BRUCE NEW MCGAFFIC DRIVER
Thu, 2007-08-09 09:48
Following the resignation of former team driver Paul Lee, the J&B
Motorsports IHRA Torco Pro Nitro Funny Car team reached an eleventh hour
agreement with Michigan local Rob Bruce to drive during this past weekend's IHRA
Torco Race Fuels Nationals at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park just outside of Grand
Rapids, Mich. Despite limited experience, Team Owners Jeff and Bonnie McGaffic
were impressed at how quickly the driver they dubbed 'Ricky Bobby' adapted to
their 8,000 HP Nitro Funny Car this past weekend.
As of the Thursday prior to the event, the team was
without a driver. Fellow Nitro Funny Car and Top Fuel racer Mitch King referred
Bruce, from nearby Flint, Mich., to the McGaffic's.
"We tried to call several drivers to come in and
drive for us this weekend," explained McGaffic. "None of the drivers we knew
that would fit the car were available to drive the whole weekend. Mitch told us
about this guy Rob Bruce who lived a few hours from the track and was a
competent driver with an IHRA license and would fit the car. We called him on
Friday and he dropped what he was doing and showed up at the track a few hours
later. Needless to say, we were impressed with his zeal and commitment from the
get-go."
"We missed the Friday session getting him fitted
for the car," McGaffic continued. "While getting things ready to go for
Saturday, he kept talking about wanting to go fast, so we nicknamed him "Ricky
Bobby." He was a great guy and worked well with our team. We had a lot of fun
with him."
In his first pass in a competitive Nitro Funny Car,
Bruce rocketed to half track, running a 3.45 at 250 mph, which was the third
quickest e.t. and second fastest mph. Low qualifier and eventual winner Mike
Ashley's half track speed was only two mph faster during that session. The car
started spinning the tires slightly further down track, prompting Bruce to
lift. Despite not qualifying, the team was impressed with his driving
prowess.
"The first pass out, he took it down the track
straight as a string," cited McGaffic. "We feel we've fixed the issue that was
causing us so many problems earlier in the year. On the first pass Saturday, it
went 250 mph to half track. Mike Ashley, the No. 1 qualifier only went 252 mph,
so it was on a heck of a pass. Just past half track it started to break the
tires loose and he lifted. We didn't qualify, but we showed the car that took
us to four finals last year is back."
"He really did a great job in the car," McGaffic
continued. "I just failed to compensate in the clutch for the difference in the
driver weight, or I think it would have made a real nice lap. I really have to
thank him for jumping in at the last minute and driving for us. He's a heck of
a driver, and given the opportunity, will do well in a Nitro Funny
Car."
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