First of all I would like to welcome everyone from the blog world back for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series. Feel the excitement!

There have been a lot of things to go on with our program in the off season. As you know at the end of the season, we got a brand new Jerry Bickel Chevrolet Cobalt before the Richmond race and ran it at Buds Creek and then the Richmond event. We did not qualify, but our Chevrolet Cobalt showed a lot of promise. From there we made the decision not to go to the last two races of the year, so that we can take time to regroup and get our program ready for 2009. That is exactly what we did!

We made some personnel changes (hired European Pro Stock Champion and noted Crew Chief Tomi Laine) and made sure our engines were running 110 percent. Overall, the program needed to be headed in the right direction to start the 2009 season with a fresh, clean slate. I mean, there were a lot of things we had to address in the off season, and I think we have done that!

I am very excited where our program is headed. Even though we still do not have a primary sponsor yet (please give us a call at the shop if you are interested! (LOL)), I really believe we are on the crest of a big partner because of what we have to offer. You all will be excited about our performance on the track this year, as well as some of the things we are going to be doing away from the track. I cannot tell you enough how I am really looking forward to a good year.

If you were following this weekend on the website and MySpace (www.tomhammondsracing.com or www.myspace.com/tomhammondsracing.com), it started off well so far at the Vegas Pro Stock Showdown. We ran petty well and had a chance to test for four days, about 18 to 20 runs on the new Chevrolet Cobalt, which gives us a lot of valuable information going into Pomona.  Pomona is always a great event for us, because it is the first race of the season and everyone has a clean slate. So, it is important that we go out and start the season off strong. We will have a chance to show what we worked on over the winter, win some races, have a chance at the countdown, and possibly win the championship. That is the order we want reach our goal, qualifying consistently for a run at the championship and maybe a win, this year.

In closing, thank you very much for your patience with our race program and the blog! I look forward to some great results and great blogs for the 2009 season.

One last thing, my Super Bowl pick did not win! I was pulling for the Cardinals, and I thought they had a chance to win the game. I lost my small wager on the game I had with a friend. I had to pay up on my Coca Cola! LOL