Dirt
It really does. I finally get to prove myself to
people, you know? They actually know who I
am now because they always think I’m Lizzy. But
I’m not. I’m Tricia. I’m the other one.
But it’s hard for me sometimes, hard to swal-
low my emotions. When I’m in the car and I’m
going up there and I’m getting ready to make a
pass I’m praying all the time. Praying that I can
do exactly what I need to do, that the car goes
straight, that everything works like it’s supposed
to, you know?
Lizzy’s way up there. My dad’s way up there.
And I know I can be up there with them. So ev-
ery time I run, I push to go further and further
and further.
Did Michael help you to get back into racing?
Oh yeah, he really helped a lot. He was very
encouraging and he’s got so many different cars,
so many options. I mean, you can go from small-
tire racing to big-tire racing to no-prep racing to
Pro Mod, street racing, whatever you wanna’ do,
he’s got a car for it, you know? It’s pretty amaz-
ing, really.
Did you know ahead of its arrival, that he
had purchased the Popeye Fire-
bird for you?
I did. He couldn’t hold the news
back. But when it actually got to the
shop and I saw it there, I just started
crying. Then we got the Popeye doll
that’s in there now and attached it to
the cage. I knew my mom and dad
would like that. Maybe I’ll get Lizzy
to come out and we can put another
penny in there together, too.
I’m hoping they all can make
it out to one of my races this year.
But I know my dad’s real busy with
the NHRA, PDRA, and other stuff
like that, so it’s hard for him to get
away, you know?
It’s obvious you’re happy to be
back in a race car, but are you satisfied with
where your career is right now?
You know what? I love NMCA. They’re awe-
some. They treat us well. They treat us like family.
And I love the class that we’re in, although I would
like to have a little bit bigger of a field. Sometimes
you don’t really feel like you earned it when you
go through bye runs and people break and things
like that. It’s a lot better to race somebody in every
round and really earn it.
But it’s still pretty awesome just to run in
NMCA because that’s what I grew up with, you
know? I never really pictured that I’d really be
able to be here, running NMCA. I always wanted
to, but I never knew it would come true. It’s just...
really overwhelming, in a way.
Do you want to someday join Lizzy and your
dad in PDRA competition?
We are hoping to go PDRA racing a little this
year. After we get the 632 in the car we hope to
run a couple of their Outlaw 632 races. If some
of the races were a little closer that would be nice,
because a lot of them are like a 17-hour drive from
us in Mississippi.
Michael also has a brand-new Dart Pro Mod
that’s fresh out of (Jerry) Bickel’s shop, so if we
had time to go testing, Pro Nitrous would be
what we’re shooting for. But I don’t really know
what’s gonna’ happen.
Obviously, you want to win every race and
win the NMCA championship, but at the end
of this year, what will make it all worthwhile
regardless of what happens?
Really, I’m going out there to show everybody
what I’m made of. You know I want people to see
who Tricia Musi is. They know Pat Musi, they
know Lizzy, but now I feel like it’s my turn. You
know, I’m going for the big time.
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
22 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 146
TRICIA MUSI