Mopar Pro Stock Cars Sidelined

NHRA SIDELINES TEAM MOPAR PRO STOCK CARS

Center Line, Mich., April 30, 1999 - Race fans will not see some of their favorite factory-backed drivers compete at the NHRA Pennzoil Nationals this weekend in Richmond, Va. Scott Geoffrion, Darrell Alderman, Larry Morgan and Larry Nance will not be allowed to compete as a direct result of a rules reversal by the NHRA Technical Department pertaining to a racer's "rights of usage" of an after-market block. "Since February of 1998, Team Mopar's factory-backed teams have been approved by the NHRA Technical Department to use a generic block." said Lou Patane, Vice President of Motorsports Operations and Mopar Performance Parts. "Based on this approval, in the fall of 1998, we have moved forward in planning and implementing our NHRA motorsports operations for 1999. Now the NHRA Technical Department has reversed its approval, leaving us no choice but to park our Mopar Dodge Avengers indefinitely." Due to outside vendor delays in production, in which the racers have no control, they currently are unable to revert to the 1997-level block in time to meet the new deadline imposed by the NHRA. Initially an agreement was made to allow the teams to compete on a race-by-race basis, based on the availability of replacement aftermarket blocks. Unfortunately, this arrangement was rescinded by the NHRA last weekend during the Dallas race. "The true losers in all of this are the race fans. They are the ones that will miss the variety that the Dodge Avengers bring to Pro Stock competition," Patane said. "This is a bad decision on behalf of the NHRA Technical Department."