Frank Manzo smiles as he recollects his first days as a Pro Modified crew chief.
Manzo, a 13-time NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car series champion, couldn’t believe the simplest of duties got the best of him. Tune a supercharged alcohol Funny Car? He could do it in his sleep. Pedal his way down a slick track? For him, it’s as simple as straddling a bike down the street.
But, directing a Pro Modified/Pro Extreme car driven by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani into the staging beams was clearly a challenge.
“I’m standing there and he’s waving at me inside of the car,” said Manzo, recalling a moment during the team’s third test session. “I was like … what the hell is he talking about … what is wrong? I turned around and I had my foot in the pre-stage light and he was trying to tell me I was standing in the beam. I was clearly a fish out of water.