National Dragster: From The Director's Chair

Now that the 2004 NHRA racing season is completed in the Pacific Division, we are hard at work five days a week preparing for our track-operator meetings, division awards banquet and ceremony, and the 2005 season. Many people think that once the racing season is complete it's time to relax and take some time off. Taking a little time off is a possibility, but relaxing is not. Many things must be decided, scheduled, and accomplished before we can begin the new season. Some operations may stay the same, but anything new takes a lot of thought and planning to achieve success. The job of division director may be even more hectic in the "off-season."

We are extremely proud to be the home division of two-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national Comp champion Dean Carter, who is the first in 20 years to win back-to-back national titles in the category. Dean didn't just stay within the division to claim his honor; he competed at 18 events throughout the country to defend his title. Dean began the year strong and held off his competitors down the stretch to claim the title, a hard-fought and well-deserved championship.

Only Dean will be returning to the stage as an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Pacific Division champion Jan. 8, 2005, at the Gold Coast Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. The new champions are Chris Demke (Top Alcohol Dragster), Doug Gordon (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Gary McGlasson (Super Stock), Bernie Cunningham (Stock), Kevin Kleineweber (Super Comp), Randy Balough (Super Gas), and Scott Rollins (Super Street).

John Widmann won his second division championship in the Kerker Sportsman Motorcycle category, and Terry White is a firstrtime winner in Korbel Super Eliminator. Terry's victory was decided on the third tiebreaker with Del Cox Jr.

As has been the tradition in the Pacific Division, Specialty Fasteners and Taylor Motorsports provided the Best Appearing Car and Crew awards at each event in 2004; they will return in 2005.

A highlight of the 2003 season was our performance at the Jeg's Allstars in Chicago in the fall. Finishing second was the best that the division had ever done, and we looked forward to 2004 with another stellar team. Though the results of the team and individual competitions were not what we had expected or hoped for this year, a great time was had by all. Super Street driver Scott Rollins was our only victor, and he will return in 2005 to represent the division as a blocker in the category. Hats off to the staff from Jeg's and Route 66 Raceway for the great hospitality and terrific facility. We look forward to bouncing back in 2005 and competing for the first team championship for the Pacific Division.

Historic Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., hosted the 2004 Pacific Division NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals, another terrific event with plenty of fun and great racing. The geographic location of Famoso Raceway proved to be very popular with racers and tracks: 748 individuals competed, and a record number of tracks participated. Drivers from all four corners of the division earned titles, but the home crew won the team championship.

Our Pacific Division Jr. Championship Series was another huge hit in 2004. The title runoffs at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals resulted in division crowns for D.J. Stone, Matt Fischle, and Thomas Redding Jr. Trevor Mitchell, Alyse Janosko, Mark Whynaught, Andrew Durham, and Todd Cooper each claimed regional championships. They will be feted along with our other division champions at our banquet and awards ceremony in January.

Our Jr. racers gave great performances at the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals. One of the newest tracks in the division, California Dragway, took home the team championship, and Alexander Fernandez, Katelyn Whynaught, Brittny Blakely, and Todd Cooper claimed individual age-bracket honors.

As we gear up for the banquet and awards ceremony, I want to remind everyone to vote on NHRADiv7.com for Driver of the Year, Most Improved Track of the Year, Sponsor of the Year, Track of the Year, Crew Chief of the Year, and Person of the Year. The voting deadline is Dec. 27.

The 2005 racing season in the Pacific Division looks to be even better than in 2004. Schedules are coming together, new venues for events are being planned, and improvements to existing series and events are being worked on. Each year, we work to improve on what we did the previous year. This can be difficult, but given that most of our Pacific Division member tracks and racers are active year-round, we are always looking for opportunities to add to the racing excitement in the Pacific Division. As plans come together and are finalized, the best way to keep up to date is by logging on to NHRADiv7.com.

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Before you know it, we'll be back in Pomona to kick off the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season.

with Charlie Neilson, Pacific Division director