Quotes from NHRA at Denver

Compiled by Ian Tocher
Photos by Ron Lewis
7/22/04

After a two-week layoff, the NHRA's best were back in action July 16-18, for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver, CO. As usual, they told the story in their own words through team and NHRA press releases.

TOP FUEL

"These next three races will be a blessing to some and a curse to others. All the data you've collected this year is now just wasted paper. You'll really have to start over. If you had a combination that was working before, it means nothing. All the teams will have to start over. The most difficult part will be determining which of the three new variables is causing a positive or negative result. I hope we'll be in a position to take advantage of someone else's tuning nightmares, instead of someone else capitalizing on our tuning woes. I'm sure there will be plenty of frustration to go around." -- Scott Weis on the NHRA mandating a new rear tire and minimum rear tire air pressure for the nitro classes at Denver, plus reducing the nitro percentage to 85% at the next race a week later in Seattle

"More than half of our events are done with three races in a row. If the car is running good you can make up some ground, and if the car is running bad, you're in trouble. So, I like it. If you don't like it then you should go run in the IRL or another series." -- Larry Dixon on entering the third of four three-race swings in the 2004 NHRA season

"The conditions affect the cars more than the drivers because we're not racing on foot." -- Dixon again, on the thin air at Bandimere Speedway, the highest-altitude venue on the circuit

"On the last qualifying run, the car shook pretty violently when it left the starting line. I lost vision for a second, and I almost shut it off, but the tire shake cleared up and I was able to drive through it. It turned out to be a great run." -- Brandon Bernstein on the 4.677-second pass at 308.43 mph that earned him the number-one starting position

"It was bit hairy going down to that last qualifying pass to get into the field." -- Tony Schumacher, who qualified 10th, after rain eliminated both Friday qualifying sessions and a fuel leak prevented him from making an attempt in Saturday's first session

"It's a shame to give your opponent a win like that without even being able to go down the track." -- Cory MacClenathan after the front wheels of his car started wobbling while backing up from his burnout for the first round against Rhonda Hartman-Smith and pulled the steering wheel from his hand. In the process, he hit the button that deploys the parachute, causing it to fall from its pack at the back of the dragster

"I pulled the first parachute and pulled on the brake. When I did, the brake pulled all the way back and I knew it wasn't working. I hit the second parachute and it came out, but it was too late. I knew I was getting closer to the sand. About then I wished I could be like Fred Flintstone and stick my feet through the floor boards." -- Doug Herbert on ending up in the sand trap after a brake line broke during his first-round win over Mike Strasburg