcement could come as early as Pomona this fall, but most likely will be made in the off-season. The program could extend to a second team car, which could realistically be driven by longtime Price associate Ron Krisher. The sponsor could also add an associate sponsorship with the NHRA as well.

“I think it will give us the financial injection to jump to the next level with the Ken Blacks and Victor Cagnazzis,” Price said. “We are going to need the personnel, drivers, and the cars to compete and this will provide that.”

The game plan is to also expand the team’s in-house engine program.

Fellow Pro Stock team owner Evan Knoll expressed his frustration with the class’s lack of parity by saying, “In this class, you have the Flintstones and the Jetsons. Ken Black’s teams are the Jetsons and the rest of us are the Flinstones.”

Price is prepared to become the third member of the Jetson gang. Knoll’s team made the jump into the upper echelon this season.

“I think that will seal the deal,” Price said. “I’m sure everyone knows by now that cubic inches don’t win championships – cubic dollars do. That’s what you need. I think we are at the place where we do exceptionally well with what we have to work with.”

Can you give us a hint, Bart?

“I can’t do that,’ Price answered. “I’m not screwing this one up.”