Teleconference highlights 2007-07-31

Highlights from the NHRA Teleconference
July 31, 2007

DEL WORSHAM, on whether the intensity has increased with the Countdown to the Championship: "(It has) definitely increased the intensity of the season. We're halfway through the season. I already feel like it's the last race of the season (and) we're fighting for our top 10 spot. We're watching the points very close in mid-season when we normally wouldn't. And just every single round feels like a final round now, that's just the way we have to take it."

JEG COUGHLIN, on comparing his two championship seasons (2000 and 2001) to possibly winning under the new Countdown to the Championship format: "I think when you look at the Countdown to the Championship, I think the drama that's going to be built and the drama enjoyed by the fans is what's going to fuel us. I mean, I'm in a similar situation being in second in Pro Stock right now to Greg Anderson. I think eight rounds behind him. That is a margin that is possible to make up. So we're not out of the championship in the old format. And it would be exciting to fight for it in the end in that respect. But I think the new format is going to bring so much more opportunity for NHRA and for POWERade drag racing that the fans can enjoy. And if we, as a group of drivers and race teams and crew chiefs and media, can take this opportunity and build this sport, because it is exciting, I mean again you can't argue with Tony Schumacher's finish last year, and that's really what the Countdown to the Championship has the ability to set up."

DAVE GRUBNIC, on the different mindsets of drivers who have clinched playoff berths vs. those who have not: "There are some drivers out there that have solidified their positions in the top eight and obviously they're going to be more relaxed over these next two races whereas, in my case, we've got to make sure we stay in there. And as I said earlier, we have to go rounds and we have to be there on Sunday and take whatever luck we can get and whatever else that will work in our favor."

DEL WORSHAM, on this 'week off' in the midst of a stretch of eight races in nine weeks to end the regular season: "They keep talking about this week off. I guess we have a week we're not racing, but I'm at the shop right now. I am paying bills. I haven't been here a month. They're stacked up high. Look out there, there's Funny Car bodies everywhere and engines apart, people going a hundred different directions trying to get done by Friday to get Saturday off so they can leave on Sunday. So we're still in the middle of a lot of racing here, and I don't really see a whole lot of time off for anybody."

-credit: nhra