A CONFIDENT MIKE NEFF
Tue, 2008-02-19 10:06
OLD SPICE ROOKIE STOKES CONFIDENCE FOR RETURN TRIP TO FIREBIRD
Rookie driver Mike Neff is entering the 24th annual Checker, Schuck’s,
Kragen NHRA Nationals, his second race of the 2008 POWERade season,
with more of the most valuable element any driver needs.
Confidence.
“I think we will be better. I know I’ll personally feel a little bit better since we were able to make some full runs. We have more runs with the Old Spice Mustang now after (Pomona). I feel good about it,” Neff said. “I think we had a pretty good weekend despite the fact that we went out first round. For everything that we have changed and the minimal amount of test runs that we made to go to Pomona and qualify not too far off the pace is impressive.” OLD SPICE ROOKIE STOKES CONFIDENCE FOR RETURN TRIP TO FIREBIRD
Rookie driver Mike Neff is entering the 24th annual Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen NHRA Nationals, his second race of the 2008 POWERade season, with more of the most valuable element any driver needs.
Confidence.
“I think we will be better. I know I’ll personally feel a little bit better since we were able to make some full runs. We have more runs with the Old Spice Mustang now after (Pomona). I feel good about it,” Neff said. “I think we had a pretty good weekend despite the fact that we went out first round. For everything that we have changed and the minimal amount of test runs that we made to go to Pomona and qualify not too far off the pace is impressive.”
Pressed into service at the end of the 2007 season for the final two events, busy during the off-season working with Crew Chief John Medlen and the rest of the John Force Racing brain trust to make all four John Force Racing Ford Mustangs safer and stronger, and finally thrown into the mix of a hectic weeklong testing session in Phoenix with brand new chassis just three weeks ago, the leading contender for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award, presented annually to the professional Rookie of the Year, took on the chaos of the season opening race in Pomona with the same level of intensity and focus he has used to become more comfortable behind the wheel of his Old Spice Ford Mustang.
“It will be nice to develop a routine. Even last year we hurried up and threw everything together. It just seems like we have been behind and we have been working late even up until now. We just haven’t been able to get caught up,” Neff said. “It will be nice to be able to get the team together and develop a routine. I am looking forward to that and it will just get better.”
During the season opening event in Pomona, Neff was subjected to an ESPN HD video shoot, a fire suit fitting session, multiple media interviews, sponsor meet and greets, and most importantly gathering information on the new BOSS 500 engine that is powering his 2008 Ford Mustang.
It was a lot for the former motocross and off-road truck racer from Hemet, Calif., to take in but he continued to prove to be the right driver for the job as constant improvements are being recorded following every run down the track.
“We haven’t been running the BOSS engine that long and it appears to make really good power. It looks like it is different power so, so far so good. We are having to make adjustments to try and get used to it. So far we are really excited about it making really good power. We are just trying to get the clutch matched up.”
Neff was denied his first round win for the third race in a row but he continues to moves closer to winning and he is confident that major progress is right around the corner. The good news for Neff and his Old Spice Ford Mustang team is they are heading back this week to a track, Firebird Raceway, that they have a recent history with and one that has yielded record times for John Force Racing.
Neff is working with a strong partner this season as he and Crew Chief John Medlen have already developed a close professional and personal relationship on and off the track. Crew Chief John Medlen has started a JFR Ford No. 1 on two different occasions at Firebird International Raceway, once with Tony Pedregon at the controls (2003) and two years ago (2006) with the late Eric Medlen in the harnesses.
“Having the chance to work with John Medlen was one of the biggest plusses about moving over to John Force Racing. He is such a great man both professionally and as a person. You will not find a finer man anywhere,” Neff said.
Getting to the winners circle is not a new experience for Neff who as a crew chief guided Gary Scelzi to the 2005 NHRA POWERade championship. Neff is trying to become just the second racer to win pro championships as both crew chief and driver. The only person to have accomplished that feat is Dick LaHaie, who won a Top Fuel title as a driver in 1987 and as crew chief to Scott Kalitta in 1994 and 1995.
When Neff does capture his first win for John Force Racing he will become the sixth different drivers to have won Funny Car races on the NHRA tour – John Force, Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Robert Hight and Eric Medlen.
A strong season for Neff would also continue another John Force Racing tradition as he is trying to become the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four years to win the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year following Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley Force (2007).
Rookie driver Mike Neff is entering the 24th annual Checker, Schuck’s,
Kragen NHRA Nationals, his second race of the 2008 POWERade season,
with more of the most valuable element any driver needs. Confidence.
“I think we will be better. I know I’ll personally feel a little bit better since we were able to make some full runs. We have more runs with the Old Spice Mustang now after (Pomona). I feel good about it,” Neff said. “I think we had a pretty good weekend despite the fact that we went out first round. For everything that we have changed and the minimal amount of test runs that we made to go to Pomona and qualify not too far off the pace is impressive.” OLD SPICE ROOKIE STOKES CONFIDENCE FOR RETURN TRIP TO FIREBIRD
Rookie driver Mike Neff is entering the 24th annual Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen NHRA Nationals, his second race of the 2008 POWERade season, with more of the most valuable element any driver needs. Confidence.
“I think we will be better. I know I’ll personally feel a little bit better since we were able to make some full runs. We have more runs with the Old Spice Mustang now after (Pomona). I feel good about it,” Neff said. “I think we had a pretty good weekend despite the fact that we went out first round. For everything that we have changed and the minimal amount of test runs that we made to go to Pomona and qualify not too far off the pace is impressive.”
Pressed into service at the end of the 2007 season for the final two events, busy during the off-season working with Crew Chief John Medlen and the rest of the John Force Racing brain trust to make all four John Force Racing Ford Mustangs safer and stronger, and finally thrown into the mix of a hectic weeklong testing session in Phoenix with brand new chassis just three weeks ago, the leading contender for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award, presented annually to the professional Rookie of the Year, took on the chaos of the season opening race in Pomona with the same level of intensity and focus he has used to become more comfortable behind the wheel of his Old Spice Ford Mustang.
“It will be nice to develop a routine. Even last year we hurried up and threw everything together. It just seems like we have been behind and we have been working late even up until now. We just haven’t been able to get caught up,” Neff said. “It will be nice to be able to get the team together and develop a routine. I am looking forward to that and it will just get better.”
During the season opening event in Pomona, Neff was subjected to an ESPN HD video shoot, a fire suit fitting session, multiple media interviews, sponsor meet and greets, and most importantly gathering information on the new BOSS 500 engine that is powering his 2008 Ford Mustang.
It was a lot for the former motocross and off-road truck racer from Hemet, Calif., to take in but he continued to prove to be the right driver for the job as constant improvements are being recorded following every run down the track.
“We haven’t been running the BOSS engine that long and it appears to make really good power. It looks like it is different power so, so far so good. We are having to make adjustments to try and get used to it. So far we are really excited about it making really good power. We are just trying to get the clutch matched up.”
Neff was denied his first round win for the third race in a row but he continues to moves closer to winning and he is confident that major progress is right around the corner. The good news for Neff and his Old Spice Ford Mustang team is they are heading back this week to a track, Firebird Raceway, that they have a recent history with and one that has yielded record times for John Force Racing.
Neff is working with a strong partner this season as he and Crew Chief John Medlen have already developed a close professional and personal relationship on and off the track. Crew Chief John Medlen has started a JFR Ford No. 1 on two different occasions at Firebird International Raceway, once with Tony Pedregon at the controls (2003) and two years ago (2006) with the late Eric Medlen in the harnesses.
“Having the chance to work with John Medlen was one of the biggest plusses about moving over to John Force Racing. He is such a great man both professionally and as a person. You will not find a finer man anywhere,” Neff said.
Getting to the winners circle is not a new experience for Neff who as a crew chief guided Gary Scelzi to the 2005 NHRA POWERade championship. Neff is trying to become just the second racer to win pro championships as both crew chief and driver. The only person to have accomplished that feat is Dick LaHaie, who won a Top Fuel title as a driver in 1987 and as crew chief to Scott Kalitta in 1994 and 1995.
When Neff does capture his first win for John Force Racing he will become the sixth different drivers to have won Funny Car races on the NHRA tour – John Force, Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Robert Hight and Eric Medlen.
A strong season for Neff would also continue another John Force Racing tradition as he is trying to become the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four years to win the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year following Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley Force (2007).
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