What can be better than spending Father’s Day with your dad and watching your daughter graduate from high school? Not much, unless you have access to ice cream at $1 for a whole pound! That’s exactly what’s on the menu this weekend in one of the most fan-friendly places on the NHRA circuit, Norwalk, Ohio.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing my daughter, Courtney, graduate from high school. That felt as good as any Wally that I have ever hoisted over my head in the winner’s circle. It was a very nice outdoor ceremony, but it started to get a little bit warm. Unfortunately, there was no $1 ice cream available there, but it was a nice California day nonetheless. When she received her diploma, I had to resist the desire to stand up and do a victory dance with both fists pointed skyward like Rocky Balboa whippin’ up on some Russian giant! Congratulations to her and all of her classmates. Now it’s on to college; I can feel my wallet begin to feel a bit thinner.

It was also quite nice that her graduation weekend fell over Father’s Day and we were able to spend it together with my dad and the rest of my family. So many celebrations for the price of a single plane ticket — you can’t beat that deal with a big stick! Knowing that you are all such rabid NHRA fans, I am sure that you are aware that we don’t run on Father’s or Mother’s Day. It was nice to spend it with the people that I love the most and not have to race. I hope that you all did the same thing. Now it’s time to get back to business.

It’s time to load up the motor coach and head to Norwalk, Ohio, for the next event. We are rested and certainly have a great opportunity to get out there and win some rounds this weekend. The track promises to be a warm one, and it will be a mechanical challenge to make a full run without smokin’ the Gooodyears. A driver has to be ready to pedal the instant he (or she) feels the tires break loose. Be on the lookout for tire smoke and fish-tailing, it’s going to be a wild one!

The points race is heating up, too. The FRAM Tough Guard team is currently fifth in the points with Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon breathing down our necks. We have experience on our side as well as the full resources of DSR. The FRAM team knows what we have to do.

This is an unusually short blog entry I know, but Tori and Debi are sitting in the motor coach honking the horn! Never keep two females waiting — NEVER! So, if you can, get to Norwalk, have some ice cream, and stop by the FRAM Tough Guard pit to say hello. This could be our week. HONK, HONK… I’m coming ladies!!!!

See you in the fast lane, if there is one this weekend, it will be the one we choose!