Well, I can’t believe it’s about two weeks until Thanksgiving and this year is pretty much done and into the history books. They tell me time flies when you are having fun so I guess I’ve been having all the fun and apparently didn’t realize it. I really have missed racing with my Top Fuel counterparts but I did manage to scrounge up a third-place finish in my bracket dragster recently. I won a whopping 100 bucks, but rest assured, it wasn’t about the payday or none of us would do this, right? It was about proving to myself and maybe even others, that you CAN win in life if you work smart and expect to accomplish what you have set out to do! I wanted to say thanks to my buddy, Brandon Chance, for helping me win! By the way, we did celebrate with a big fancy “steak meal” (aka hamburger) at Whataburger after the race!

Recently I got on a plane a couple of weeks ago and headed to Vegas for the race and got to see all my buddies. It was an almost bitter sweet moment in that I was excited to be there yet a bit empty in the gut without participating. But, I laid that aside and had a good time. I met with three Top Fuel teams and we discussed 2009 at lengths. The great news is that I have multiple standing job offers. The only caveat is that I must bring a marketing partner into the program in order for these opportunities to come to pass. The good news is that I am working on a couple of solid deals that could very well provide the resources to compete in 2009 while promoting their company and increasing their exposure and subsequently, their bottom line. Also, I have an opportunity to put a team together with a well-known team owner and Top Fuel driver. It’s no secret that one of my ultimate goals is to be a team owner. That would really be cool so keep your fingers crossed for me on that one!

While in Vegas, I had the luxury of staying at the Tahiti Village which was like a tropical paradise in the middle of the desert (Vegas). It was a really nice place and the people went the extra mile to make sure my stay was a pleasant one and considering we are talking “Vegas, baby!” Their customer service definitely stood out head and shoulders above what I expected based on other experiences in the desert. So kudos to them. They deserve it!

At the time of this blog, we now have official NHRA champions in all categories all the way from Sportsman classes to Top Fuel. I want to congratulate each and every one of you and your teams as well as your marketing partners for your accomplishments! Having been the 2003 Alcohol Dragster champ, I understand the commitment and sacrifices everyone makes to achieve these dreams. Let’s not forget the kiddos and wives or husbands who were at home manning the fort while the racers were doing their thing. You have sacrificed just as much to allow these racers to live their dream and you are as much a key part of their success as their new Hemi they bought for $45K. So give yourselves a pat on the back, for you, my friends, are champions too!

Well, I will sign off for now and wish me continued favor in all my plans for 2009 and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

AB out