NHRA Pre-Race: Former Timberwolf uses NBA Experience to Deal
with New Career
FORMER TIMBERWOLF USES NBA EXPERIENCE TO DEAL WITH NEW CAREER
Tom Hammonds returns to Minnesota as full-time driver of the Winnebago/GM
Vehicle Care Cavalier
Crestview, Fla., August 14, 2002 - Entering his first full season in the
NHRA's POWERade Drag Racing Series, Tom Hammonds knew he would be facing a
myriad of challenges. Naturally, the majority of these trials have come from
his on-track efforts, where at every event Hammonds' Winnebago/GM Vehicle
Cavalier battles an average of thirty-five other Pro Stock racers as he
chases that elusive first national event victory.
But Hammonds' mettle has also been tested away from the quarter-mile, as the
leader of a still young and inexperienced race team. Naturally, the job is
made easier when the car performs, such as in Chicago, when the Hammonds crew
overcame the unexpected departure of their crew chief to match their best
qualifying effort and reach the final round. However, during the more
difficult moments, the team looks to Hammonds for guidance, while the former
power forward, in turn, calls on experience gained during his years in
college and the NBA.
"Throughout my basketball career, I had the good fortune of playing for some
outstanding coaches," stated Hammonds. "Starting with Bobby Cremins at
Georgia Tech, to Dan Issel in Denver, and finally Flip Saunders with the
Timberwolves, I was able to gain valuable knowledge about many things in
addition to basketball. For example, each had their own unique style of
leading a team, and I learned a lot from watching them.
"I think the most important thing they showed me was the value of patience,
and that lesson alone has proven invaluable throughout this first full year
on the NHRA POWERade tour. Just like the NBA, the NHRA season is a long one,
and you are going to have peaks and valleys. If you're able to maintain an
even keel through all the trials and tribulations, the outcome will work out
in your favor.
"This Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care team has had its share of ups and downs this
year, but we've always managed to keep our heads up, knowing things are going
to turn around. We've struggled lately, but I'm confident we're going to be
headed back in the right direction after this race."
This weekend, the former Minnesota Timberwolf returns to familiar territory,
as the NHRA circuit winds its way north of Minneapolis for the Rugged Liner
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The Hammonds crew took
advantage of the time since the last race to return their 500 cubic-inch race
engine to the builder for a complete going-over, while the team did the same
to their race car. Their preparations complete, they head to Minnesota with
two goals. The first is to qualify, and the second to win rounds in final
eliminations.
"I'm looking forward to racing in Brainerd," said Hammonds. "The fans up
there are some of the craziest I've seen. They remind of my days at Georgia
Tech when we'd go to Duke and had to deal with the Cameron Crazies. They are
avid drag racing fans, and that's what I love about them.
"We found some things on our Winnebago/GM Vehicle Cavalier that we believe
affected us throughout the whole West Coast Swing. We're pretty sure we're
taken care of those and are looking for a strong outing in Minnesota. We've
got some ground to make up, and we need to get moving."
Hammonds Highlights: Tom is looking to qualify for the fourth time at
Brainerd International Raceway…Tom's previous best qualifying performance in
Brainerd came one year ago, when he placed 9th …Tom is currently 14th in the
NHRA POWERade Points standings with 502 points, and is 59 points (just under
three rounds) out of 13th
Fast Facts
WHAT: 21st annual Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals,
the sixteenth race on the 23-race 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Schedule.
WHEN: August 16-18, 2002
WHERE: Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with two sessions on Friday,
August 16 at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m., and concludes with two more sessions on
Saturday, August 17 at 11:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations will
start at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 18.
TV: ESPN2 will televise an two hours of qualifying highlights from 8:00 -
10:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, followed by two hours of final
eliminations coverage from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 18. The
NHRA's weekly magazine show, NHRA2Day will on Sunday, August 18 from
11:00-11:30 a.m. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your
local listings.)
