THEY SAID IT

NHRA quotes from Las Vegas

Compiled by Ian Tocher
4/8/04

The fifth annual SummitRacing.com Nationals were staged Apr. 2-4, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Here, in their own words taken from NHRA and team press releases, are the thoughts of drivers and crew chiefs about the event.

TOP FUEL

"It really puts the crew chiefs and teams with their backs against the wall when you only have two qualifying sessions. So, we were fortunate that we got a good run in on the first hit." -- Larry Dixon on the rain- shortened qualifying sessions and after qualifying sixth

"It's been frustrating doing poorly the first few races this year. We needed this. It's good for team morale." -- Scott Kalitta on earning his first top qualifier honor in more than four years with a 4.472-second pass at 333.74 mph

"That's not where you want to be. You're always the first pair out in the eight-nine match up (at 11 a.m. PDT) and that's sort of uncomfortable." -- Tony Schumacher on qualifying ninth, which put him in the bottom half of the field for the first time since last August in Sonoma, CA

"We aren't changing our setup at all, partially because we can't afford to and partially because consistency should go-rounds this season." -- Howard Weis, crew chief for Scott Weis, on the new blowers, motor positions, clutch setups, and tires most of the big-dollar teams are experimenting with early this season

"In the past, it was all or nothing. We'd run a good number and then make changes for the next round and the car would react negatively, usually smoking the tires. Now we can make changes and the car reacts more positively. We are definitely headed in the right direction." -- Johnny West, crew chief for David Baca, after their first-round loss to Dixon

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"It was a simple thing, but even simple things can mess one of these dragsters up." -- Todd West, crew chief for Cory MacClenathan, on the clutch problem that prevented them from lining up in round two against Doug Herbert

"All I can say is that I've been doing this for 14 years in Top Fuel and I just found another way to lose." -- Cory Mac on the frustration of finding mismatched parts at the last moment

"It was like the car just stopped. It just sat there and spun the tires and I saw Dixon recover and drive away. There was nothing I could do but watch." -- Brandon Bernstein on losing to Dixon in the semi-finals

"I think we learned a lot and we're ready to start making some noise." -- Herbert on his best showing of the year so far after a semi-final loss to Schumacher

"Anytime you get to the final round, you never want to come home in second place." -- Dixon on his runner-up finish to Schumacher

"I told Alan before the race I had never won here before and he delivered. Same thing in Gainesville and we won there, too. I better go remind him I haven't won in Houston or Bristol either." -- Schumacher on his crew chief Alan Johnson and the tracks where he has yet to score a Top Fuel title