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LAS VEGAS (April 13, 2008) - Tom DelCid became the fifth NAPA AUTO PARTS Honorary Crew Member of the 2008 NHRA Drag Racing Series season today at the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
DelCid, of Bakersfield, Calif., and the owner of four NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and one NAPA Truck Service Center in the Bakersfield area, was surprised with the honor during the Don Schumacher Sunday morning meet-and-greet session showcasing the six DSR pro drivers.
NAPA jobber K.C. Carroll, who also owns four NAPA stores, was originally elected to receive this honor, but he generously passed it on to DelCid.
When DelCid was named, DSR's executive vice president Mike Lewis joked that he would be expected to service the clutch and take out the crankshaft. In fact, DelCid helped escort the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driven by Ron Capps to the staging lanes in the team's Dodge Durango tow vehicle during eliminations and then helped retrieve the car at the end of the track following the run. He also received a NAPA team shirt and met the entire NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge crew. Capps advanced to the semifinal round before he was eliminated by Tim Wilkerson. He jumped into No. 10 in the standings with this result.
"I just found out today," said DelCid, 52. "It's great. It's a wonderful thing. I had dinner with Ron Capps last night (at a special dinner held for over a dozen NAPA customers) and met Don Schumacher. What a great organization. It's unbelievable the way Don operates this team.
"I have been an NHRA fan for years, but I've never driven," added DelCid. "I don't have the guts to do that. I let these guys do that, but I've watched the old timers race at Fomoso Raceway in Bakersfield. I've gone to the drag races 18 years straight there until I had a family and kids and then I couldn't do it anymore, but I enjoyed watching a lot of the guys that I see here today who are my heroes. I just love it."
During the season the NAPA distribution centers at each event will have different criteria for choosing the people who are potential NAPA Honorary Crew Members.
BAKERSFIELD NAPA STORE OWNER IS FIFTH HONORARY NAPA CREW MEMBER
LAS VEGAS (April 13, 2008) - Tom DelCid became the fifth NAPA AUTO PARTS Honorary Crew Member of the 2008 NHRA Drag Racing Series season today at the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
DelCid, of Bakersfield, Calif., and the owner of four NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and one NAPA Truck Service Center in the Bakersfield area, was surprised with the honor during the Don Schumacher Sunday morning meet-and-greet session showcasing the six DSR pro drivers.
NAPA jobber K.C. Carroll, who also owns four NAPA stores, was originally elected to receive this honor, but he generously passed it on to DelCid.
When DelCid was named, DSR's executive vice president Mike Lewis joked that he would be expected to service the clutch and take out the crankshaft. In fact, DelCid helped escort the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driven by Ron Capps to the staging lanes in the team's Dodge Durango tow vehicle during eliminations and then helped retrieve the car at the end of the track following the run. He also received a NAPA team shirt and met the entire NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge crew. Capps advanced to the semifinal round before he was eliminated by Tim Wilkerson. He jumped into No. 10 in the standings with this result.
"I just found out today," said DelCid, 52. "It's great. It's a wonderful thing. I had dinner with Ron Capps last night (at a special dinner held for over a dozen NAPA customers) and met Don Schumacher. What a great organization. It's unbelievable the way Don operates this team.
"I have been an NHRA fan for years, but I've never driven," added DelCid. "I don't have the guts to do that. I let these guys do that, but I've watched the old timers race at Fomoso Raceway in Bakersfield. I've gone to the drag races 18 years straight there until I had a family and kids and then I couldn't do it anymore, but I enjoyed watching a lot of the guys that I see here today who are my heroes. I just love it."
During the season the NAPA distribution centers at each event will have different criteria for choosing the people who are potential NAPA Honorary Crew Members.
