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PHOENIX (February 19, 2007) -- Variations on the legend of the mythical Phoenix exist in many cultures, and nearly all share the basic message of rebirth and ultimate achievement. Although reports of Del Worsham's untimely demise are clearly exaggerated and he is not, actually, rising from any pile of ashes this weekend, he will be in Phoenix and he clearly aims to rejuvenate himself, and his team, at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals.
As is the annual case, Worsham and his CSK team will arrive early in the Valley Of The Sun, will stay late, and will put in a full week of promotional work in support of their primary sponsor and the event. All of that effort will become secondary by Friday, when the time comes to put Worsham's red Checker, Schuck's, Kragen car on the Firebird Raceway track, to qualify for his sponsor's race, in his sponsor's home town. The quest seems simple enough, but nothing is ever all that easy on the NHRA tour.
"We've had some real nail-biters over the years here," Worsham said, as he and his team made last minute preparations for the race. "Every team out here has experienced the stress of getting into the field on the last qualifying run, but as nerve wracking as that is, it's nothing compared to doing it at your sponsor's race. I don't know why, but we've somehow managed to create that stress for ourselves on more than a few occasions in Phoenix. Every year we say we're not going to let it happen again, and this year I'm sure we're not.
"Once we got packed up in Pomona, the feeling on this team was one of wanting to get right back out there, to run the car as many times as we could before the Phoenix race. We headed over to Las Vegas, and made 10 laps in three days. We made some subtle changes, some big changes, and we mixed in new ways of approaching the tune-up. We never took it to the line just to run it. We had a plan on every lap and we accomplished what we wanted to do. Now, we have to make it pay off at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals."
Worsham's personal version of the proverbial pile of ashes came on Saturday night in Pomona, at the season's first race. He had just been bumped out of the quickest field in Funny Car history, and was looking at the worst possible start to his season. Now, after his three-day testing foray at Las Vegas, he feels like himself again, and is ready to put the Pomona disappointment behind him. He's ready to rise again, to stake his position among the sport's elite.
"There is no negativity around here at all," Worsham said. "Once it was all over and the race was complete, we could look on the points sheet and see that we're exactly one round of racing behind John Force, Tommy Johnson, Eric Medlen, Jack Beckman, Ashley Force and some others. It was not the end of the world, it didn't eliminate us from contention, and we're headed to Phoenix to race in front of our friends and sponsors. We may have a slight history of some qualifying drama here, but we also have a nice little bit of race day history, as well, so I know we can do more than just bounce back this weekend. We can win rounds, and we can win the race. We've done it before when I wasn't nearly so certain about the car and the tune-up."
If there is one place on the POWERade tour where Worsham can gain the most benefit from a race victory, it would be Phoenix. In 2002, he pushed his qualifying effort to the last lap, before bumping his way in at the No. 10 spot. On Sunday, he simply took out Gary Scelzi, Gary Densham, and Scotty Cannon before facing John Force in the final. Less than 5-seconds later, Worsham was sharing the trophy and the joy with all the CSK faithful.
In 2004, Worsham returned to the Firebird winner's circle, again starting the race from the No. 10 position. After defeating Tim Wilkerson, Whit Bazemore, and Phil Burkart in the first three rounds, he needed to outrun Tony Pedregon in the final, and he did just that. Winning is good. Winning at Phoenix is even better.
"There's no getting around the fact it's a big deal," Worsham said. "We've won all over, and we've won some very big races including the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but being handed that trophy in Phoenix is really special. We've been associated with CSK Auto since 1997, and they've been through good times and bad with us. They're one of the greatest sponsors in this sport, and to give a huge group of them a chance to celebrate, at their home track, is about as good as it gets.
"Of course, each time we've won this race I've been at the other end of the track, so I've never witnessed the starting line madness first-hand. I've seen the video, and seen the pictures, though, and it's clearly an emotional deal for everyone. For our crew, who have been in town all week and who know how important this race is, and for all the CSK people, who get to experience something so special, it's a very big deal. I promise you I don't take it lightly, and I'm certainly not overstating how big it is. I'd love to do it again."
Worsham and his hard working team will get their chance, starting Friday afternoon. Their first order of business will be to get in solid, and get in early. After that, round one will loom as big as any round all year. If all goes well, another celebration could, just possibly, be in their future. In terms of mythical rebirths, it could hardly get any better than that.
HARD WORKING WORSHAM READY FOR PHOENIX REBIRTH
PHOENIX (February 19, 2007) -- Variations on the legend of the mythical Phoenix exist in many cultures, and nearly all share the basic message of rebirth and ultimate achievement. Although reports of Del Worsham's untimely demise are clearly exaggerated and he is not, actually, rising from any pile of ashes this weekend, he will be in Phoenix and he clearly aims to rejuvenate himself, and his team, at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals.
As is the annual case, Worsham and his CSK team will arrive early in the Valley Of The Sun, will stay late, and will put in a full week of promotional work in support of their primary sponsor and the event. All of that effort will become secondary by Friday, when the time comes to put Worsham's red Checker, Schuck's, Kragen car on the Firebird Raceway track, to qualify for his sponsor's race, in his sponsor's home town. The quest seems simple enough, but nothing is ever all that easy on the NHRA tour.
"We've had some real nail-biters over the years here," Worsham said, as he and his team made last minute preparations for the race. "Every team out here has experienced the stress of getting into the field on the last qualifying run, but as nerve wracking as that is, it's nothing compared to doing it at your sponsor's race. I don't know why, but we've somehow managed to create that stress for ourselves on more than a few occasions in Phoenix. Every year we say we're not going to let it happen again, and this year I'm sure we're not.
"Once we got packed up in Pomona, the feeling on this team was one of wanting to get right back out there, to run the car as many times as we could before the Phoenix race. We headed over to Las Vegas, and made 10 laps in three days. We made some subtle changes, some big changes, and we mixed in new ways of approaching the tune-up. We never took it to the line just to run it. We had a plan on every lap and we accomplished what we wanted to do. Now, we have to make it pay off at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals."
Worsham's personal version of the proverbial pile of ashes came on Saturday night in Pomona, at the season's first race. He had just been bumped out of the quickest field in Funny Car history, and was looking at the worst possible start to his season. Now, after his three-day testing foray at Las Vegas, he feels like himself again, and is ready to put the Pomona disappointment behind him. He's ready to rise again, to stake his position among the sport's elite.
"There is no negativity around here at all," Worsham said. "Once it was all over and the race was complete, we could look on the points sheet and see that we're exactly one round of racing behind John Force, Tommy Johnson, Eric Medlen, Jack Beckman, Ashley Force and some others. It was not the end of the world, it didn't eliminate us from contention, and we're headed to Phoenix to race in front of our friends and sponsors. We may have a slight history of some qualifying drama here, but we also have a nice little bit of race day history, as well, so I know we can do more than just bounce back this weekend. We can win rounds, and we can win the race. We've done it before when I wasn't nearly so certain about the car and the tune-up."
If there is one place on the POWERade tour where Worsham can gain the most benefit from a race victory, it would be Phoenix. In 2002, he pushed his qualifying effort to the last lap, before bumping his way in at the No. 10 spot. On Sunday, he simply took out Gary Scelzi, Gary Densham, and Scotty Cannon before facing John Force in the final. Less than 5-seconds later, Worsham was sharing the trophy and the joy with all the CSK faithful.
In 2004, Worsham returned to the Firebird winner's circle, again starting the race from the No. 10 position. After defeating Tim Wilkerson, Whit Bazemore, and Phil Burkart in the first three rounds, he needed to outrun Tony Pedregon in the final, and he did just that. Winning is good. Winning at Phoenix is even better.
"There's no getting around the fact it's a big deal," Worsham said. "We've won all over, and we've won some very big races including the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but being handed that trophy in Phoenix is really special. We've been associated with CSK Auto since 1997, and they've been through good times and bad with us. They're one of the greatest sponsors in this sport, and to give a huge group of them a chance to celebrate, at their home track, is about as good as it gets.
"Of course, each time we've won this race I've been at the other end of the track, so I've never witnessed the starting line madness first-hand. I've seen the video, and seen the pictures, though, and it's clearly an emotional deal for everyone. For our crew, who have been in town all week and who know how important this race is, and for all the CSK people, who get to experience something so special, it's a very big deal. I promise you I don't take it lightly, and I'm certainly not overstating how big it is. I'd love to do it again."
Worsham and his hard working team will get their chance, starting Friday afternoon. Their first order of business will be to get in solid, and get in early. After that, round one will loom as big as any round all year. If all goes well, another celebration could, just possibly, be in their future. In terms of mythical rebirths, it could hardly get any better than that.
