NHRA: Russell, Dupuy looking for home state edge

For more information, contact
Rob Geiger at 281-913-3316.

Russell, Dupuy looking for home state edge

DALLAS (Oct. 7) – Fresh off a runner-up finish at the last stop on the 
POWERade Drag Racing Series, Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell returns to 
his home state of Texas riding high on his 7,000 horsepower Bilstein 
Engine Flush dragster. Russell, a native of Hockley, Texas, and crew 
chief Wayne Dupuy of Jacksboro, Texas, proved once again that they have 
one of the fastest hot rods on the planet in Chicago and they hope the 
momentum they built at Route 66 Raceway carries over to the Texas Motorplex.

“We want to pick up right where we left off,” said Russell, who posted 
passes in the 4.5-second, 320-mph range in Illinois. “Just like Route 
66, the Motorplex is one of those tracks where you can really go for it 
because the track holds all the horsepower you can make. We’re certainly 
not going to hold anything back because there’s still three races and 
three wins on the table before the season ends and we want our share.”

Competiting in just his second season as a pro driver for team owner and 
NHRA legend Joe Amato, Russell is having a banner year with Dupuy, who 
joined the team four races into the 2002 campaign at the first Las Vegas 
event. So far, the duo has combined for three wins and two runner-up 
finishes in just half a year of work.

The famed, all-concrete Texas Motorplex has proven lucky for Russell 
over the years. During his decorated sportsman career, Russell captured 
four Top Alcohol Dragster titles in Dallas, making it his all-time 
favorite racetrack.

“There’s lots of reasons to be excited about this weekend,” Russell 
said. “No. 1, we’re in Texas and I love racing in my own backyard. 
You’re always motivated to do better when all your friends and family 
are around. Plus the fans are usually fired up for the guys from Texas. 
Secondly, this will be Wayne’s first time racing at his home track as 
our crew chief. I know he has a bunch of people coming down from 
Jacksboro and he’ll want to show them what winning is all about.

“No matter how you slice it, this has already been a great season. What 
we want to do now is have some fun and finish the year strong to get us 
up and running for next season. The best way to do that is win one or 
two of these last three events.”

The qualifying rounds of this race will be broadcast from 4:30-6 p.m. 
(ET), Saturday, on ESPN2. The elimination rounds will air from 6:30-9 
p.m. (ET), Sunday, on ESPN2, with a rebroadcast from 3-5 p.m. (ET), 
Tuesday, Oct. 15, also on ESPN2.

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