I'm pretty sure I couldn't have taken on one more task today. Primarily because I'm lazy, but also because I only have one more day until we test in Bakersfield. Since it's an 8 hour round trip, I'm staying through the CHRR and have tons of things to take care of before then. I won't bore you with any details, but planning and handing over the execution of a 200-person event to someone else was down below laundry and a trip to the "Kitten and Puppy Expo" with my 11 year-old daughter today.
The best part of going to any big race is the actual anticipation of it. No, that's bullshit...it's being there.... that's the best. Anyway, we're finally at the end of the season and everyone is getting pumped up and ready to rock it this coming weekend. First is testing this Tuesday ---but before I forget; I need to go back and correct an early blog post regarding the points. Since I'm too damn lazy to go back and edit the actual post; I'll just do it here for those of you smart enough to have read ahead.
In a nutshell, I miscalculated the points race between us and the Rupert boys. I thought we were tied, but in actuality, there are 4 points separating us right now. After the one race out of six is thrown out, we are then 27 whole points back behind them and 1 point behind Buckey's team in the Northwest Hitter. 4 points is a helluva lot more than 23; because it means we have to go at least two additional rounds of racing; which is no mean feat against these guys. Rupert is the 2 time, nostalgia funny car champ in the Heritage Series and those boys know how to make horsepower and speed. They qualified no less than 2nd at four of the five races this year; having DNQ'd in Boise/April.
However, drag racing is the great equalizer. It's a sport, much like gymnastics at the Olympics. You can be the best there is, but one slip on the beam and you're going home with the silver or less. One actual drag race takes less than 6 seconds to complete; here I need to be careful, so as to not discourage everyone including myself. All of the work that is performed on the car, traveling to the location, money, hotel, food, work, work, work, sweat and work....comes down to less than six seconds. That span of time is endless when you're on the starting line, eyes fixated on the scoreboards at the end of the quarter mile. Focused on that win light, ET and MPH readings. In eliminations; no win light...you're on the trailer. Six seconds -- that's it.
Where the hell was I? Oh yeah, equalizer.....so my point is; statistics can point to a higher likelihood of an outcome based upon a sizable sample of data. Case in point, Rupert's team. Solid performers; consistently high MPH and low ET's. They know the car and how to get the most out of it. The data suggests that they will outperform our team and car at the CHRR. There's not a lot of margin for error within six seconds; miss your set up, miss your light (happened to us in Salt Lake - friggin' .400 light) and you miss your opportunity to be a champion.
I wish I hated those guys, but I don't and my team doesn't either. They're fun, witty and love drag racing as much as we do. Their pit resembles part rock concert; part family reunion, with people, lawn chairs, food, kids, dogs and an old-school trailer. Sometimes they have more people in their pit than are in the stands because they have a lot of friends and anyone can come and hang out. However, looks can be misleading; behind the Jerry Garcia-esque facade of their pit is a deadly, track-eating funny car that more times than not, wins.
Time to salvage this post and my position on the team. We aren't playing this race. We have dotted our "i's" and crossed (as Huggy would say), our motherf'ing "t's". We are burning to win - all of us - right now- we want to win; badly. I guess it's all going to come down to who has that burning desire more - them or us? No one else figures into this race at all - the hell with the statistics - and forget any other teams, including Bucky's. This race comes down to two teams - them and us. I've already decided I'm not going home without standing in that winner's circle on Sunday evening. We will win and fuck anyone that gets in the way.
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