Tom Hammonds, the former NBA forward turned Pro Stock owner/driver, called a time out about four months ago. After re-emerging with a No. 8 qualifying position and a quarterfinal finish at Charlotte, he improved dramatically this weekend with his '09 Chevy Cobalt, earning the No. 4 spot in the order.  
 
"We worked really hard," Hammonds said. "We sat out for the last four months. It's really gratifying to know we've come a long way."
 
Team general manager Chris Harrison, who said Hammonds tested at Rockingham, N.C., before entering the Charlotte event, said he was elated with Friday's pass that held up for fourth-quickest in the 16-car field. "We were pretty pleased with the first round out yesterday -- (6.)62-flat -- not bad."
 
But this, Hammonds said, is the end of the line for him in 2009.
 
"This is the last race of the year for us. We'll continue to work on our program throughout the winter," he said. "We should have an announcement in about another 30 days regarding our sponsorship for 2010.  We've been working with the Marine Corps for a number of months, and we want to continue our relationship. I feel really good about our future. I feel really good about having the chance to run for the championship in 2010."

Hammonds said he's not just testing -- he'd like to earn his first Wally trophy. "We have everything to gain and nothing to lose here. That's the way we're going to approach it," he said. "The Marines, their motto is they come to fight and they come to win. That's what we’re going to try to do."
 
SEMPER FI, SEMPER FUN -- One of the more popular interactive attractions in the pits is the chin-up bar in Tom Hammond's hospitality area. Sporting the slogan "Pain is weakness leaving the body," the U.S. Marine Corps display challenges men and women to try chinning themselves -- intimidating with a handful of Marines watching and counting. One well-conditioned young man managed to do 18, and Hammond's crew member Mark Huston, 54, treated the crowd to a few. He said volunteers monitoring the display reward fans with small prizes: "You do so many, they give you something -- it's like the State Fair!"

Advertisement