Driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Car
- Four-time event champion:
- 2006, 2007, 2015, 2020
- Two-time runner-up:
- 2000, 2016
- 2021 No. 1 qualifier
2021 Gainesville Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Jim Campbell in E1; defeated by Bob Tasca in E2)
Last Event (Phoenix):
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Jim Campbell in E1; defeated by John Force in E2)
Career Statistics:
588 races; 68 event wins (one Top Fuel); 30 No. 1 qualifiers
2022 Statistics:
Two races; one runner-up; one No. 1 qualifier
Noteworthy:
- Looking to tie former boss Don Prudhomme’s five Gainesville Funny Car wins
Quotable:
“Gainesville is a big race for a lot of reasons. First, it’s an incredible place to drive into and see how many fans take vacations and plan trips around the Gatornationals. This race just holds so much history for NHRA drag racing. To win a Wally trophy from the Gatornationals is so huge. As a kid growing up in California, I was only able to read about the Gatornationals, so finally going there showed why it’s such a big event. Our NAPA AutoCare team has had a great start to the ’22 season. Obviously, there’s been a lot of change and I’m so proud that our entire team stayed from the championship-winning AutoCare crew from last year. The familiarity with us all began at the Gatornationals last March, which was our first race of that championship season. Now going to Gainesville with the No. 1 on the car, it’s just special. This is the part of the season where you are so happy to have crew chiefs and leadership that can adapt to different conditions and the Gatornationals can see a lot of things thrown at a crew chief. Sometimes humidity, sometimes cooler than expected for Florida, sometimes very hot and demanding, and I’m extremely happy to have that NAPA Know How of Guido (Dean Antonelli) and John Medlen on our team. We’re pumped for the first race on the East Coast and to go after our first Wally of ’22.”