CREASY READY FOR BIG PUSH
There are a lot of factors that
go into winning an IHRA Nitro Funny Car world championship. You have to have a
strong, consistent car, you need a reliable motor that does not consistently
harm itself. You need a driver who doesn't make many mistakes, a crew to back
him up and, most importantly, for the breaks to fall your way. Dale Creasy Jr.,
the Beecher, Ill. resident who won the last two IHRA Nitro Funny Car
championships, felt he was able to win both world championships because, as he
put is, "everything came together and fell into place."
This season things have not worked
out quite as well. Creasy, who won an astounding six Ironmen last season, has
failed to find the Winner's Circle in 2008. He fell to current points leader
Steven Macklyn in the final round at the season-opener in San Antonio. He
followed that up by falling in the first round to eventual event champion Matt
Hagan at the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham.
Despite the first round loss at Rockingham Dragway, Creasy is very much within striking distance of the 2008 points lead. Macklyn currently leads with 159 points while Creasy, with 143, is a mere 16 points back. Macklyn will not be driving at the Motor City Nationals. He will be home with his mother, staying with her as she recovers from cancer surgery.
"I really wish all the best for Steven and his family. The points race means absolutely nothing when it comes to things like this," Creasy said. "That just shows what a great guy Steven Macklyn is and I hope we will see him back out at the race track very soon."
Creasy and his team recently went testing at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., running a 4.993…the team’s best ET of the season.
"We really have to step things up," Creasy said. "Everyone in this class has stepped up their programs and there is no such thing as an easy round in IHRA’s Nitro Funny Car class. We went testing to look for a few things and, hopefully, we found a few things we can take advantage of. This points race is going to be a dogfight the entire season, but we can’t look at the big picture right now. We just have to take things round-by-round, race-by-race and the points race will take care of itself."
Last season Milan Dragway was very kind to Creasy and his team. He was the #1 qualifier and went on to defeat Bob Gilbertson in the final round.
"I like racing at Milan Dragway and we’ve had success there in the past," Creasy said. "It's close to home so I have friends and family there and I seem to see everything well on the track. It's difficult to explain…I just feel very comfortable there."
After the Motor City Nationals Creasy will get ready for the President’s Cup Nationals in Budds Creek, Md. Last year Creasy was bounced by Mitch King in the first round in Maryland despite finishing on top of the qualifying sheet.
"This is an extremely important string of races in front of us," Creasy said. "The third and fourth races of the season are usually when the points races start to shake out. We will do whatever we can to go some rounds and see how things play out."
