Del Worsham knew the road was going to be a tough one; a journey filled with pot holes, speed bumps and frustrations. And despite it all, he's having the time of his life. 

Worsham, a two-time champion in NHRA nitro competition, left the comfort zone of a well-funded Kalitta Motorsports team to return to the family-owned Funny Car and race with his father, Chuck Worsham. 

Worsham sits 13th, 49 points out of a tie for the tenth place now held by Cruz Pedregon. He's qualified in all 14 races this season, but round wins have been harder to attain. The Lucas Oil-sponsored driver has only won two rounds, beating Robert Hight in Pomona, and then Tommy Johnson Jr. in Topeka.

There have been no easy draws considering of those first 14 races, in twelve he's met up with either a member of Don Schumacher Racing or John Force Racing. When you're generally facing one of the top four qualifiers, you're challenged to lay down the best you have in the first shot on Sunday and hope they miss the combination.

 “We’re just trying to get down the track faster than the competitor next to us," Worsham admitted. "That’s the only thing we’re focusing on at this point, in order for us to be in it, we need to win rounds.” 

Competing with a much smaller budget and less fulltime crew than he was accustomed to when at Kalitta Motorsports, Worsham is hanging his hat on a characteristic which can lend positive results. 

“This whole season has just been about finding consistency," Worsham explained. "We're trying to improve and just make good, clean runs down the track. Right now this is not the kind of racing that we set out to do. Even if at this point the only thing that comes out of this season is us finding our drive, that will be okay."

Worsham's best qualifying performance has been eighth, but generally, he's been consistently in the 11th through 14th spots on Sunday's starting grid.

Worsham has occupied a spot in the top ten three times this season, ascending as high as sixth following a quarterfinal performance at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals. 

Only three races remain for Worsham and team to get in the revered Countdown field, and with Worsham trailing Pedregon, Jonnie Lindberg and Jim Campbell, the time to make hay is now. Being looking ahead, Worsham has to look over his shoulder at former protege Alexis Dejoria, who trails him by a round. 
 
“The Countdown is the main goal," Worsham confirmed. "We keep getting so close to that number 10 spot, and I definitely believe we can get back there. This season has been rough, but I have faith in my team and the work we can do."

Worsham heads into Sonoma this weekend for a race he has once and last year was the number one qualifier.