Life was good for Phil Burkart last season.

The veteran NHRA Funny Car driver filled in aptly for icon John Force last season following Force's horrific crash in Dallas, winning four of six elimination runs while piloting the Castrol Ford Mustang to a runner-up finish at the season-finale Auto Club NHRA Finals in early November.

However, with Force expected to be ready by the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona in early February, Burkart's plans for 2008 are wide open.

"I don't know what my plans are right now," said Burkart, who also advanced to the finals of the Gatornationals in March while driving for Paul Smith. "It's still up in the air. I don't have any contract, or any real word on what's going to happen."

What Burkart does know is that he had a blast while filling in for Force last season, and it showed in the results, which included advancing to the quarterfinals at the ACDelco Nationals in Las Vegas before wrapping up the season with a final-round appearance at Pomona.

"It was great to be associated with such a great team," Burkart said. "But probably the biggest thing was having the vote of confidence of John, who when I came into this sport was my hero in the class.

"It's just a different mind set to drive for John Force. By that, I mean the whole mentality of the team. It's all about winning. It's all about whatever it takes to win, and that's their main focus."

What also mattered to Burkart was being hand-picked by Force to race his Castrol Ford Mustang during the final two races of the season.

I think the biggest compliment you can get from any individual is when that individual ask you to fill his shoes. And John asking me to drive for him, was just that. 

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"I think the biggest compliment you can get from any individual is when that individual ask you to fill his shoes," Burkart said. "And John asking me to drive for him, was just that."

However, the seeds for that opportunity actually began earlier. There was talk that Burkart might drive a fourth Ford Mustang for Force, who at some point was looking to bring back the Auto Club Ford Mustang after the death of Eric Medlen in March. That ride eventually went to Mike Neff.

"John and I had spoken in the past about coming over to drive and other opportunities, like the Mike Neff thing," Burkart said. "So, I always kept in touch with him, kept close contact and always kept my nose clean."

Force eventually decided on Neff, who at the time was crew chief for rival and friend Gary Scelzi. Through his disappointment, Burkart never held not hard feelings toward Neff, who had developed a closeness with the veteran after they joined fellow teammates Ashley Force and Robert Hight at JFR.

"It could have been (my ride)," Burkart said. "But there are always different considerations and attributes for anyone that you hire. And John was able to get himself a crew chief as well as a driver; a crew chief that could help the team and John Medlen out at the same time. That's why he went down that road.

"It obviously wasn't for Mike's driving ability, because he hadn't driven at the time. It was based on his abilities to be a crew chief and help John Medlen out as a co-crew chief."

Once again Burkart approaches another season on the outside looking in. The seven-year veteran has enjoyed solid success inside the race car, winning four national events in eight final rounds while driving a second car for Worsham Racing from 2003-06. He began the 2007 season without a driving opportunity; finally hooking up with Paul Smith for the Gatornationals, and he showed his abilities by advancing to the finals.

Still, one would think that with his successes, teams would flock to sign up the veteran driver; and because they aren't, sometimes it wears on Burkart.

"It is frustrating," he said. "To do it time and time again and show the ability to be able to do it and be one of the best drivers is frustrating. But all I can do is just make the most of any opportunity I get."

Which is what he did last season.

"To be able to fill in for John at a time when he needed someone to fill in for him, I can't say enough of that opportunity," Burkart said. "He has a knack of assembling a very good group of people. I feel fortunate to be included in that group."