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2019 NHRA Silly Season Is Starting Early!

ocdart

ocdart

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Competition.com reports today that despite Clay Millican's success in 2018 with Dave Grubnic as his Crew Chief, they're making a change.
Mike Kloeber is coming back as the Crew Chief for 2019 for the Stringer Performance team.
Kloeber was Millican's Crew Chief when they had 50 IHRA Top Fuel wins and six IHRA World Championships in a 7-year time span.
No word on Dave Grubnic's status for 2019 and both the Kalitta and Shoemacher camps deny that Grubby's next stop is with them. John Force Racing perhaps?
 
Success in IHRA doesn't translate to success in the NHRA.
Look how long it took Clay to win a race.....
 
Looks like Grubby got the Big Boys attention.
Probably be a good deal compared to the 6 figure salary they're paying Prock.
Who knew a Driver could turn into such a Killa Crew Chief.
Kalitta's gotta a little egg on his face over this one. The one that got away.
_____________________________________________

Sorry to hear Clay is changing his combo, he made major strides with Grubnic.
And has the Sponsor backing to go all the way. But just beat the Texas Capco Midget and I'll be happy.

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/millican-grubnic-have-a-potent-combination-in-2018

mull2.jpg
 
partsmonsta said:
Looks like Grubby got the Big Boys attention.
Probably be a good deal compared to the 6 figure salary they're paying Prock.
Who knew a Driver could turn into such a Killa Crew Chief.
Kalitta's gotta a little egg on his face over this one. The one that got away.
_____________________________________________

Sorry to hear Clay is changing his combo, he made major strides with Grubnic.
And has the Sponsor backing to go all the way. But just beat the Texas Capco Midget and I'll be happy.

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/millican-grubnic-have-a-potent-combination-in-2018

View attachment 674445
Click to expand...
I would be happy too!
 
I saw that tis morning too
strange they didn't even mention Grubby

sounds like it's a good move for Millican
he knows the guy & won with him, IHRA is a different animal

big $$$, new ownership (?)/main sponsorship
may have had something to do with the move too
 
CompetitionPlus.com this morning reports, "Multiple sources have confirmed David Grubnic will be headed to John Force Racing along with the majority of the crewmembers. Additionally we are hearing quite a bit of news will be coming forth from JFR in the next month."
 
NHRA.com announced the 2019 FOX television broadcast schedule on 11/16/18. Included with the broadcast schedule was a lowkey announcement that Brian Lohnes will be the lead announcer for the FOX broadcast team.
Does this mean that Dave Rieff is gone? I sure hope so (JMO).
There was no mention of Tony Pedregon in the announcement or Bruno Massel, Lewis Bloom, Amanda Busick, Jamie Howe or John Kernan. Personally, I'd love to see Mike Dunn back on the team and Tony be Pedre"gone".
 
ocdart said:
NHRA.com announced the 2019 FOX television broadcast schedule on 11/16/18. Included with the broadcast schedule was a lowkey announcement that Brian Lohnes will be the lead announcer for the FOX broadcast team.
Does this mean that Dave Rieff is gone? I sure hope so (JMO).
There was no mention of Tony Pedregon in the announcement or Bruno Massel, Lewis Bloom, Amanda Busick, Jamie Howe or John Kernan. Personally, I'd love to see Mike Dunn back on the team and Tony be Pedre"gone".
Click to expand...
I get SO sick of hearing Pedregon referring to his past Career in given situations. The latter part of his career was laden with low budget performance and multiple explosions. I'm sure the Safety Safari are elated he retired. Once he left Force's guidance, his Career quickly spiraled downward. Still dunno why Force even bothered with the Guy.
NHRA needs to put Bret Kepner in the booth, this Guy is the greatest thing to happen to Drag Racing MC since Steve Evans, my all time favorite.
https://www.facebook.com/bret.kepner
 
I also read the Pro-Stocks cars P/S (Pro-Camaro :poke:)
are only going to race in 18 events next season

P/S it's dying, a slow death

I haven't seen the Pro-Mod schedule yet either

I think there was a change in P/SM too

Not sure what's up with the TF/H fuel Harley's either
don't really care either, not my gig or taste

I wish they'd show, Pro-Mod, Factory Stock, Super Stock
or any of them, "instead of the reg. lame *** broadcasts"
they hardly even show P/S anymore, it's the T/F & F/C show now
1000' show, as much as I like them too
I'd be far more interested in them other classes/cars
I mentioned too etc.
than what NHRA & Fox/FS1 put out,
seems to me that they wrongly feel,
that's what 'we all want to see'
well maybe if your a non-racer or casual viewer, it may be...
Certainly isn't what I want to see...

Never really liked Tony in the booth

I thought Bruno did an OK job out in the pits mostly

Jim Dunn is 'or was' the Pres. of IHRA now,
not sure he'll come back ever
 
Last edited:
Word today on competition.com:
* Bo Butner (Bob Utner?) has changed his mind and will return to the KB Racing-owned Pro Stock Camaro for the 2019 NHRA season. According to the article, it was the new 18-race schedule that contributed to the change of heart.
* Tommy DeLago will not be back with Cruz Pedregon in 2019. He was told on November 23rd that there was no deal in place for his employment in 2019.
 
Last I saw Sacramento Raceway is up for sale
it's been listed before & back listed again

The surrounding & sprawling subdivision is getting to close

it use to be 'sort of' out in to boonies, not anymore

I fear we will lose another historic California race track
as much as I dislike the owner, I'd hate to see it closed
& turned into just another housing tract
 
Maybe Blake saw the handwriting on the wall that he would be squeezed out of a ride there once BVR's son got broken in?
 
64BEL said:
How much notice should Blake have given? The season doesn't start until, what, February? How much notice did Vandergriff give his crews when he "retired" in April of 2016 between events? 2 complete teams shut down with no notice, according to the press releases.
https://www.nhra.com/news/2016/bob-vandergriff-announces-immediate-retirement-drag-racing

Sorry, but I my heart doesn't bleed for B. V.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a double edged Sword. Look what happened to Vincent Nobile. Whole op scraped, so Owner could run Factory Stock w another Driver.
Guy's a phenomenal Driver. He will land upright, hopefully.

https://www.racingjunk.com/news/2018/11/15/mountain-view-racing-exits-pro-stock/
 
I hadn't heard that about Vincent. Hats off to the owner for a classy press release acknowledging the help he's received over the years from Elite, KB, and J&J Racing, though.

The NHRA is doing an excellent job of killing off the Pro Stock class. They need to keep holding it's head under water just a little while longer. It's a shame, because it could have been great again with the Challengers, Mustangs, and Camaros.
 
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