Perspective, an increased points lead and a win are Hernandez' goals for Dallas
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<br><font color="Navy">“"It's easy to put it all into perspective, though," Hernandez added. "I know that my heart, along with all of the other racers, is in Shandon, Ohio right now with Tonya Engel and Steve Engel’s family, and, compared to the pain they are dealing with right now, fallen trees and no electricity is nothing.”</font>
<P>(Sep. 19, 2008)ENNIS, TEXAS--The grass is green in Ennis, Texas -- definitely greener than Houston-area resident Josh Hernandez' lawn at home. The defending Jeg's ProMod Challenge event champion at the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals and reigning world champion said he is actually anxious to leave home and spend time in an air-conditioned hotel with clean sheets and hot water, let alone go racing this weekend.
In the wake of hurricane Ike, Hernandez, his wife and two sons, have been living a life reminiscent of the early 1900s, he said.
“It's been like we're on a perpetual campout because we don't have any electricity at the house. The boys love it, but I think my wife Amber has had about enough," Hernandez said.
"We were all planning to go to the race in Dallas this weekend anyway, so there's not a real change in our schedule as far as that's concerned, but to actually look forward to spending time in a small hotel room -- now that's really new.
"I was away racing when the hurricane hit, so I missed the excitement of the actual storm, but when I finally was able to navigate back home, the pine tree that was in my yard was laying across my roof, and we had no electricity. We're fortunate enough to have a well on our lot, so with the help of my backup generator, we've had clean, drinkable water, but without electricity, there's not a whole lot else we can do but work on cutting up the fallen trees and spend time with the kids grandparents.
"It's easy to put it all into perspective, though," Hernandez added. "I know that my heart, along with all of the other racers, is in Shandon, Ohio right now with Tonya Engel and Steve Engel’s family, and, compared to the pain they are dealing with right now, fallen trees and no electricity is nothing.
"Coming into the race this weekend, I'm really having a hard time, because Steve was such a good friend to all of us. His presence was huge -- in so may ways, and I'll really miss him. I wanted so much to be able to be at the services, as I know so many other drivers did, but, I also know that Steve would understand what we've got to do here, so, that's where we're going to be."
Hernandez, who took over the points lead with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, said aside from all of the emotions, he's excited to be back at the Texas Motorplex.
"This is like my 'second home track' after Baytown [Texas], and with last year's title to defend and the runner-up in Indy, we're definitely going to put it all on the line to keep things going. My goal for the weekend is, obviously to win, but really we want to extend the points lead coming into the home stretch of the season.
"The weather looks like it'll be fine, and this can really be a fast track, so it should be an amazing show for the fans," Hernandez added.
<p style="width:300px;float:left;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/racerchickpics/rock/DSCN2035.jpg"/>
<br><font color="Navy">“"It's easy to put it all into perspective, though," Hernandez added. "I know that my heart, along with all of the other racers, is in Shandon, Ohio right now with Tonya Engel and Steve Engel’s family, and, compared to the pain they are dealing with right now, fallen trees and no electricity is nothing.”</font>
<P>(Sep. 19, 2008)ENNIS, TEXAS--The grass is green in Ennis, Texas -- definitely greener than Houston-area resident Josh Hernandez' lawn at home. The defending Jeg's ProMod Challenge event champion at the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals and reigning world champion said he is actually anxious to leave home and spend time in an air-conditioned hotel with clean sheets and hot water, let alone go racing this weekend.
In the wake of hurricane Ike, Hernandez, his wife and two sons, have been living a life reminiscent of the early 1900s, he said.
“It's been like we're on a perpetual campout because we don't have any electricity at the house. The boys love it, but I think my wife Amber has had about enough," Hernandez said.
"We were all planning to go to the race in Dallas this weekend anyway, so there's not a real change in our schedule as far as that's concerned, but to actually look forward to spending time in a small hotel room -- now that's really new.
"I was away racing when the hurricane hit, so I missed the excitement of the actual storm, but when I finally was able to navigate back home, the pine tree that was in my yard was laying across my roof, and we had no electricity. We're fortunate enough to have a well on our lot, so with the help of my backup generator, we've had clean, drinkable water, but without electricity, there's not a whole lot else we can do but work on cutting up the fallen trees and spend time with the kids grandparents.
"It's easy to put it all into perspective, though," Hernandez added. "I know that my heart, along with all of the other racers, is in Shandon, Ohio right now with Tonya Engel and Steve Engel’s family, and, compared to the pain they are dealing with right now, fallen trees and no electricity is nothing.
"Coming into the race this weekend, I'm really having a hard time, because Steve was such a good friend to all of us. His presence was huge -- in so may ways, and I'll really miss him. I wanted so much to be able to be at the services, as I know so many other drivers did, but, I also know that Steve would understand what we've got to do here, so, that's where we're going to be."
Hernandez, who took over the points lead with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, said aside from all of the emotions, he's excited to be back at the Texas Motorplex.
"This is like my 'second home track' after Baytown [Texas], and with last year's title to defend and the runner-up in Indy, we're definitely going to put it all on the line to keep things going. My goal for the weekend is, obviously to win, but really we want to extend the points lead coming into the home stretch of the season.
"The weather looks like it'll be fine, and this can really be a fast track, so it should be an amazing show for the fans," Hernandez added.
