Yesterday, our KB Racing left a day earlier than normal to head for our next race in Memphis. We made a pit stop at Summit Racing Motorsports Park in Norwalk, which is only two hours from our shop. We decided we needed to do some testing. We had the whole facility to ourselves so we made a bunch of laps. The good people who run the place did a great job of prepping the track for us. I have to thank the Baders for being so accommodating to us on short notice and Nettie Damron for setting it all up.

A lot of the guys on my team are sick or recovering from being sick but they were still out there busting their butts. When you work on a race team, you can’t exactly call in sick for work. The guys just have to keep going. I know that their hard work will pay off.

A few of the people I told we were testing gave me a strange looks and questioned why we continue to test. I guess just because we are mathematically out of the Countdown to the Championship we aren’t expected to keep trying to improve and win races. People just don’t understand our desire to win, I guess. I read a great quote that I thought applies to us. “As long as the music is playing, we’ve got to get up and dance. We’re still dancing.” As long as there are still races and the Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout to win, we’ve go to get out and win. We’re still trying. I saw that quote in my latest Time Magazine. It came from Citigroup CEO Charles Prince.

I was reading that Time Magazine in the car ride on the way back from Norwalk. Most of that issue was about the war in Iraq. I always try to follow what’s going on in the world, but I feel like I have been paying more attention to the war in Iraq since we are running a dragster to support our troops. At Indy, we unveiled a new paint scheme and new uniforms that honors our troops and their families. It’s difficult to read about what the troops are enduring and it’s easy turn a blind eye and ignore what’s going on over there. I firmly believe that whether we support the war or not, we need to support our troops and I think that’s important to remember.

At Indy, I had a lot of troops past, present, and future approach me at our pit area and thank us for running our dragster honoring them. A lot of them shared their stories with me and I really learned a lot. I met a lot of Vietnam veterans and they expressed gratitude because they were not supported at all during and after the Vietnam War. It’s not everyday that we can show support to the people fighting and working for our country. Running this dragster was a great idea. My team owner, Ken Black, and Evan Knoll decided to do it. I’m glad they did.

I was also glad to make the annual visit to the Riley Children’s Hospital in Indy before our race. My KB Racing teammates, Greg Anderson and Jason Line, also attended. We visited with some of the kids and their parents. We took photos with them and signed autographs for a couple of hours. The GM Racing Program sponsors the event and gives out goodie bags for the kids. NHRA drivers have been making the annual visit to the hospital for a number of years. Other drivers attending were Melanie Troxel, Cory McClenathan, Kurt Johnson, and Marty Ladwig. It’s great that we can make the kids smile. Riley Hospital for Children is Indiana's only comprehensive children's hospital, with pediatric specialists in every field of medicine and surgery.

There are no planned hospital visits in Memphis, but I know I will be making the annual visit to Beale Street which should be a lot fun. Like last year, a lot of drivers and fans will be going to Coyote Ugly on Thursday night for the FanFest. I went last year and had a lot of fun. I had even more fun on raceday when we advanced to the finals. I’m looking forward to going back this year and doing just well, if not better.