<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Baker.jpg" alt="Baker" align="right"borders="0"/>
HOUSTON, Texas - Gotham City Racing co-owner Roger Burgess didn't have to be in Houston, Texas for the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals to learn a valuable lesson. The highly successful businessman, who was absent this weekend tending to business commitments, learned his potent Corvette can deliver a lethal blow even when he's not there.
Joe Baker subbed for Burgess this weekend and his fairy tale of success continued.
For at least a few more weeks, the clock will not strike midnight for Cinderella. The driver who didn't initially receive an invite to the NHRA Jeg's Pro Modified season-opener in Gainesville extended his 2008 winning streak to eight rounds by winning the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals in Houston, Texas.
Baker drove flawlessly all weekend en-route to extending his point lead by eighty points with the final round victory over Tony Pontieri.
"It sure has been a good couple of races for me," said Baker. "Fate has been on my side and everything just fell into place. We made good pass after good pass and everything couldn't have turned out better than it did."
Baker entered eliminations as the fourth quickest qualifier with a 5.981 elapsed time at 241.24 miles per hour. He admitted qualifying provided an inking success could be on the horizon.
"I knew after qualifying that we had a good shot of everything falling into place," Baker said. "You just got that feeling. The car was working well and I kind of slipped into a groove with my driving."
He never let up as he scored the second quickest elapsed time with a 6.000 to knock off Tim Tindle. He then dipped into the five-second zone with a 5.993, 239.61 to eliminate Danny Rowe.
Baker ratcheted his driving skills with a .005 reaction time and coupled the blistering leave with a 5.994, 240.77 to earn lane choice in the final round for the Gotham City Racing team.
Baker then went on to run a 6.022, 239.19 to win his second career national event in the Jegs Pro Modified division.
When the tour rolls into Commerce in a few weeks, Baker will return to his team, and drive the car he won with in Gainesville. He said he'll slip right back into the familiar surroundings until he's needed to drive again for the Gotham City Racing operation.
"It'll be just fine," said Baker. "When we're running good, the car does just fine. I'm just thankful for the opportunity Roger Burgess and Mike Ashley provided me. They have a first-class operation."
Joe Baker drives Burgess Corvette to victory in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas - Gotham City Racing co-owner Roger Burgess didn't have to be in Houston, Texas for the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals to learn a valuable lesson. The highly successful businessman, who was absent this weekend tending to business commitments, learned his potent Corvette can deliver a lethal blow even when he's not there.
Joe Baker subbed for Burgess this weekend and his fairy tale of success continued.
For at least a few more weeks, the clock will not strike midnight for Cinderella. The driver who didn't initially receive an invite to the NHRA Jeg's Pro Modified season-opener in Gainesville extended his 2008 winning streak to eight rounds by winning the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals in Houston, Texas.
Baker drove flawlessly all weekend en-route to extending his point lead by eighty points with the final round victory over Tony Pontieri.
"It sure has been a good couple of races for me," said Baker. "Fate has been on my side and everything just fell into place. We made good pass after good pass and everything couldn't have turned out better than it did."
Baker entered eliminations as the fourth quickest qualifier with a 5.981 elapsed time at 241.24 miles per hour. He admitted qualifying provided an inking success could be on the horizon.
"I knew after qualifying that we had a good shot of everything falling into place," Baker said. "You just got that feeling. The car was working well and I kind of slipped into a groove with my driving."
He never let up as he scored the second quickest elapsed time with a 6.000 to knock off Tim Tindle. He then dipped into the five-second zone with a 5.993, 239.61 to eliminate Danny Rowe.
Baker ratcheted his driving skills with a .005 reaction time and coupled the blistering leave with a 5.994, 240.77 to earn lane choice in the final round for the Gotham City Racing team.
Baker then went on to run a 6.022, 239.19 to win his second career national event in the Jegs Pro Modified division.
When the tour rolls into Commerce in a few weeks, Baker will return to his team, and drive the car he won with in Gainesville. He said he'll slip right back into the familiar surroundings until he's needed to drive again for the Gotham City Racing operation.
"It'll be just fine," said Baker. "When we're running good, the car does just fine. I'm just thankful for the opportunity Roger Burgess and Mike Ashley provided me. They have a first-class operation."
