Three might years not seem like a long time. However, in the past three years drag racing instructor and former IHRA Rookie of the Year Doug Foley has developed a reputation that goes well beyond his experience.

While he is still seeking his first NHRA national event win after only 25 events worth of experience, in IHRA competition, Foley has won six times.

On that side of the fence, he’s been heralded as a championship contender. Save for a season-ending crash, he could have very well claimed a title.

On the NHRA tour, he’s a giant killer for his tendency to knock off the larger, more well financed teams. Save for a devastating sponsor loss, he could have been a giant this year. Veteran low-buck team looking to shake up the establishment

Three years might not seem like a long time. However, in the past three years drag racing instructor and former IHRA Rookie of the Year Doug Foley has developed a reputation that goes well beyond his experience.

While he is still seeking his first NHRA national event win after only 25 events worth of experience, in IHRA competition, Foley has won six times.

On that side of the fence, he’s been heralded as a championship contender. Save for a season-ending crash, he could have very well claimed a title.

On the NHRA tour, he’s a giant killer for his tendency to knock off the larger, more well financed teams. Save for a devastating sponsor loss, he could have been a giant this year.

"When we run, I think we do a good job of representing ourselves," said Foley, who's entered just three events this year after unexpectedly losing his title sponsor in the days leading up to the season opener. "We try to stay within our capabilities and our approach is to do everything we can to land that major sponsor we need to race full time.

"Our goals at the start of the year, and I thought of them as realistic goals, were to earn a spot in the Countdown to 1, win some races along the way, and make a run at the title. If our success in 2007 taught us anything it was that we could compete with anyone. Unfortunately, our plans took a drastic turn but we're still hoping to be a part of the Countdown to 1, only this time as a spoiler."

Foley made his NHRA debut at Maple Grove Raceway, the site of this weekend’s NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals in Reading, Pa. He’s racing this weekend with the support of the Fx Caprara Car Companies.

A resident of the Philadelphia suburb of Sewell, N.J., Foley has run well at the three events he's entered this year, qualifying in the top half of the field in both Houston and Englishtown, N.J., where he was a lofty third overall. He was able to keep his skills sharp and compete thanks to the support of Billy Caprara and his numerous dealerships in Watertown, N.J.

"Billy's a drag racer and a friend and he's been great to us," said Foley, who co-owns his team with retired publishing executive Tim Lewis. "He realizes how important it is to stay out here, even in a limited capacity, to show potential sponsors first-hand what drag racing is all about and what we can do for them. It's helped tremendously and we'll always be grateful to Billy. I'd love nothing more than to give him a Wally for all of his help.

"I know everyone else is thinking about the playoffs but we're thinking about our future. If we could kill a few more giants down the stretch, all the better for what we're trying to do to get this team back out there full time."