It’s been six long years since Dale
Armstrong hung up his wrenches, and frankly, we never thought we’d see the day
that the man who helped guide Kenny Bernstein to the sport’s first 300 MPH
clocking (with some important help from Ray Alley and Wes Cerny, we might add)
would return trackside, but he’s back in action with Funny Car driver Jerry
Tolliver.
Armstrong’s list of quarter mile accomplishments is more
than impressive, it’s legendary. Along with having guided Bernstein to all of
those NHRA championships, he was also the winner of the prestigious Ollie Award
as part of the All-Star Drag Racing Team program that was once sponsored by Car
Craft Magazine. The award is emblematic of one’s career-long contributions to
the sport, with other winners including the likes of Don Garlits, Mickey
Thompson, Wally Parks and Don Prudhomme, to name just a few of them.
When Armstrong decided to call it a day few thought he’d ever
return to action, but when he got the call from Tolliver he just couldn’t resist
giving it one more shot.
We caught up with Armstrong in the Rockstar pits for a little
conversation.