All the elements are in Ennis, Texas for Swiss Top Fuel driver Urs Erbacher: "nice weather, nice people, good track." Oh -- and a goal to "win the Wally, be the first European" to do so. The four-time European (FIA) champion rejoins the NHRA circuit in the state where he made a spectacular first-round appearance earlier this season. At Houston, against Larry Dixon in the opposite lane, Erbacher rode out a huge explosion that threw shrapnel higher than the three-story tower and was unhurt as he stopped the car safely. He's back in the Wayne Dupuy-tuned Midland Oil/SCS Procurement Services/Johnny Bang's Bang & Bump Shop Dragster, but it naturally is a rebuilt car with new sections of the chassis.

All the elements are in Ennis, Texas for Swiss Top Fuel driver Urs Erbacher: "nice weather, nice people, good track." Oh -- and a goal to "win the Wally, be the first European" to do so. The four-time European (FIA) champion rejoins the NHRA circuit in the state where he made a spectacular first-round appearance earlier this season. At Houston, against Larry Dixon in the opposite lane, Erbacher rode out a huge explosion that threw shrapnel higher than the three-story tower and was unhurt as he stopped the car safely. He's back in the Wayne Dupuy-tuned Midland Oil/SCS Procurement Services/Johnny Bang's Bang & Bump Shop Dragster, but it naturally is a rebuilt car with new sections of the chassis.
 
Dupuy, of Jacksboro, Texas, said the Texas Motorplex is the best place to try out all of his summer handiwork as he and Erbacher prepare to run also at Las Vegas and Pomona to finish this season.
 
"It's close. It's fast. It's all concrete," Dupuy said. "It's getting cool this time of year, and I have all the confidence in the world with this track. Racing at Dallas is close to home for me. And what a better way to get the bugs out of all this fresh stuff? So with everything fresh and new once again, it's time to put all our hard work to the test."
 
Said Erbacher, "We've had good luck racing in America in the past. I fit in this car so much better now, and I know Wayne and the team will have us ready to race further than we ever have before." He advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 Finals at Pomona.
 
By splitting his time in Europe and the United States, Erbacher didn't get to challenge for a championship in either endeavor. Habving proven everything he needed to in Europe, Erbacher said he'd like to try his hand at a Full Throttle Series crown.
 
"The FIA season is very short, and it's hard to get into a rhythm with just a few events in the NHRA," he said. "Hopefully we'll find the backing to run a full season in 2010 and give a big sponsor plenty of exciting times to experience with our team."

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