March 17, 2010

GREAT SEASON DEBUT IN GAINESVILLE

Hi, everyone. This is Todd. My first weekend back in Jay's car couldn't have gone much better. Other than a couple of blasts off the starting line in Valdosta, Ga., a few days before we got to Gainesville, I hadn't been down the track in years, so to reach the semifinals at a huge race like the Gatornationals was a dream. I've gotten three runner-ups in the past, but even they weren't as good as Gainesville 2010.

Rain on Friday limited qualifying to just two shots, and we ran a 5.66 at 256 mph right off the trailer. (The best I'd ever run before this weekend was a 5.67 at 255.) In eliminations, we took out Ulf Leanders of Sweden in the first round and Alexis DeJoria in the quarterfinals. Everybody's nemesis, Frank Manzo, beat us in the semi's, but even that had a positive result: I went 259 mph, another career best.

If it wasn't for an unbelievable thrash by the Dream Team, we never would have made it to the line to race Frank because the burst panel blew against Alexis and the guys had to completely rebuild the engine. Everybody pitched in, and it was a beautiful thing to see. We made it up there just in time, and they obviously had everything right because, like I said, the car went almost 260 mph.

We stayed to test on Monday, and, right when things couldn't get any better, they did again. Tommy put just the right tuneup in the car, and it responded with a 5.58 – my first .50 and by far the best I've ever run – at just shy of 260. Jay's speaking in Rhode Island on Thursday, and Eddie, Charlie, and Spencer will finally get home after a long, hard, and very successful trip. Houston is next, and we may have a few surprises to announce, so stay tuned!

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