NHRA FMDRS: Rick Santos named Federal-Mogul dragster world champion for 3rd time
25 September 1999
SUN VALLEY, Calif.-- This year wasn't as dramatic, but
certainly as special as the Oakwood Homes team became three-time World
Champions on Saturday, September 18. In 1997, to everyone's surprise, Rick
Santos and his Jack O'Bannon Racing team pulled a World Championship title
out of their hats at the last Division Seven event of the season. Then in
1998, Santos clinched the title after Darrell Russell lost in the
semi-finals at the Revell Nationals in Dallas, Texas. Santos went on to
win that race as well, making it quite a celebration.
"We were pretty sure we had it wrapped up after our U.S. Nationals
win at Indy," said Santos. "But you never know. There was a chance Shawn
Bowen could have ended up with a perfect season and actually beaten us."
That chance ended when Bowen lost in the first round of
eliminations at the Keystone Nationals in Reading, Pa., on Saturday,
September 18.
"It's just amazing to win three consecutive World Championships,"
adds Santos. "This is a tough, competitive class, but the Oakwood Homes
team has been unbelievable this year. We didn't think we could top last
year, but we won the championship a month earlier than we did last year,
and we ended with a perfect season."
Santos' claim to a perfect season came because he won five
divisional events and five national events. This feat has only been
accomplished once in Federal-Mogul Dragster. The late Blaine Johnson
accomplished it in 1992.
Santos' 1999 national wins came at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway,
Atlanta (Ga.) Dragway, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (N.J.), Brainerd
(Minn.) International Raceway and Indianapolis (Ind.) Raceway Park.
Santos' five divisional wins came at Speedworld (Ariz.) Motorplex,
Firebird (Idaho) Raceway, Famoso (Calif.) Raceway, Sears Point (Calif.)
Raceway and Woodburn (Ore.) Dragstrip.
Santos has 10 wins in 14 starts and has been top qualifier five
times at a national level and four times at a divisional level this year.
"I couldn't ask for anything more than what I have here with the
Oakwood Homes Racing team," added Santos. "We are like a family and every
person on this team has been instrumental in the success we have had. This
is only our third full season and all the team members have been together
since our first race in April of 1996. That consistency has been a key
factor in that success. Everyone knows their role and we have developed a
lot of trust amongst one another."
"I can't say enough about team owners Jack and Beverly O'Bannon,
crew chief Norm Grimes, my dad George and brother Jeff and crew members
Alan Russell and John Layfield. They are the ones that have made this
third championship possible."
What makes this championship even more special to Santos is that
he won it with a car that he built from scratch.
"I started building the car in November of 1997," said Santos. "It
was a night and weekend project that was treated like a hobby. My dad
George and brother Jeff both helped a lot. It is the first alcohol car I
have ever built, but I have built a super comp and comp eliminator car
before. The car is lighter with a smaller motor than our old car. The
serial number on the car is 003, and ironically, we won our third title.
The car also became the fastest alcohol dragster in the world with
a 5.39-second pass during the Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Ga.
Since the debut of the car at Pomona, the team has boasted two
runs in the 5.3-second range, 20 runs in the 5.4-second range and 42 in
the 5.5-second range.
Santos' 1999 season, however, was not without problems. A series of broken
rods put the Oakwood Homes Dragster out of several events early.
"This season could have been even better," said Santos. "Our
losses in Utah, Denver and Seattle all came because of broken parts. We
made some changes after Seattle and things have been good."
Santos only failed to make it to the semi-finals once, when he lost in the
second round on a hole shot to Darren Nicholson at the national event in
Phoenix, Ariz.
Santos and the Oakwood Homes team clinched the Division Seven
title for the third consecutive year at the Division Six race at Woodburn
Dragstrip in July.
"Last year we won every divisional race we entered," said Santos.
"So although it was a good effort, we were feeling more pressure than we
should have. It was nice to get it out of the way early, so we could
concentrate on wrapping up the national title."
Since joining with Jack O'Bannon in 1996, the combination has 54
starts, with 34 final round appearances, 26 wins (13 national and 13
divisional) and have been top qualifier 22 times.
The chase for the championship title is over, but the team is
still scheduled to compete at national events in Dallas, Houston and
Pomona, Calif.
Although the Oakwood Homes team was always on top of their game in 1999,
they never quit experimenting. They switched from a 451 Brad Anderson Hemi
to a 433 Hemi in July.
"The transition has been a work in progress for two years," said
crew chief Norm Grimes. "We had to phase out the old engines, but the
demise of a lot of parts throughout the year allowed us to make the change
early. The smaller engine allows the car to weigh less and be more
efficient."
"You have to try new things," said Santos. "If you follow the leader, you
are only going to be second best. The best thing a team can do is work on
and concentrate on your own performance, and hope that things fall into
place.