9/2/08

Robert is the Man.

Wow, it’s been 8 hours since he won the U.S. Nationals on Monday and I’m still in awe of what he and Jimmy (plus the whole team) pulled off earlier today. Just a sensational day.

I spoke to Robert in the winner’s circle after the race and I said, “I’ll bet what really gives you a lot of satisfaction from winning is knowing how much John and everyone else on the team needed this.”

Robert didn’t hesitate with his answer. “This was really what we all needed to have happen”, he said. “We were all really down when John didn’t qualify and he’s taking all of the pressure of how we do onto himself. He always does that. I didn’t think we had any shot at winning today when the race began so it’s just incredible to be standing here with this trophy.”

In my many years around the sport, I’ve never met another racer like Robert. He is so unselfish and so “A” political. He doesn’t resort to trash talk or finger-pointing when things aren’t going well. He doesn’t appear to be that jazzed about racing his Funny Car when he’s not actually sitting in it, but rather, he just quietly goes about his business preparing his Mustang before each run. He doesn’t schmooze with other racers and seems very happy remaining with his guys during a race weekend and letting the other racers canoodle with each other.

But man, can he drive! And remember, he’s only been out there a few years. We have a tendency to forget he’s only in his fourth season in the class. He’s already won Indy twice and is in position to win his first championship. You did notice he soundly took care of Tim Wilkerson in the semi-finals on Monday, and not too many drivers have been able to do that this year. Robert has a great feel for the car, has learned how to keep it stuck in the groove, how to pedal it when it breaks traction, and he rarely loses on a hole shot, in fact, he rarely gets left on.

And so while John and Ashley and Mike were seeing their weekend in Indy come to premature conclusions, Robert—as he has so many times in the past—gave the team the ultimate lift to the team with an enormous amount of pressure on him. He’s as good as anyone you’ll find in Funny Car and just keeps getting better.

In case you didn’t see John on ESPN’s coverage after Robert’s win, here is what he said to the media:

“It’s three years at Indy that Robert has been in that final and two years that I didn’t make the show. Robert told me before the semi-finals he was going to win this race. I just saw it in his eyes. That is the way he is. That is the way he was when he was a champion trap shooter and that is the way he thinks. He was up against tough competition,” said the 14-time Funny Car champion. “Jimmy Prock is just the best. We were all working together with the brain trust. Jimmy Prock has been struggling with that Auto Club Ford Mustang. At the end of the day he pulled it through in the heat. That is what impressed me. He beat a car that was running consistently in the teens. Jimmy Prock pulled it off. God bless them. They made my weekend. I wouldn’t change a thing.” 

Yup, that was the lift John needed.

Brittany and Courtney were in attendance along with Laurie; with Courtney qualifying 4th in Top Alcohol Dragster and Brittany missing the field. Courtney got no further than Round 1 when she was beaten by Duane Shields.

So, that was the way things shook out on Team Force this year at the Big Go. Two weeks to regroup and then it’s off to Concord, NC, just outside Charlotte, for the inaugural event at Bruton Smith’s brand-new facility, Z-Max Raceway. I’ll be heading down there with my 18-year-old son, Will, and a couple or friends to enjoy what promises to be a real rowdy affair. Pre-race predictions have this race drawing the largest drag racing crowd in NHRA history and the reports I’ve received from friends in North Carolina all indicate the facility is beyond description.

I’ll be back here right after the race with a full report!

Until then, please buckle up and drive safely!