November 16, 2008

As you read this we have just wrapped up the 2008 NHRA drag racing season. And, of course, the U.S. Army Top Fuel team had one great year.

We were able to set a number of records, while capturing our fifth consecutive POWERade world championship. When we started back in February, our mission was clear—to deliver another world title to you brave men and women. I'm happy to say it was mission accomplished.

From day one we took the same approach that y'all take every day. We never let failure become an option. Every time we set foot on the race track we wanted to beat anyone in our path. That's just the way you have to look at things.

Unfortunately, the season finale in Pomona, Calif. was the last race for the existing U.S. Army team. My crew chief, Alan Johnson, is leaving the organization to start his own Top Fuel and Funny Car operation and most of the crew is going with him.

Needless to say, I am sad to see the "band" break up. Alan and the guys have been like family to me for such a long time. I wish them a lot of luck with their new program and rest assured that we will remain friends despite the fact that we'll be competing against each other.

To that end, I'm confident we'll assemble a talented group of guys for 2009 and that we'll be as competitive as ever. You can bet on the fact that we'll be looking to contend for another world title. You expect that from us and we expect that from ourselves.

So, as we look ahead to '09, I want to wish all of you a happy holiday season. You are always in our hearts and prayers, but even more so during the holidays. We know you sacrifice so much for us 365 days a year.

Here's hoping we'll see many of you at the race track next year. If you do get to one of our races, please make sure to come by and say hello. After all, we are your race team.

Again, the U.S. Army team would like to extend its best to you and your families. We'll see you again in '09.

Hooah!!!!

November 02, 2008

On Saturday, after qualifying number one for the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, we clinched the 2008 NHRA POWERade world championship. It was the U.S. Army team's fifth consecutive title.

It's not very often in any professional sport that a team can dominate. But, the U.S. Army team sure has done that since 2004. To put it bluntly, we've had one hell of a ride.

Quite obviously, one person does not make a team and I can tell you that I'm surrounded by the best in the business. I've been blessed to have the team I've had for all of these years.

Next year will be a new challenge for me. My crew chief, Alan Johnson, has opted to leave the organization in favor of starting his own team and many of the crew guys have decided to go with Alan to his new Top Fuel/Funny Car operation.

With that said, we'll assemble a great group of people for the 2009 season and I'm confident we'll be successful. We know that you set the bar high for yourselves, so please be assured that we follow your lead with our race team. Our expectation for '09 is to once again challenge for the world title.

Reflecting back again on this past weekend, it was great to have the Sergeant Major of the Army - Kenneth Preston - at the track. He's a terrific guy and he seemed to really enjoy himself. We certainly tried to make sure that he had a good time.

While visiting with us, Sergeant Major Preston surprised me with a promotion to Honorary Staff Sergeant. That was such a wonderful moment for me.

As I have stated time and time again, I truly love the association that our team has with the U.S. Army. We've been together since 2000 and in my eyes it's the best marketing partnership around. Additionally, I wouldn't trade the relationship that I have with all of you for anything in the world.

With that, I better close this column in favor of spending quality time with my family. We'll have a weekend off before traveling out to Pomona, Calif. for the season finale. So, until then, y'all be well and stay safe. Remember that you're always in our hearts and prayers.

Hooah!!!!!!

October 12, 2008

We have just completed round four of the six-race Countdown to One phase of the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship.

Thankfully, we departed the Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park with another victory. It was win number 14 for the season, which is simply phenomenal.

While the performance of the U.S. Army Top Fuel team was clearly being scrutinized this weekend by many observers given our world championship-contending position, I have to tell you that my personal thoughts were in a different place.

Prior to arriving in Richmond, my former U.S. Army Racing teammate, Antron Brown, and I visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. We spent a lot of time with injured vets from both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Now, I had been to Walter Reed numerous times before this trip, so I knew what to expect in terms of emotion. But, what always gets to me is the sheer will and determination those great Soldiers have even when having to deal with such tremendous adversity.

No matter the seriousness of their injuries, these brave Soldiers maintain such a terrific state of mind. They remain positive and eager to get back to their units. Visiting with these men and women is always so moving for me.

I think I can speak for Antron in saying that all of you Soldiers are great role models for the rest of us. You truly make a difference in our society and for that we're eternally grateful.

In addition to the Walter Reed trip, the U.S. Army team also hosted at the track a Wounded Warrior -- Staff Sergeant Victor Campos. He was able to spend some time with the team which was moving in its own right. It's all about perspective, right?

What I'm also happy about is the fact that our Wounded Warrior was recognized by the NHRA over the public address system. The fans showed their appreciation, needless to say. That's the way it should be.

With that, I'm going to close this column out. We'll have a couple of weekends off before our next race in Las Vegas. In fact, we'll spend Halloween in Sin City. That might be a little interesting, huh? And, we'll be looking to clinch our fifth straight world championship!

We'll come back at you right after the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. So, until then, y'all stay well and please remember that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Hooah!!

September 28, 2008

Well, we just finished up our visit to the land of Elvis - Memphis, Tenn. And, just in case you're wondering, I did not experience an Elvis sighting.

Actually, I was a bit busy dealing with the business at hand, which was competing in the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Our weekend in Memphis produced another stellar performance. We claimed another victory and have now bolted out to a commanding lead in the Top Fuel standings.

With that said, the Memphis tour stop marked the halfway point of the Countdown to One phase of the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship. It's hard to believe that we're heading down the home stretch of the season.

There are but three races remaining in the season and, of course, we'll be looking to win them all. That's what you Army Strong Soldiers expect of us and that's what we expect to do.

Like y'all, we pride ourselves on giving 110 percent effort every time we're at the track. Obviously, your efforts have a far greater affect on society than what we do racing. There's nothing more important than feeling safe and free. And, we thank you for that.

As the end of the season looms, no matter the end result, I can tell you that I will have the same feeling I do every year. Knowing that my extended U.S. Army family will not be around me for a couple of months will be a real downer.

Conversely, when we flip the calendar to a new year, my attitude will quickly change since I know a new season is forthcoming and, naturally, that means me re-uniting with my Army buddies.

While I enjoy racing and winning, I truly enjoy being around you Soldiers on race weekends. To be able to share stories is such a wonderful thing.

I do a lot of speeches during the course of a season to many different audiences and I try to work in many of your stories. Specifically, when I'm addressing young students, many of your stories really get their attention. That's important because your stories are typically about lessons in life.

Well, I better wrap this up so I can prepare to spend an eagerly awaited off weekend with my family back home. We've been on the road for three straight weekends, so you can imagine how much I miss my wife and three children.

We'll be traveling to Virginia Motorsports Park outside of Richmond in two weeks. So, right after that event, let's plan on re-connecting. In the meantime, y'all stay well. Hooah!!!!

September 21, 2008

As I write this, the U.S. Army Top Fuel team has just completed round two of the NHRA's Countdown to One playoffs.

Unfortunately, we lost in the final round of the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas. We actually had a 31-round win streak snapped. What a great ride it was since the Denver race in July.

While it would be natural to intently review the most recent race, I would actually like to reflect back on the event that took place in Charlotte, N.C. a week ago. I can't help but relive the experience of becoming the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history.

When I started my pro career in 1996, never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be in the position that I'm in right now. Frankly, it's a credit to everyone that I've had around me from day one – my dad, my family, my friends, all of my crew guys, my crew chiefs and, of course, the U.S. Army.

After we won the Charlotte race, which enabled me to pass the legendary Joe Amato on the all-time career win list, I was surrounded at the top end of the track by the very people that I wanted to be surrounded by – our Soldiers.

What was especially pleasing to me was the fact that the NHRA allowed me to travel to victory lane from the top end of the track in an H2 with a large contingent of Soldiers accompanying me.

Perhaps, by now, you have seen the widely distributed photo of me riding in the H2 with two Army Strong Soldiers holding the Top Fuel career victory record sign behind me. What a great moment in time that was. I was so proud that my extended U.S. Army family was also able to enjoy such a momentous occasion.

Needless to say, we're hopeful that one more momentous occasion will take place at season's end in mid-November. Of course, I'm referencing our pursuit of a fifth straight world championship.

We know that the next couple of months will be very difficult to the extent that all the other teams will be looking to take us out. When you win a lot, you simply have a large target on your back. We understand that, but we'll never let that affect our approach.

Rest assured that we're going to remain focused on the job at hand. We've managed to break a lot of records so far this season, but they won't mean very much unless we get that big trophy once the curtain comes down on the 2008 campaign.

For you Soldiers, failure is never an option. The U.S. Army Top Fuel team believes in that as well. With our next race in Memphis just a week away, we'll check back in with you real soon. God bless you all. Hooah!

September 14, 2008

The U.S. Army NHRA Top Fuel team began the playoffs this weekend down in Charlotte, N.C. in grand style with a record-setting win. After winning our seventh straight race, I became the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 53 victories. All I can say is wow!!! I can tell you that I belong to the greatest team that's ever been assembled in the sport.

The inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals was the first of six races that comprises the Countdown to One phase of the Countdown to the Championship. Only the top 10 drivers in each of the NHRA's four professional classes have a shot at the title.

We headed to NASCAR country holding the points lead in the Top Fuel standings and, of course, we left with it given our win. We've held first-place since the opening race back in February. That's pretty cool.

Like all of you Army Strong soldiers, the U.S. Army Top Fuel team is focused on the mission at hand, which for us is to provide another world championship to y'all. Plain and simple, we race and win for you.

If you have been following our exploits so far this season, you are aware that we've already had a successful run. Through the Charlotte event we have won 12 races and advanced to two other final rounds.

Along the way, we also managed to break a handful of our own records - most consecutive victories (7), most wins in a single season (12) and most consecutive round wins (28 thus far).

But, of course, we're never satisfied. We're always looking to improve, while perfecting our approach. In the sport of professional drag racing, you can never rest on your laurels or else you will be left standing still.

We know we're going to be in a tight race from this point forward. When you are the favorite to win, everyone wants to be the one who knocks you out. I can assure you that we're going to be scrapping right until the bitter end. That's the only way we know how to do things.

We know that we'll probably have a bit of adversity to overcome over the next couple of months, but if there's a team that can handle adversity and pressure, it's the U.S. Army team. We've proven that the last four years after capturing the world championship on each occasion.

You might recall that the last two years the crown was not decided until the final round at the final race. And, we were the ones holding the big trophy each time at the end. Hopefully, even from a far, you were able to enjoy those moments with us.

Obviously, it's our goal yet again to present y'all another trophy. You deserve that for all of the hard work and determination that you provide us each and every day.

On behalf of the U.S. Army Top Fuel team, I'd like to thank all of you for keeping us safe and free. We'll be checking in with you weekly for the rest of the season. Keep your fingers crossed as we head into Dallas next weekend. Hooah!!!