NHRA Pre Race: Hammonds Set to pour winning
foundation in concrete at Motorplex
(Note: The following is attached in text format for your convenience.)
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
J2Racing@aol.com
HAMMONDS SET TO POUR WINNING FOUNDATION IN CONCRETE AT MOTORPLEX
Recent performances have Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier
driver anxious to race in Dallas
Crestview, Fla., October 7, 2002 - The 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season
is heading into its final three events, starting with this weekend's O'Reilly
Fall Nationals in Dallas, Texas. For many of the competitors, the strain of
twenty national events over the last seven months has taken its toll, as they
struggle to complete the remaining races on the schedule. Although Tom
Hammonds and the Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care team have participated at every
stop on the circuit, they arrive at the Texas Motorplex with a renewed
enthusiasm, the product of their Cavalier's performance at the past two
races.
"The entire Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care crew has been re-energized by the last
two races," detailed Hammonds. "We're starting to make good, clean runs like
we did at the beginning of the year, and our Cavalier has been relatively
fast even when we haven't hit the setup perfectly. That's crucial when the
fields are as tight as they have been in Pro Stock this year.
"We're excited heading into Dallas because we know rolling in the gate that
we won't be spending a lot of time chasing things on our race car that we
shouldn't be. Our mindset is more concerned with fine-tuning our combination
and looking to qualify in the top half of the field than simply being above
the cutoff line."
Adding to Hammonds' pre-race excitement is the site of this weekend's event.
It was one year ago at the Texas Motorplex that the former NBA power forward
reached a personal drag racing milestone. In only his second race after
announcing his retirement from professional basketball to pursue a full-time
NHRA career, Hammonds gave a glimpse of his future promise by qualifying
fifth and storming through three Pro Stock veterans, including two-time
champion Darrell Alderman, en route to his first final round appearance.
"Last year's race was just unbelievable," recalled Hammonds. "I remember
realizing as we pulled into the lanes that we were one of only two cars left.
Everything happened so fast that, quite frankly, it was overwhelming. Even
though V. Gaines nipped us in the final, I was still ecstatic over what our
team had been able to accomplish."
But, as Hammonds and crew return to the Lone Star state for this year's
event, their standards have been set slightly higher. With three final round
appearances in the last twelve months, they are ready to take the next step.
"That great feeling we experienced at being the runner-up has worn off,"
stated Hammonds. "Naturally, it's a tremendous accomplishment anytime you
reach the final, but I'm done being a bridesmaid. It's time for this
Winnebago/GM Vehicle Care Cavalier to win.
"I've been saying for the last few months that this entire year has been a
tremendous learning experience, which will allow us to be more competitive
and consistent in 2003. However, at the same time, we still have three races
to go in this season, and that offers us plenty of opportunities to do some
damage. My goal at the start of this season was to win a race, and I still
believe we're capable of doing so. Our team really came together in Dallas
one year ago, and I think we're ready to do it again."
Hammonds Highlights: Tom is looking to qualify for the third time at the
Texas Motorplex… Tom hopes to duplicate his performance from last year's race
in Ennis, where he qualified 2nd and advanced to the final round…Tom is
currently 15th in the NHRA POWERade Points standings with 532 points.
Fast Facts
WHAT: 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals,
the twenty-first race on the 23-race 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing
Series Schedule.
WHEN: October 10-13, 2002
WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with two sessions on Friday,
October 11 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., and concludes with two final sessions on
Saturday, October 12 at 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations will
start at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 13.
TV: ESPN2 will provide coverage from the Lone Star State, starting with
ninety minutes of qualifying highlights from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. on Saturday,
October 12. Final eliminations coverage will be broadcast on Sunday, October
13, with two and a half hours from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. The NHRA's weekly
magazine show, NHRA2Day will on Sunday, October 13 from 12:00 noon -12:30
p.m. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings
as well as the NHRA and ESPN websites, as broadcast times are subject to
change.)
www.tomhammondsracing.com
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