“Even though we didn’t win the race, it was a good weekend. We didn’t break any parts and it looks like (crew chief) Ed McCulloch is getting a better handle on the tune-up.” - Herbert after losing to Doug Kalitta in round two

“The good news is that we’re back on top of the standings. We really caught a break with Brandon (Bernstein) losing early, but we still had to take care of business. We just couldn’t quite close the deal.” - Schumacher on Bernstein’s first-round loss; and on coming up short to Darrell Russell in the final round

“Maybe it played to our favor because they couldn’t look at what we had done in the semis.” - Russell on the timing glitch in the semis that gave him no time for his win over Dixon, so NHRA awarded lane choice in the final to Schumacher

“We needed this. It had been almost two years since we won and you do start to doubt yourself at times.” - Russell again, on winning his sixth T/F race and the team’s first since July 2002

FUNNY CAR

“You’ve gotta get hot in the heat. Otherwise you’ve got no chance (to win the championship).” - Gary Densham on the upcoming summer month races, and before qualifying third and making it to a second-round loss against Gary Scelzi

“In this sport, unfortunately, you have to prove yourself every weekend, every run.” - Whit Bazemore before qualifying in the number-two position

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“I haven’t been pushed back in the seat like that in quite awhile.” - Cruz Pedregon on the track record 4.769-second pass that earned his first number-one qualifying position since Pomona in November 1998

“It’s doing what it’s supposed to do. And to make one of these cars do that is a pretty big thing.” - Gary Scelzi after qualifying 6th

“The early numbers on the run were as good as any we posted during qualifying. The hot track just wouldn’t hold the tune-up and the car spun the tires at mid-track.” - Tommy Johnson Jr. on his first-round loss to Scelzi