Unless his irons in the fire get red hot, Top Fuel driver Bob Vandergriff Jr., plans to compete on a limited basis in 2009 and work towards full sponsorship for 2010.

“We are still talking to a few companies and have a few things in the works,” Vandergriff said. “It’s pretty late in the year and I’m still waiting for a few answers.”

Vandergriff confirmed he should know something before the weekend is complete.

“We’ll believe it when it happens,” Vandergriff added. “We’re just going to survive for a year and wait for the economy to get better. We’ll spend a little bit of money in 2009 and come back out and hit it hard in 2010. We are doing everything we can to stay out here.” Unless his irons in the fire get red hot, Top Fuel driver Bob Vandergriff Jr., plans to compete on a limited basis in 2009 and work towards full sponsorship for 2010.

“We are still talking to a few companies and have a few things in the works,” Vandergriff said. “It’s pretty late in the year and I’m still waiting for a few answers.”

Vandergriff confirmed he should know something before the weekend is complete.

“We’ll believe it when it happens,” Vandergriff added. “We’re just going to survive for a year and wait for the economy to get better. We’ll spend a little bit of money in 2009 and come back out and hit it hard in 2010. We are doing everything we can to stay out here.”

The veteran driver isn’t lamenting the notion of running an abbreviated schedule. A short schedule might be just the rest he needs.

“After the pace we’ve maintained in the past few seasons, a short schedule might not be such a bad thing,” Vandergriff admitted.

Vandergriff confirmed he’s planning to get out of the seat eventually and put someone else in the car. His plan is to transition into the role of team owner only.

“I have some programs in the works where they are adamant about me driving,” Vandergriff said. “I may have to drive a few more years, but my end goal is to settle into the team owner role.”

Vandergriff said he’s still excited about driving, but it isn’t what motivates him the most about fuel racing.

“I love the business end of things and I have always been business oriented,” Vandergriff said. “I enjoy putting deals together and helping companies get a return on their investment. I love showing them the drag racing is a viable market for them. To me that’s always been the exciting part.

“Driving is just a portion of what we do out here. If you win all the races and don’t sell any parts for your sponsor, then you’re not going to have them around long. It’s more advantageous to be successful on the marketing side. When you do that, the racing becomes a bonus.”

Vandergriff was responsible for bringing UPS into NHRA POWERade Drag Racing during the 2006 season. He announced a month ago the major shipper wouldn’t be back in 2009 when the parties couldn’t come to terms on a contract renewal.

He admits regrets with the way the program ended.

“I’m aggravated, frustrated and disgusted in a lot of ways,” Vandergriff said. “You see something on the surface and it just doesn’t turn out to be what you see. It’s pretty disappointing in the long run to have it end the way it ended.

“It only takes one or two people in the equation to ruin the whole experience. UPS has 400,000 employees and I’ve never had a bad experience with them, up until the last year. You can have great ones but it only takes one bad one to ruin it for everyone. Unfortunately we found that one.”