As most of you know, the FRAM Top Fuel dragster team had a tough but rewarding race day at Gainesville. We lost the powerplant in rounds two and three, and of course, the thrash was on in an effort to make it to the final. That thrash is what this brief blog entry is all about.

Most of us have experienced tough times and challenges in our lives. I can remember events where we barely had enough time to get the car ready for the next round of racing. Days where the thrash was so tough that we didn’t even have time to start the car after we put it back together. I can remember sitting in the car in the staging lanes wondering if the thing was even going to start, much less make it down the track! Can you imagine sitting in a Top Fueler and wondering if it was put together properly? I don’t have to do that anymore thanks to the guys at DSR.

If you were lucky enough to have been at Gainesville for the final round, you saw the action while it happened. If you weren’t there, let me tell you what went on. Members from all of the Don Schumacher Racing teams charged in after our semifinal victory to get the FRAM dragster together again. The MTS, U.S. Army, NAPA, and Valvoline guys were helping the FRAM boys get it all together. Not that the FRAM guys couldn’t have done it, they have in the past, but all of the teams chipped in to make sure that we were a GO for the final round. All of the different team uniforms made it look like the NFL Pro Bowl in the FRAM pit!

I can’t tell you what a great feeling that it was to see all of the other teams helping out like that. It not only helped my FRAM boys, but it enabled me to make sure that my head was in the game. We had the Larry Dixon in the final, and that’s a tough call to answer on any given race day. Let me tell you something, because of all the help that we received from the other teams, I was able to concentrate and fully ready myself for the final round. Believe me when I say that we were ready for the run. The guys tore it down, put it back together, and made sure that it was right. The only thing that wasn’t right for us was the right lane.

I didn’t want to write a tome here, so I will keep it short. THANK YOU to all of the DSR teams who pitched in and made things a lot easier on us going into the final round. I cannot even begin to explain how it feels having all of these guys supporting the FRAM team going into the final. Also thanks to all of the sponsors who back these operations and make things happen financially. The graphic that accompanies this blog entry it a tribute to the teams and sponsors for a job well done. Again, a heartfelt THANK YOU to everybody, see you in Houston!