Clyde West, longtime crew chief for V. Gaines, continues his recovery from a ruptured colon. According to Gaines, he’s getting better every day and in the past few days, he’s been able to eat again.

“That’s a big step,” Gaines said. “Hopefully this week he's going to be out and I'm sure he'll be at the race shop the next day.” Clyde West, longtime crew chief for V. Gaines, continues his recovery from a ruptured colon. According to Gaines, he’s getting better every day and in the past few days, he’s been able to eat again.

“That’s a big step,” Gaines said. “Hopefully this week he's going to be out and I'm sure he'll be at the race shop the next day.”

Gaines has employed West as his crew chief for as long as he’s drag raced. Past Pro Stock driver Tom Martino has filled the vacancy admirably on a team that has worked in unison for many seasons. 

“There's very little conversation goes on in our pit,” Gaines said. “Everybody knows what their doing and everybody can jump from one job to another. The legacy here is we're running Clyde's car here and we're just trying not to mess it up.”