NHRA Quotes from Seattle

Compiled by Ian Tocher
7/27/04

Pacific Raceways, in Kent, WA, near Seattle, hosted the 17th annual
CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals July 23-25, where the racers told the
inside story in their own words through NHRA and team press releases.

TOP FUEL

"Now that the monkey is off our backs, maybe we can settle in and win a few more this year." -- Scott Kalitta before qualifying 2nd at Seattle, on winning the previous race at Denver

"My addiction to drag racing came while I was still in my mother's womb. My father was a drag racer and I went from the womb to the cradle to the stroller watching all the greats that made drag racing what it is today." -- David Baca on his return to the sport after a brief absence to take care of business responsibilities

"I wanted to install one because I think the canopy would be much safer, [but] we would've had to install a fire system and fresh air system, just like the Funny Cars use, and that would make the car 15 to 20 pounds heavier. We can't afford to add that much weight and be competitive unless NHRA passes a [weight equalizing] rule to allow using the canopy. The only difference with using the higher windshield was that I had to look through the plastic to see the tree (starting lights). That's not out of the ordinary. Funny Car drivers look through a piece of plastic, too." -- Doug Herbert on his desire to see canopies enclosing Top Fuel drivers, but instead settling for the extended windshield he added in Denver to direct air over the newly mandated shield around his car's roll cage. As one of the largest T/F drivers at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Herbert is particularly at the mercy of any weight gains on the car

"I'm looking forward to a good showing in my own backyard." -- Brady Kalivoda, from nearby Seattle, before qualifying number eight, but bowing out in round one against Rhonda Hartman-Smith

"It used to be really bumpy, but I've heard from a few people that the new surface is very smooth." -- Doug Kalitta on the recently resurfaced Pacific Raceways strip

"We come into this race with a new track surface, a new tire, a new percentage rule and it's been hotter than ever at this race. And, we had to go at all this without any testing. I'm ecstatic with how well we've done so far." -- Larry Dixon on the repaved track, revamped Goodyear slicks, reduced nitro to 85%, and record high temperatures -- after qualifying 5th for raceday

"It's going to be a real hero or zero weekend. The team that adapts first will win. I would expect a lot of tire-smoking driver's races on Sunday. I'll be one of many crew chiefs left sleepless in Seattle this weekend." -- Tim Kushi, lead tuner for Scott Weis, on the new rules and conditions at Seattle

"There isn't much of a tune-up we can use in Seattle that we used in Denver. We just leave all that stuff on the mountain when we come back to sea level." -- Ed McCulloch, crew chief for Herbert, on the vastly different atmospheric conditions the teams faced just one week apart

"My guess is that it will initially slow us down but it will only take a few runs to get that figured out and provide more exciting racing for the fans." -- Cory McClenathan on the new 85% nitro rule, before qualifying 4th and going to the semis against Tony Schumacher

"There's just no way to soften the blow." -- Brandon Bernstein on losing to a holeshot by Baca in round one

"I think it's a work in progress, but there are some positive signs." -- Dixon after narrowly losing to a holeshot by McClenathan in round two

"Even though it didn't count, that was our best run of the weekend." -- Baca after leaving before the tree was even activated for his second- round match against S. Kalitta