First, let me start off with an apology for not having blogged in some time. I am a man of purpose and just don’t see the value in babbling about “I got some deals workin’.” We all have deals working, but until you put words into action and actually hit the track, there’s really nothing to talk about. Right?
All that being said, I am happy to announce some good news, finally. It probably won’t be exactly what you are expecting but as Bill Miller says, “It is what it is!” I have come to the realization that there is life out there in the absence of Top Fuel racing, although I do miss it dearly. But on a positive note, I did have the pleasure of going to Vegas recently with my buddy, Matthew Brammer, president of Active Marketing in Phoenix, and attend some more “meetings” with potential sponsors looking at the NHRA as a venue to promote their company and increase their bottom line ultimately. They were impressed with the power of the fuel cars and even more impressed with the great access the fans have to the race teams and drivers as well as the point-of-sale opportunities they have on the Manufacturer’s Midway. So we will see where it goes from here.
While I was there, I had the chance to hang out with Antron Brown and talk to Mike Ashley about my plans. He brought up a valid point about my branding of myself, such as what my brand is specifically. His point was directed towards what I am selling myself as, a Top Fuel driver, a Top Alcohol driver, a Pro Mod driver, a jack of all trades, or what? It made me think, and then I realized sometimes if you represent yourself as a guy who will drive anything, you may have a very non-specific brand, which may be hard to sell. I have to admit, I left that conversation a bit stirred, but it hit me later what my brand really is. My brand is Excellence and that I will succeed at anything I set my mind to, whether it is a Top Fueler, a Pro Mod, or an open-wheel modified on dirt or being a good dad, husband, son, or friend. Oh yeah, doctor too. My life runs on Excellence and Winning. That, my friends is my brand! So Mr. Ashley, thanks for helping me remember my brand, never mind who it may confuse because of the many hats I choose to wear.
Speaking of Pro Mods, dirt cars, and dads, I had the honor of having a house full of family and friends this weekend to celebrate my daughter’s Sweet 16 birthday. Sure makes ya feel old when your baby turns 16. She has grown up and become a beautiful young lady inside and out. Her mom and I are very proud of who she has become. And yes, as I have said before, she is still the greatest accomplishment I have ever had in my lifetime! But, with turning 16, comes the infamous first day of driving without dad, which is today. I can see my hair turning grey before my very eyes. The good news is that we pray for her protection daily and trust God to always keep her safe just as we do when I am racing. It’s always good knowing God “has your back!”
As for racing, I am currently pursuing Top Fuel but have also decided to race within my means on a local level. Given the current economic climate, many people could learn from that idea too, by the way! This time, I have decided to do some dirt racing and sling it out sideways at 80-90 mph going in a circle. You can thank St. Louis 2008 for this idea. As you may recall, last year we had the “NHRA Stars on Dirt” race before the national event in St. Louis, and I had a blast, so I thought I would give it a try locally. So far, it’s been an experience just building it. I have worn the ink off the pages of the rulebook making sure I maximized every possibility and advantage I could without breaking the rules. It’s definitely overkill in most of my friends’ and competitors’ opinions, but it’s just the way I roll. We just finished the car and went to our first race two weekends ago, and we did average in my opinion. We just missed the setup and ended up in the middle of the pack when the checker flag dropped, but it sure beats dead last.
As if I didn’t have enough going on, just this past Thursday, I received a call from my good friends Jeff Saldivar and his wife, Casey, who recently purchased a ’66 Chevelle Pro Mod. He asked me to drive it because he had never driven anything at this level plus it was a brand new, never been run car built by Tad Froderman out of the Indy area. This car is immaculate front to back and definitely a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Good job, Tad! So anyway, it made good sense to make a few shakedown runs with someone who would feel more comfortable behind the wheel. You gotta respect a guy who is willing to hand over the reigns and swallow a little pride while knowing his limitations and I admire Jeff for that. We will get this car ironed out, and I will put him in it and mentor him so he can get some more enjoyment out of his investment.
I have to admit, I was all smiles when we cranked that bad boy up in the garage. It’s the first time I had ever had a blown alcohol engine in front of me in all my years of racing, and I was flat out digging this idea. We raced Saturday but ran into a typical first time out ignition gremlin that held our performance back, so we decided to regroup and make a battle plan for another day. We did manage to have a 1.23 60’ and a 6.0 early shut off e.t. to half-track. When I get done, this thing will be screaming I promise you. I sure hope Jeff is making lots of money this month because I’m sure gonna help him spend some. Sorry Jeff, don’t worry. We will leave ya enough for you to feed Casey and your three boys.
Last but not least, my marketing guru Mark Scheierman turns 40 in a couple of weeks, so anyone who knows him, be sure to send him black balloons, Geritol, Preparation H, and whatever else old people take. I wouldn’t know because I am still 39 and holdin, and holdin, and holdin, and lying too. Ha, ha. Anyway, happy birthday Mark and hang on because they “tell me” the birthdays just fly from here.
Until more late breaking and exciting news, AB out!