As some of you know, I’ve started tweeting, but now I have to think in full sentences. OK, let the newest blogger get going.

The Western Swing was great—we did just what I wanted to do. Although I had to let my team go in January, they still find ways to come race with me whenever I find money to go to the races. The people who have made this happen this year, especially John Lawson of Lawson Rock and Oil, are really appreciated. And those of you in Seattle should try Gonzo’s—their food is great. I know because they fed us four days straight.

Although off since Vegas 1, my team didn’t miss a beat. We didn’t run some rounds, not because we couldn’t make it, but because maybe by not running those extra rounds, I may be able to make more runs in Vegas or Pomona. I know the fans like teams to make every run, and so would I, but you have to be sensible. We make sure we represent our sponsors as well as we can. Does not running every round hurt you, yes, to some extent it does. But so does running on a very tight budget. I think we let everybody know that we can still run with anyone out there.

I would like to thank Tim Wilkerson for the nice comment about whomever makes the countdown should thank me for not running all the races—that was a very kind thing to say. I have enough confidence in Greg and the team to think that we would be right in the fight.

My first blog must give credit to my team. There are only six of them and the crew chief. How good are they? In Sonoma, we were the last pair of funny cars in round 1, so we had the shortest turn-around time. We were the second funny car in the lanes for round 2. They have never failed to make the call and I know that every round, I will have a car that is ready to make it down the track.

NHRA talks about diversity. My team is diverse (male and female) but also global. Mellisa (the girl Force was hugging after the win over Cruz) is from New Zealand (she is also Grant Downing’s sister and married to car chief, Ed Boytim). Our clutch guy is Gary Seaward from Australia. Steve Zelem, our truck driver, is from Canada. The newest members of our family, Christina Kwan, who is Chinese, and Vinny Perozzi, who is Italian, of Kwan International have brought our team a true sense of global unity.

Some of you may have seen reference to Christina in our press releases. She is a marketing whiz with a dream of not only getting sponsorship money for us, but also to take our sport to a global level. We have had coverage and competitors from Europe and Australia, and interest from the Middle East. Asia is the most populated continent and Christina hopes to carry the sport of NHRA Drag Racing there. Exciting, isn’t it!

It’s funny how NHRA is using boxing tie-ins for the countdown. Christina is our boxer—a real one. She was the USA National and World Champion for women at 95 pounds. So if NHRA wants to show racers taping their hands, or throwing punches, just call Christina—she’ll show you the correct way.

Well, many of you are probably thinking “What is he going to blog about if he’s not running all the races”. Well, I hope I can keep your interest. I have plans to give you insight into my great trip to Europe, a report on the nostalgia funny car I am building with my son, so he can drive, and the developments in taking NHRA global. (I might even tell you what the Chinese writing on my car says)!

Oh, and I should have pictures to show you. Here’s one that was taken in the pits in Seattle. Although I no longer teach school, I hope I always have time for kids—even those as young as two or three.

Next time will have more pictures. We took over 500 while we were in Europe. (They are just as pretty as a pond cam).