In my last blog I mentioned the Night of Champions banquet honoring Ken Black at the Belagio in Las Vegas. The entire KB Racing top fuel and pro stock team attended the event that honored our team owner. Various people from Kalitta Motorsports attended, the Technicoat Cowboys came, and a lot of people from the racing community went as well. It was great to see Ken honored because he has done so much for our sport.

I know our team always talks about how fortunate we are to have a team owner like Ken. We definitely couldn’t ask for a more understanding, patient, and generous person to own our team. It was nice that he was honored for his support of drag racing. It was also nice to have the opportunity to publicly thank Ken. Although, I have to admit I was really nervous getting up on stage that night. I didn’t even need to say much. I just wanted to thank the Black family, but it was intimidating being up there on the same side of the podium as Jason Line and Greg Anderson and being up in front of my teammates. Plus, there’s nothing I could say that would show enough appreciation to Ken for giving me the opportunity to pilot his fuel car. Other than my ramblings, it was a great night. It was really cool to have our whole team together. Ken’s wife Judy was there along with their granddaughter, Kori. Ken and Judy’s son, Kenny, and daughter-in-law, Michele, came with their two kids, Kenny Jr. and Brittni. They had a lot of other family there as well.

There’s nothing I would have loved better than giving the Black family a Top Fuel Wally at their home track, but that will have to wait. None of them are easy but that first-round loss at Las Vegas was tough. It took me awhile to get over. It’s a good thing I live by myself because I’m not fun to be around after a race like that.

Now I’m looking forward to our next race in Georgia. I have been using our practice Tree all week. I used Doug Kalitta’s and then we set one up to my dragster. Our whole team is ready to turn our season around this weekend. It’s the first time we have back-to-back races two weekends in a row. I’m happy about that. As a driver, I prefer running two or even three weeks in a row.

This last weekend was pretty uneventful for me here in Michigan. I was so thankful for some warm, sunny weather. I went for a couple long jogs outside. I cleaned out my garage. Saturday night I went to Ford Field in Detroit for the AMA Supercross Race with some my teammates. It was cool to spend some time away from the track with everyone, but watching anything go around in circles isn’t that exciting to me.

There’s been some TV shows on lately that aren’t that exciting either but I find myself watching them anyway. When I’m home, I always have the TV on while I’m packing, doing laundry or whatever. I’ve been following American Idol and Dancing with the Stars lately. I think that Apolo is going to win, but I’m hoping that Ian Ziering gets better. I’ve been a big fan of his since my days of religiously watching Beverly Hills 90210 in junior high. I always thought Ian was the cutest. I think he’ll do good on Dancing with the Stars; he just tries too hard.

Our team is en route to Commerce, Ga., today. They loaded everything up last night and will set up at Atlanta Dragway tomorrow. Our KB Top Fuel team’s quickest run came at this track last year. I’m sure we can run well again there this weekend. Wish us luck!