THEY SAID IT.

Quotes from Brainerd

Compiled by Ian Tocher
8/21/03

nce more, NHRA racers told the story in their own words at the 22nd annual Lucas Oil Nationals, held Aug. 15-17 at Brainerd (MN) International Raceway.

TOP FUEL

"I'm a very excitable guy. I have to really work on keeping it toned down and making sure I watch my p's and q's. You never know what I'm going to do or what I'm going to say. I'm like a kid in a candy store. To do what this team is doing and to compete at this level is nothing less than spectacular. For me it's a dream come true." -- David Baca before qualifying 5th, then losing to Scott Palmer, who scored his career-first round victory

"We are still on a limited schedule and I am seeing a lot of the NHRA tracks for the first time, but I have a great crew behind me and we are eager to prove what we can do." -- 18-year-old Josh Starcher, who lost in round one to Doug Kalitta

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"We have finesse getting down marginal racetracks and a high-powered car at the end. We can take the power out of our car, yet still make enough for it to go quick. It's a nice smooth application, like a big Cadillac going down the highway." -- Crew chief Dick LaHaie after qualifying number one with a 4.638 at 321.42 mph

"The feeling I have when I go to the races is like I'm drowning. I'm fighting, cussing and clawing to stay above water. You gotta' go out there and work hard the first round or you're not going anywhere." -- Larry Dixon on his pre-race thoughts

"We were behind the eight ball all weekend because we underestimated this race track. We tried to go back to our regular tune up and attack this track just like we would any racetrack. It did pay off. While I'm sitting here crying the blues, I can't complain. The team did a good job getting us ready for today." -- Cory McClenathan after his first-round loss to Tony Schumacher

"It was a tricky track this weekend because it was very slippery." -- Doug Herbert after losing to Kalitta in round two

"The last race we lost was in St. Louis because a cylinder went out. Now I'm getting a little irritated. I thought we had taken enough fuel away that we didn't have to think about it. It's just another one of those could've, would've, should've things." -- LaHaie after Dixon last to Schumacher in the semi-finals

"Now that's what I call racing. That was just an unbelievable race, and my hat goes off to Doug and that whole team, they ran a great race." -- Schumacher after he and Kalitta both ran 4.698 seconds in the final, but Kalitta won with a better reaction time

"It is a great birthday gift. We are still in the championship hunt. Dixon and those guys are going to be really tough to catch, but if anyone can do it, Connie (Kalitta's uncle and crew chief) can." -- Doug Kalitta on winning the event just three days before his 39th birthday