On the outside, it might look like David Rampy’s return to compete in this weekend’s NHRA U.S. Nationals might look like a measure of second-guessing a decision to retire.

Let the record reflect, Rampy is happily retired from the grind of chasing a series championship, something he’d done since the mid-1980s until retired at the end of 2019.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the JEGS All Star deal,” Rampy said with his trademark southern drawl and accompanying smile. “I said if I was leading the points and had the opportunity to come here that I was going. So that’s why I’m here.”

Rampy’s storied career ended with 100 NHRA national event victories with five of those coming at the U.S. Nationals. He also won five series championships, but the one trophy which has eluded him has been a Jegs All-Star.

With 100 career national event wins, including five at the U.S. Nationals, and a combined five world champions spread over three classes, Rampy is a bona fide NHRA Sportsman racing legend.

Rampy cherishes his time drag racing where he won series championships in both NHRA and IHRA competition. He admits he knew it was time to move on when he did.

“It has not been hard at all staying retired,” Rampy said. “I’m telling you. I know a lot of people think I may be just saying that, but it’s not. I have really enjoyed being at home, not having a schedule to live by and it’s been nice now. I miss the people, I do, and miss Barry and us working together. But as far as everything else, I’m good with it. And especially with what’s going on this year.”

Just because he’s retired from the big league circuit doesn’t mean Rampy hasn’t dabbled in the local rec league of drag racing back in Piedmont, Alabama.

“I raced the last five weekends, I’ve raced four weekends at home. bracket racing,” Rampy said. “Me and my son Chase, we go together a lot and then last two weeks he’s had something going on so I stole the truck and I raced it the last two weeks. So we’ve been enjoying the bracket racing. I’m back to the old days, load up on Saturday afternoon and go to the race track, run, come back home, put it up and then go to the house. I’m liking that.”

Rampy got fired up after the locals taught him a lesson or two the first couple of times, then he went to the finals in the last two weeks before headed to Indy.

“It’s been a lot of fun to go back over there,” Rampy said. “I really enjoy it. I can say it’s just so low key and all the guys are pretty good guys and we all kind of hang out together. We got a group of guys from Piedmont there they go racing and we all park together, and it’s really been enjoyable.

“Some people can’t go back to their roots because their pride is too much. But for me, I’m humble enough that it doesn’t bother me at all. I enjoy it.”