NHRA: Lampus set for tenuous start in MADD rail

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 5) – Don Lampus is nervous about the season-opening
42nd annual K&N Filters Winternationals. Not because it’ll be his first
time in his 325-mph Top Fuel dragster since early November. Rather, it’s
the circumstances surrounding his Mothers Against Drunk Driving race
team.

Lampus signed a marketing agreement with the 20-year-old non-profit
organization in the off-season that called for the formation of an
alcohol awareness program to be aimed at drag racing fans across the
country. The program has received rave reviews in corporate boardrooms
but so far no high-level sponsors have climbed on board.

“It’s a little disappointing because everyone we’ve made our
presentation to has absolutely loved the program and expressed a desire
to get involved,” Lampus said. “But, with the economy being slow at the
moment, we just haven’t found a company that’s ready to make a move and
get involved right now.

“We’re still working around the clock on this project. There was some
money left in the team coffers so we’ll be racing in Pomona and Phoenix
for sure. Hopefully, that buys us a little more time to line up the
funding we need to continue forward.”

In preparation for the 2002 season, Lampus ran the last three events of
2001. With a limited budget, he managed to qualify for all three events
and log three elimination-round wins, including a semifinal showing in
Las Vegas. Now, with crew chief Wayne Dupuy still making the tuning
calls, Lampus hopes for similar success.

“If anyone can pull off two solid weekends of drag racing with a small
budget it’s Wayne-o,” Lampus said. “We’ll try to qualify without blowing
anything up and then race as hard as we can on Sunday. I don’t think it
will hurt our sponsorship hunt if we’re in the top 10 of the POWERade
points coming out of Phoenix.”

Both ESPN and ESPN2 will carry portions of the Winternationals.
Qualifying highlights air from 4:30-6 p.m., Saturday, on ESPN, and
continue from 6-7 p.m., Saturday, on ESPN2. Primetime elimination
coverage runs from 5-7 p.m., Sunday, on ESPN. The eliminations will be
rebroadcast from 3-5 a.m., Monday, Feb. 11, on ESPN, and again from 4-6
a.m., Friday, Feb. 15, on ESPN2. Times are listed in Eastern Standard
Time.