Well, I’m back in the saddle again and let me tell you something, I’ve been on the bull for eight seconds and the bull isn’t going to kick my butt. It’s been a crazy ride for our team this off season, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I’m happy to see our Matco Tools team moving forward. We’re fortunate that our team is now owned by Mike Ashley, who is a dedicated racer. Our team is very optimistic with Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald turning the screws on the Matco Tools dragster and I’m looking forward to getting the ’09 season underway and growing with our new race team.
Our whole crew has been working like Santa elves in December to get our stuff together to head out West for testing. And let me tell you, brothaman can’t wait to get out West to some sunshine and 70-degree weather. I don’t know where you all live, but Indianapolis has been brutal with negative-degree temps last week. It’s in the 20s today and I’m ready to go from pale yellow to golden brown.
Last weekend I went to the Atlantic City Motorsports Show in New Jersey. The show was put on by Area Auto Racing News. It was an awesome show. I signed autographs at the Raceway Park booth and we had a lot of people from my home state lined up to say hi to A.B. I signed for an hour and 45 minutes before I got a break in the action. My right hand was getting sore. I also got to judge the Miss Motorsports pageant with my NASCAR boy Johnny Benson. He’s a cool dude. Johnny is the NASCAR truck world champion and knows all about drag racing. He knew all about my transition from bikes to Top Fuel.
It was great to hang out with a fellow Toyota racer in Johnny. I need to give a shout out to my boy Andre Jackson from Toyota in California. He keeps our team here at MAR looking sharp with our black Tundra and Sequoia. On Sunday after the show, I got to hang out with some family back at the house in Jersey and enjoy some time with my great grandma and my grandma. My grandma Lossie just got a new Great Dane puppy. He’s only three months old, but he’s already bigger than most grown dogs. My kids could ride that dog like it’s a horse.
This whole week, I’m Mr. Mom getting the kids going to school. But I sure couldn’t do it without my mom, Miss Judy. My wife, Billie Jo, flew back to Louisiana to be with her mom. Her mom, Linda, is going through a surgery, so please keep her in your prayers. Being a fulltime parent sure isn’t easy, and going through the transition on the race team has put us through some trying times. It will only make us a stronger team in the long run.
I’m all geared up for the season. I got some new threads from Matco and new safety equipment from Impact! Racing and I fly out to Phoenix on Friday morning. We’re looking forward to breaking our new rocket in at F.I.R. and getting ready for Pomona. It’s starting to feel good to see all the boys fired up and see their determination and eagerness to win. It really pumps me up. Stayed tuned and we’ll fill you in next week and let you know how testing is going. Maybe we’ll even do a daily blog with results from the National Time Trials. If we don’t see you at Firebird this weekend, then you better be at Pomona Feb. 5-8 for the 49th Winternationals. It’s going to be an awesome race with strong competition in all classes. I’m excited and ready to roll.
Like always, whether you're up or your down, we can all use a little love, peace and hair grease, and I’m out like shout.
Antron