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David Baca

Team owner Rick Henkelman and driver David Baca will park their American Racing Wheels dragster for the next several races. Citing business obligations at home, the two men feel it's in their best interests to take some time off.

"We're businessmen first," Henkelman said. "This car is a go-kart to us, a pleasure vehicle. We have to be sensible about our professional obligations."

Currently 12th in the POWERade championship points race, Baca was runner-up for the Auto Club Rookie of the Year award in 2003 after finishing seventh in the points with one runner-up finish. The team also collected two No. 1 qualifier awards last year, running the quickest elapsed times in Indy and Memphis. The fan favorite owns Allstate Contract Floors, a new home construction flooring company in Northern California.

"We're going to skip Columbus, Englishtown, St. Louis, and possibly Denver," said Henkelman, who is in the specialty foods business in the San Jose area. "Depending on how things are going by then, we might pick back up when the tour goes through the Northwest."

The team will finish this weekend's 16th annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX at Heartland Park Topeka.

"We regret that we must make this decision at this time but feel it is in the best interest of the Henkelman and Baca Motorsports team," Baca said. "I need to spend more time taking care of my flooring business and other commitments. The demand of running 23 races exacts a toll on operating a growing business.

"When and if the time's right and we have secured a major sponsor, I will once again revisit the possibility of racing. Racing in NHRA's highest class has been a dream come true and the next time I do this I want to have the financial wherewithal to be able to contend for the championship.

"Thanks to all the fans that have supported us, it was great having you be a part of our NHRA drag racing program."

This story is copyright 2004 National Hot Rod Association. It may not be reprinted or retransmitted in any form without the express written permission of NHRA.com.