NHRA’s Pro Drivers and their team’s update from off-season. Part 3 Sunday Eliminations

Erica Enders-Steven

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Pomona - 55th Circle K Winternationals.

This is a continuation (Part 3)...

Tim Wilkerson:

“A 6 disc clutch is new to the car this year. We got four new crew members that created turmoil in the off-season. My mind is getting smaller everyday. Family is great. Daniel my son finished his Master’s degree and will be taking his C.P. A. exams this year.”

Cruz Pedregon:

“New Snap-On Tools chassis; Murf-McKinney chassis. We had three to four years on the other chassis. There was nothing wrong with it but for peace of mind… it had miles on it. We tested at Phoenix and learned a lot. We ran a 4.01 (sec). Last year we had a lot of changes to the car: the cylinder head, the clutch… we decided to keep things the same to build on that consistency. Nothing new about me. My three year old daughter is here this weekend. I am just trying to win the race!”

V. Gaines:

“We were building a brand new car because we wrecked the one last year and it consumed a lot of our off season. We build our own cars. I had cataracts removed in both eyes and that consumed a lot our time. I can see the tree better. I really feel good. We lost test time due to the cataracts. My family is grown and gone and spend as much time with the grand kids in our hometown of Denver, Colorado. Ha, I like them (cigar choice smoked?) all but I only chew on them!” 

Bob Bode:

“We put new heads on the car so we worked out rails off over the off season. I’ve been practicing my lights so my 12 y.o. little boy doesn’t give me a hard time. And, just keeping the family interested; my wife loves this sport. Yes, my hometown is Chicago.”

Tommy Johnson, Jr.:

“We didn’t do a lot; we didn’t make many changes. We stuck with what worked; we learned so well. Myself, I went to Australia and raced a few weeks there; it was probably the busiest off season ever. …Australia for Thanksgiving and then Christmas with the family. I live in Indy but my family is in Charlotte.”

Clay Millican:

“We really didn’t change anything with the car. The thing ran really awesome in last year’s countdown. We left it alone. We have been having some problems with it. I have been trying to get myself in better shape. Still single. Nah, we didn’t test. The only car that tested was Dougie; they a few new pieces they wanted to test.”

Leah Pritchett:

“We have a brand new Hadman chassis race car. We tested with it in W. Palm Beach. This will be the first race with it. Personally, I have been working out a lot trying to be in the best shape in my life; healthy lifestyle. Also, it is kind of cool to be back out here because my husband works on a competing team, Steve Torrence’s team. We might meet up in the finals. Been busting my butt all off season along with my team  in Monroe, Ohio, getting everything certified and looking nice. I am excited to be done with all of that and just be – racing.”

 Alexis DeJoria:

“We really didn’t change anything from the off season. We ran here really good here at the finals last season so we figured we’d just keep it going. We didn’t do any testing so I got a nice long time to spend with my family. We are ready; it is going to be great year. We got the Patron XO Café Incindio colors on the car; the red and black and orange. It looks pretty amazing.”

Clay Millican:

 “I will tell you what. Pretty much for me personally, everything is brand new with this team: car, crew, trailer and team owner. What is not new is obviously me because I am an old guy. And, Parts Plus is with me for the fifth year. And, probably some of the biggest news in drag racing is one that we have a team owner that has joined the sport for the first time, Doug Stringer. We brought in a brand new sponsor with Great Clips and Kasey Kahne. Doug comes from NASCAR. I love my Stand-21 suit. It is like wearing pajamas.”

Erica Enders-Steven:

“We didn’t make very many changes to the race car. We did engine and shock development over the off season. We did a little bit of testing coming into this race. NHRA gave us a new tire and fuel; we are trying to figure that out. Everything going okay thus far. Coming off a championship this year we didn’t want to change too much. I find myself working at the shop and finding sponsorship. My husband might run some races with Alan Johnson this year which is exciting. I come from a racing family and so that is continues to be our passion and what we work on. Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a life outside of it but this sport demands a lot of my attention and I am thankful for that. I am blessed to do what I love.”

 Robert Hight:           

“Everything is better!”