The fan votes have been counted and the winner of the Funny Car class of the 2022 Competition Plus Virtual Reality Hot Rod Association is Dale Creasy Jr.

The honor wasn’t lost on the veteran nitro Funny Car driver.

“Yeah, that was cool,” Creasy Jr. said about topping the fan vote. “That was cool. I saw it. I didn't know if we were going to be able to get around (Tim) Wilkerson but it worked out.”

Unbeknownst to Creasy Jr. he clinched the VRHRA’s people’s champion title by getting voted into the eight-car field for the final race of the season – nine of nine – the World Finals in Ontario, Calif., Jan. 31-Feb. 4.

“It's an honor,” Creasy Jr. said. “I mean, between my guys and all the people that voted for us, I mean, it's just cool to know that people are paying attention to what we're doing.”

Creasy Jr. appeared to be running away with the season crown before fan favorite Wilkerson made a late charge.

“Yeah. I knew he wasn't dead in the water, so that's OK,” Creasy Jr. said. “As long as we lost the battle but the won the war, I'm happy with that.”

On the reality front in 2022, Creasy Jr. did unveil his season plans.

“Well, my goal is 10 (races), and that'll include some match races, but we'll start in Charlotte (N.C.) at for the Four Wide (Nationals, April 29 to May 1) and see what happens from there,” Creasy Jr. said. “Oh, it's hard (to temper my enthusiasm), but I've done this long enough to know that I can only do what I can do, so I don't get too excited about it. I just, if I can't go, I can't go.”

Creasy Jr. has had his share of adversity in his career – fires during runs and the severe leg injury in 2008 when he crushed his tibia, broke his ankle, and broke his toe on his left leg and multiple fractures in his right leg. Creasy Jr. had more than a dozen surgeries to repair the damage.

“It's the challenge,” Creasy Jr said about what keeps him racing. “I mean, driving a race car is all I ever wanted to do. And no matter how hard the work that we got to do, once you get to hit the gas, it's all worth it. I haven't (thought about how long he plans on racing). I mean, I figure I'll just keep going till I can't.”

Creasy Jr. doesn’t see himself going as long as Chris Karamesines who was into his 80s before he retired.

“I don't know if I'll go that far, but we'll just have to take one year at a time because this is actually, this year is my 25th year driving,” he said. “Yeah. I got my license in '97. I didn't think I was going to make it that long, but now I'm thinking maybe 30.”

Making it to the quarter-century mark behind the wheel isn’t something Creasy envisioned.

“I didn't know,” Creasy said. “I mean, I wanted to keep going. There were times when I didn't think we were going to be able to do it anymore, but during the roughest times, Evan Knoll bailed us out, kept everything going. And I mean, I got to thank him because without him, I probably wouldn't be here today.”

Creasy Jr. said he still receives help from the sport’s heavy hitters like John Force and Don Schumacher Racing.  

“The Forces are a big part of what we're doing, he said. “Schumacher helps whenever we need it. I mean, there's no lack of help. They all appreciate what we're doing, and they know they need cars like us out there. So yeah, they're all helpful. All the big teams, I mean, anytime we need something, they're there for us.”

Although Creasy will take the helping hand when he needs it, he has no problem about knocking out some of the power players on race day.

“Not one,” Creasy Jr. said. “Because you know they're going to try to take me out. So, if I could take them out, might feel bad about it a week later, but taking those guys out is definitely a feather in your cap, because it doesn't happen very often.”

If Creasy Jr. does capture an upset, he’s not one to brag.

“I don't say a word,” he said. “I believe in karma, so I don't say a word. I just smile and say, ‘You won't do that next time.’ I just don't want to give them any fuel for the fire.”

Fires are something Creasy Jr. has had enough of in his career.

“I've had enough. I had one or two in my career, so if I never had another one, that'd be great,” Creasy Jr. said. “But unfortunately, I know that's not how it works.”