NHRA Pre-Race: Hammonds Looks to End the Western Swing on a High Note
A DETERMINED HAMMONDS LOOKS TO END THE WESTERN SWING ON A HIGH NOTE Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier crew maps out strategy for a successful Sonoma assault Crestview, Fla., July 30, 2002 - Racing in the NHRA's Pro Stock division requires an extremely strong constitution. As arguably the most competitive class in all of motorsports, the line between winning on Sunday and going home early is often measured in thousandths of a second. Every week, over thirty teams, each more than capable of winning the race, vie for one of only sixteen spots in final eliminations. In his first full season on the NHRA POWERade tour, Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier driver Tom Hammonds has seen both ends of the spectrum. He has qualified seven times in the first fourteen races, with six starts coming in the top half of the field. Once in final eliminations, he has experienced similar success, compiling a solid 9-7 record with a runner-up performance at the Chicago race in June. However, seven other Sundays, including the first two stops on the NHRA's traditional "Western Swing", have found Hammonds in the role of reluctant spectator. Even so, motivation is never an issue. Entering this weekend's FRAM Autolite Nationals, the former power forward will call on his NBA experience to maintain his team's positive mindset. "I've been on teams that have lost fifteen games in a row, and others where our talent didn't quite measure up to the bigger name organizations," stated Hammonds. "But in each case, we never threw in the towel. Our approach was to play each game as if it was a championship final, putting out one hundred and ten percent. The same goes for this Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care team. "We knew coming into this season that we faced an uphill battle. We might not have the budget or the experience of some our competitors, but no one can top our work ethic. We've had our share of successes, as well as some low points, including the last two weeks, but we are as determined as ever. We know we have the right parts in place, and are committed to doing what it takes to get our Cavalier into the winner's circle." Faced with a short week between races, the Hammonds crew mapped out a strategy to maximize productivity. With some lingering questions on their race car's behavior, the traditional Pro Stock invitational race in Woodburn, Oregon evolved into a test session. "We're going to stop in Woodburn to do some extensive testing," explained Hammonds. "The key is our pre-test game plan. We're not going to arbitrarily throw things at the car and hope it works. We'll be addressing specific areas so we can get our Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier back to where it needs to be, qualifying strong and going rounds on Sunday." Following their stop in Oregon, the team will then head to scenic Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, where many things, including the facility's name, have changed since the NHRA's last visit a year ago. Of primary concern to Hammonds and his crew will be the reworked racing surface, which has seen dragstrip separated from the road course and the concrete "launching pad" extended. "The key to success in Sonoma will be how quickly teams adapt to the new racing surface," said Hammonds. "Naturally, those who have a firm handle on their race car will have the advantage, making our test session even more important. If everything is right with our Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier, as I expect it will be, we'll be right in the thick of things at Infineon Raceway." Hammonds Highlights: Tom is looking to qualify for the third time at Infineon Raceway…Tom's previous best qualifying performance in Sonoma came in 1998, when he placed 12th…Tom's best prior showing in elminations at the former Sears Point Raceway also came in 1998, when he defeated Mark Osborne in the first round before falling to George Marnell in the quarterfinals…Tom is currently 13th in the NHRA POWERade Points standings, and is 54 points (just under three rounds) out of 12th Fast Facts WHAT: 15th annual Fram Autolite Nationals, the fifteenth race on the 23-race 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: August 2-4, 2002 WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with two sessions on Friday, August 2 at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., and concludes with two more sessions on Saturday, August 3 at 11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations will start at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 4. TV: ESPN2 will televise an hour of qualifying highlights from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, followed by three hours of final eliminations coverage from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 4. The NHRA's weekly magazine show, NHRA2Day will on Sunday, August 4 from 11:00-11:30 a.m. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings.)