7/21/08

Yuk.

The Western Swing has been a nightmare for JFR. Denver was a mountain-sized letdown and Seattle wasn't a whole lot better. What's happening?

It's been a tough 2008 for the team and the grueling schedule, intense competition, and the non-stop schedule which John and the team have to keep staying one step ahead of everyone else is a real challenge. It's still the most exciting, rewarding, and exhilarating profession anyone at JFR could ask for but it isn't the infinitely glamorous existence some of us may envision.

On a brighter note, all four drivers on JFR are currently in the top ten, and that means they are all on course to make the Countdown to 1. Only Mike, at #9, is in any kind of precarious position, around 100 points ahead of Bob Tasca III who is #11 after Seattle. Four races are left in the Countdown to 10 so 100 points isn't as comfortable an advantage as Mike would like. I'm expecting the fight for the last couple of spots in the top ten to be brutal between now and the end of Labor Day weekend.

With Infineon Raceway next up as the Swing winds down, Sonoma is a race that John has won more than any other driver-seven times-and that's somewhat of a confidence builder, although, John also won the race in Seattle seven times. I've never been one to believe that past performances are any indicator as to how well a driver will do in his next visit so I'm not going to get carried away. However-and I seem to be waffling a bit here-John will go into Sonoma the defending event champion this year and maybe that vibe will have some serious afterglow working for him.

But what has really been a stunner lately has been Ashley's incurable slump. She went to the semi-finals in Chicago, which was four races after her historic win in Atlanta, but has now suffered four straight first-round losses. She's dropped from second to fourth in the points and Guido and Ron have got to be scratching their heads in total bewilderment as to how things have suddenly been thrown into reverse.

And how about Mike? Remember when he had advanced to three final rounds in the span of five races between St. Louis and Englishtown? He has only two round wins since then and is still hoping to get that first national event win before the end of the year. Robert has been bouncing between second and third in the points and can't seem to get into a steady groove. He did qualify No. 1 in Seattle and beat point's leader Tim Wilkerson in the first round out there, but couldn't quite seal the deal, and it's almost unfathomable that he's won only one race this year, AND that was the first one of the season in Pomona!

So, it's on to Infineon, one of the most modern, legendary, and fan-friendly facilities on the NHRA schedule. It's a place everyone loves to visit, sitting squarely in the wine-producing epicenter of the Napa Valley and only an hour's drive from beautiful San Francisco. Now, if one of the JFR cars can come out of there with a "V", it will be an even more enjoyable stopover.

I'll be sharing more from "In the Groove" after the Fram-Autolite Nationals on this very page so cruise on back after the race and we'll catch up. In the meantime, I hope you'll tune in to the next Russo & Steele Collector Car Auction on ESPN2 next Sunday when Keith Martin and I will show you some of the most valuable and desirable automobiles on wheels and see how much the bidders are willing to spend to own them. If you receive the ION in your household, don't be surprised to see me jump in every now and then on Inside Drag Racing.

Until then, please stay off your cell phone when behind the wheel and drive safely.

Thanks!