Hello, my name is Andy Cetwinski. This is my first full season back with Kalitta Motorsports after almost a one-year hiatus in 2006/2007.

For me, racing is all I've ever wanted to do. I knew in high school that one way or the other I would realize my dream of working on a Top Fuel dragster. That dream became reality for me in 1997 at the ripe young age of 18 when Kalitta Motorsports brought me onboard. There has been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears throughout the 11 years I've been racing and I've come a long way since I was that green punk of a kid out of WyoTech. It feels now as though it is natural progression to take on the role of assistant crew chief on the DHL Funny Car. I am ecstatic and grateful for the opportunity Kalitta's has given me, and I’m more than ready for the 2008 season to get underway.

A lot of people ask why I left racing. But, as many of you know, this is not a sport you can just turn your back to and walk away from so easily. Anyhow, I wouldn't say that I left, I did however back up 100 yards and get a fresh perspective on things. It's probably the best thing I've done for my career and for my team. I've always believed that if you aren't here 100 percent to go racing and to win, you need to get the hell out. And when I began to feel burnt, I knew it was time for me to take a break.

During my time away, my then fiancé Mali and I sold our separate homes and moved across the country. We bought our first home in Houston, Texas, had an amazing bash of a wedding and got ourselves tucked in to our new life together. And of course we both knew I'd be back. She laughs to this day about how we sat in the airport coming back from our honeymoon. The Super Bowl was on TV and she said to me, 'Babe, do you realize you are the only man in this airport with your back to the television?' And I replied, 'If it doesn't have wheels, I'm just not that interested.'

Thanks for reading. See you at the race track!

Andy