THEY SAID IT

Quotes from Phoenix

Compiled by Ian Tocher
3/9/04

The whole story of a race often can be discovered through only quotes taken from NHRA and team press releases. Here, in their own words, is the story of the 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec Mar. 5-7, at Phoenix

TOP FUEL

"The more runs we have together, the more you will see us become a giant killer and major factor." -- Cory McClenathan before qualifying 8th, then

"We didn't get down although we weren't alone. There's a lot of great teams that couldn't get down the track today." -- Scott Weis after going up in smoke in the final qualifying round, leaving him to start 14th on raceday

"It's been a few years since I have started from the top spot. I am certainly not used to this, but with the way our car is running I might better." -- David Grubnic after qualifying number one for the first time since 1999

"It wasn't the type of weekend we were looking for." -- Clay Millican after qualifying 7th, then losing in round one to David Baca

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"I couldn't see. The windshield broke off the car. The visor broke off my helmet and you're kind of guessing as to where the finish line is at, and we ended up winning a tight race." -- Larry Dixon on his ride after one of the return lines to his car's fuel tank failed and sprayed fuel inside the cockpit for the last 300 feet of his first-round win over Scott Kalitta

"I said from the start that this is going to be one tough race for the world championship. Guys will be beating on each other all year." -- Tony Schumacher, after bowing out in the semis against Brandon Bernstein

"Once we got past the first round and I saw how we were running and how everyone else was running, I felt like we had a good chance to win this thing." -- Bernstein on his chances to defend his 2003 win at Phoenix