<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/D_Worsham07.jpg" alt="D_Worsham07" align="right"borders="0"/>
ORANGE, Calif. (February 17, 2008) -- While there's certainly no such thing as a bad time for a victory, there's also no getting around the fact that some moments in time, and some confluences of circumstance, create an environment in which good results are apt to deliver much more than the standard amount of good cheer. This weekend's 24th annual Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals, at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, would appear to be just such a perfect place for Del Worsham to deliver a bottom line that would be, in total, much greater than the sum of its parts.
Now in the 12th year of his sponsorship with CSK Auto, Worsham is also in the midst of a one-year extension to his deal, which technically expired at the conclusion of the 2007 season. In addition, the well-documented business challenges in today's automotive aftermarket world make for some trying times among CSK's associates, who operate more than 1,300 stores in 22 states. Worsham knows he will be faced with myriad challenges throughout 2008, but he likewise recognizes a terrific opportunity in the short term. He can literally be "the man" for his team, his fans, his sponsor, and maybe their customers, with a big weekend in Phoenix.
"We feel pretty lucky to have been offered a one-year extension by CSK, considering how things are going in the whole auto parts retail industry," Worsham said. "We've known some of the people at CSK since the first day of our deal, and we're pretty close to a lot of them. We've seen some very good friends and colleagues come and go, but we're still proud to represent every person in every Checker, Schuck's, Kragen, or Murray's store, all the people at the various regional and headquarters offices, and everyone associated with CSK. We've delivered some big days for them in the past, and there's no getting around the fact that we could deliver what might be the biggest, this weekend.
"You know, it's a time of uncertainty for us, not knowing what our sponsorship situation will be after this season, and it's a time of challenges and some uncertainty for CSK, as that whole industry goes through some tough changes. I think it would be pretty big, and pretty emotional, for a lot of people if we could have a really good weekend.
It would be a great time to step up and be the man, but there's also no getting around how tough this sport and our class are right now."
The word "challenging" may be attached to a number of business landscapes these days, but it also clearly defines the NHRA Funny Car class. Most felt 2007 was the toughest season ever in the class, and the fact every single full-time driver suffered at least one DNQ is likely the best example of that claim. 2008, however, looks to be even tougher, as nearly every change within the Funny Car world has only created more stout competition. The difficulty of even racing on Sunday became painfully clear to Worsham, along with other big hitters Jim Head, Mike Ashley, Tommy Johnson, and Tony Bartone, who all opened the season with a "dink", the colloquial pronunciation for the acronym "DNQ."
"With our team going from two cars to one, and with Tommy Johnson taking over Kenny Bernstein's seat, you might have thought that things got easier by two cars," Worsham said. "But really, with Bob Tasca joining the class, with Jerry Toliver moving over to the Schumacher camp, with Melanie Troxel moving over to Funny Car, and with all four Force cars coming out blazing, I think this has to be the toughest it's ever been.
"Qualifying is like climbing a mountain, except when you get to the top of it you see there's another, even bigger, mountain behind it, and to get to the top of that one by winning four rounds on Sunday, you have to beat four awesome teams. It's a tournament, so somebody has to win each week, but it's not going to be easy any step of the way."
Difficult or not, Worsham knows the feeling of carrying a team, and a company on his back, and he's up for the challenge once again. In 2002 and 2004, he dramatically powered to victory at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals, sending hoards of CSK associates (and his own teammates) into near delirium. The '02 victory kept John Force from claiming his 100th career win, and National DRAGSTER aptly announced it with the headline "Not In Our House!" Worsham hopes to be the king of his castle once again, in 2008.
"This is CSK's race, it's their home track, and that makes it our home track," Worsham said. "So many things can trip you up in this sport, even when you do everything right, you'd be stupid to predict anything other than the fact you're going to try your hardest and do your best.
We know that our best is good enough to win, and I think this might be the best team and the best car we've ever had, but you still have to go out there and do it, and maybe get a break somewhere along the way.
"So, there's no getting around the fact that this would be a very cool time to win one for everyone at CSK, past and present, who all helped us every step of the way for the last 11 seasons. This would be a great time to have a big weekend, at our house!"
There's no questioning Del Worsham's integrity and focus. There's no denying his career accomplishments and the great skill with which he scaled those heights. He has been "the man" before. He'd like to be "the man" again, this weekend in Phoenix.
WORSHAM'S PHOENIX GOAL IS TO SIMPLY BE "THE MAN" AT SPONSOR'S "HOME RACE"
ORANGE, Calif. (February 17, 2008) -- While there's certainly no such thing as a bad time for a victory, there's also no getting around the fact that some moments in time, and some confluences of circumstance, create an environment in which good results are apt to deliver much more than the standard amount of good cheer. This weekend's 24th annual Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals, at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, would appear to be just such a perfect place for Del Worsham to deliver a bottom line that would be, in total, much greater than the sum of its parts.
Now in the 12th year of his sponsorship with CSK Auto, Worsham is also in the midst of a one-year extension to his deal, which technically expired at the conclusion of the 2007 season. In addition, the well-documented business challenges in today's automotive aftermarket world make for some trying times among CSK's associates, who operate more than 1,300 stores in 22 states. Worsham knows he will be faced with myriad challenges throughout 2008, but he likewise recognizes a terrific opportunity in the short term. He can literally be "the man" for his team, his fans, his sponsor, and maybe their customers, with a big weekend in Phoenix.
"We feel pretty lucky to have been offered a one-year extension by CSK, considering how things are going in the whole auto parts retail industry," Worsham said. "We've known some of the people at CSK since the first day of our deal, and we're pretty close to a lot of them. We've seen some very good friends and colleagues come and go, but we're still proud to represent every person in every Checker, Schuck's, Kragen, or Murray's store, all the people at the various regional and headquarters offices, and everyone associated with CSK. We've delivered some big days for them in the past, and there's no getting around the fact that we could deliver what might be the biggest, this weekend.
"You know, it's a time of uncertainty for us, not knowing what our sponsorship situation will be after this season, and it's a time of challenges and some uncertainty for CSK, as that whole industry goes through some tough changes. I think it would be pretty big, and pretty emotional, for a lot of people if we could have a really good weekend.
It would be a great time to step up and be the man, but there's also no getting around how tough this sport and our class are right now."
The word "challenging" may be attached to a number of business landscapes these days, but it also clearly defines the NHRA Funny Car class. Most felt 2007 was the toughest season ever in the class, and the fact every single full-time driver suffered at least one DNQ is likely the best example of that claim. 2008, however, looks to be even tougher, as nearly every change within the Funny Car world has only created more stout competition. The difficulty of even racing on Sunday became painfully clear to Worsham, along with other big hitters Jim Head, Mike Ashley, Tommy Johnson, and Tony Bartone, who all opened the season with a "dink", the colloquial pronunciation for the acronym "DNQ."
"With our team going from two cars to one, and with Tommy Johnson taking over Kenny Bernstein's seat, you might have thought that things got easier by two cars," Worsham said. "But really, with Bob Tasca joining the class, with Jerry Toliver moving over to the Schumacher camp, with Melanie Troxel moving over to Funny Car, and with all four Force cars coming out blazing, I think this has to be the toughest it's ever been.
"Qualifying is like climbing a mountain, except when you get to the top of it you see there's another, even bigger, mountain behind it, and to get to the top of that one by winning four rounds on Sunday, you have to beat four awesome teams. It's a tournament, so somebody has to win each week, but it's not going to be easy any step of the way."
Difficult or not, Worsham knows the feeling of carrying a team, and a company on his back, and he's up for the challenge once again. In 2002 and 2004, he dramatically powered to victory at the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Nationals, sending hoards of CSK associates (and his own teammates) into near delirium. The '02 victory kept John Force from claiming his 100th career win, and National DRAGSTER aptly announced it with the headline "Not In Our House!" Worsham hopes to be the king of his castle once again, in 2008.
"This is CSK's race, it's their home track, and that makes it our home track," Worsham said. "So many things can trip you up in this sport, even when you do everything right, you'd be stupid to predict anything other than the fact you're going to try your hardest and do your best.
We know that our best is good enough to win, and I think this might be the best team and the best car we've ever had, but you still have to go out there and do it, and maybe get a break somewhere along the way.
"So, there's no getting around the fact that this would be a very cool time to win one for everyone at CSK, past and present, who all helped us every step of the way for the last 11 seasons. This would be a great time to have a big weekend, at our house!"
There's no questioning Del Worsham's integrity and focus. There's no denying his career accomplishments and the great skill with which he scaled those heights. He has been "the man" before. He'd like to be "the man" again, this weekend in Phoenix.
