ODDY PLACES PRIDE OVER PRESSURE
Tue, 2009-07-21 08:01
Jim Oddy, crew chief for Joshua Hernandez and his National
Guard-sponsored 1957 Chevy ADRL Pro Extreme entry, obviously wants to
win
the July 24-25, ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II for his sponsor,
his team owner and his crew. But there’s a measure of personal pride
involved, too.
That’s because Oddy, now in his 50th year as a drag racer, also was a National Guard Soldier in the mid- through late-1960s, and to win the National Guard race with the National Guard team would be “unbelievable,” he says. Jim Oddy, crew chief for Joshua Hernandez and his National Guard-sponsored 1957 Chevy ADRL Pro Extreme entry, obviously wants to
win the July 24-25, ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II for his sponsor, his team owner and his crew. But there’s a measure of personal pride involved, too.
That’s because Oddy, now in his 50th year as a drag racer, also was a National Guard Soldier in the mid- through late-1960s, and to win the National Guard race with the National Guard team would be “unbelievable,” he says.
“When I go to the races and see all the Guardsmen there it certainly brings back the memories of the time I spent with those guys,” he says. “As you can imagine, it’s really special. Knowing you were once a part of it and knowing what those guys give to us; I still get goose bumps when I see those young men and women and see what they do, and to still be a part of it I can honestly say this is probably the best time I’ve ever had. Between the crew and the car and being hooked up with the National Guard, I don’t think it gets any better than this, is what I’m trying to say.”
Still, Oddy admits to feeling the need to perform this weekend.
“The more people talk about it, the more pressure I feel, that’s kind of how it is,” he says. “But we went through the car from front to back, replaced everything that even looked like it might give us a problem. From bumper to bumper it’ll be all new. We really want to win this race.”
Oddy and the National Guard team will be looking to build on their success from just three weeks earlier at Topeka, Kansas, where they won a National Guard ADRL race that also saw them debut a new camouflage-themed vinyl wrap on their car.
“I hope we keep it for the rest of the year. Everybody loves it, the National Guard guys and gals are just tickled when they see that wrap on the car. I think it gives it a great stealth look,” Oddy says. “And if it wins again looking like that I’m going take the car and hide it. They’re not going to get to rewrap it.”
Crew
chief Jim Oddy (left) celebrates with team owners Dave and Gidget Wood
after their National Guard-backed car won the National Guard ADRL Pro
Extreme race July 3, at Heartland Park Topeka, in Kansas.
That’s because Oddy, now in his 50th year as a drag racer, also was a National Guard Soldier in the mid- through late-1960s, and to win the National Guard race with the National Guard team would be “unbelievable,” he says. Jim Oddy, crew chief for Joshua Hernandez and his National Guard-sponsored 1957 Chevy ADRL Pro Extreme entry, obviously wants to
Crew chief Jim Oddy (left) celebrates with team owners Dave and Gidget Wood after their National Guard-backed car won the National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme race July 3, at Heartland Park Topeka, in Kansas.
That’s because Oddy, now in his 50th year as a drag racer, also was a National Guard Soldier in the mid- through late-1960s, and to win the National Guard race with the National Guard team would be “unbelievable,” he says.
“When I go to the races and see all the Guardsmen there it certainly brings back the memories of the time I spent with those guys,” he says. “As you can imagine, it’s really special. Knowing you were once a part of it and knowing what those guys give to us; I still get goose bumps when I see those young men and women and see what they do, and to still be a part of it I can honestly say this is probably the best time I’ve ever had. Between the crew and the car and being hooked up with the National Guard, I don’t think it gets any better than this, is what I’m trying to say.”
Still, Oddy admits to feeling the need to perform this weekend.
“The more people talk about it, the more pressure I feel, that’s kind of how it is,” he says. “But we went through the car from front to back, replaced everything that even looked like it might give us a problem. From bumper to bumper it’ll be all new. We really want to win this race.”
National Guard driver Joshua Hernandez slows down his camouflage-themed Pro Extreme ’57 Chevy after a 200-mph blast down the eighth mile in Topeka, Kansas.
“I hope we keep it for the rest of the year. Everybody loves it, the National Guard guys and gals are just tickled when they see that wrap on the car. I think it gives it a great stealth look,” Oddy says. “And if it wins again looking like that I’m going take the car and hide it. They’re not going to get to rewrap it.”
Advertisement
Categories:
