Photos by Ron Lewis and Todd Dziadosz
6/21/06
Pro Stock title at the track. And as always, the racers told the tale through their
quotes within NHRA and team press releases.
"This one's for my dad. He's a racer and he's the reason I love drag racing. I used to lay under his car on the creeper when I was a little kid just to spend time with him. He's my best friend. Happy Father's Day, Dad!" — Rod Fuller after winning the third race of his Top Fuel career on Father’s Day
"It was pretty awesome going from outside the field and jumping into 2nd (place)." — Bob Vandergriff on his Saturday afternoon qualifying heroics
“We just didn't have the fuel system set right. We dropped a hole (cylinder) at half track and then another at 1,000 feet. It felt like it was coasting, not pulling from 1,000 feet to the stripe." — Scott Weis after missing the qualifying list by just .015 of a second
"We flat-out overpowered the racetrack, just like we saw a lot of the high-horsepower cars do. I mean, when the points leader (Melanie Troxel) loses, you know it's tough out there, especially as well as she's been running this year. It just happens. I'm upset and pissed off whenever we can't get down the track and this occasion is no different. We weren't even pushing the envelope. It is what it is." — David Baca on his first round loss to McClenathan
“We found the gremlins that have been bugging us." — Morgan Lucas focusing on the positive after losing to Doug Kalitta in round one
"We got into some pretty good heat weather-wise today. I think the crew chiefs are still working on tune-ups with the new tires in the hot weather. It's going to be a challenge but I think Tim (Richards, crew chief), will figure out a good combination quickly.” — Bernstein after losing a pedaling match against Fuller in the semis
 "That was our lucky dog run.” — Brandon Bernstein, the number-one qualifier, on coasting to a narrow first-round win over Rit Pustari after both car’s engines failed about half-track "I was so focused I didn't know who won until they told me at the top end. Then I just let loose.” — Fuller after picking up his second win this year and moving up to 4th in points |
Todd Dziadosz photos
“This was my 55th win as a crew chief and it means a lot because Larry is a neighbor of mine and every time they win they hang the banners in his yard. This time we get the banners." — Lee Beard, crew chief for Fuller, on the rivalry between teams that extends even beyond the track |