PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT WITTY , DAVID HILNER |
did last year , so I was coming there this year with a much different outlook . Last year , we were just looking to qualify and make a good showing . This year , I was coming there to win . I knew we had a good car from our showing at the Snowbirds in December . I definitely came into it with more pressure and expectations .
You qualified sixth rather than 32nd . How big of an accomplishment was that in itself ?
That was great , to say that we were sixth out of 65 cars , basically 65 of the fastest Pro Mods in the world . It was a pretty good feeling to know we were right up there with the best . We were swinging for it Saturday night . We were trying to go . 59 or . 60 , just didn ’ t quite make it . But that ’ s OK . We were happy with our position in sixth . After that , it doesn ’ t matter much with the chip draw , but knowing that you ’ re in the quickest 10 % of the cars is definitely an advantage going into race day .
You get past first round over Scott Lang . In a big race like this , how important is that first round win ?
Personally , I think first round is the toughest round of any race . As a driver , you feel like you ’ ve let your team down if you go red or you have a bad light first round and you go home as a first-round loser . Getting that win over Scott Lang was huge . Made a good , clean run . I think
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we were one of the quicker cars of the round , so we were pretty happy with that .
I just got a bad draw round two in Jim Halsey . We just came out on the wrong side of a good drag race .
Later in the day , you started a new tradition , handing that trophy to Derek in the winner ’ s circle . How special was that for you ?
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That was really cool . I ’ m a big golf fan so I watch the Masters and I watch the previous year ’ s winner put the green jacket on the new winner every year . After Derek won , it kind of hit me . I mentioned it to Wes and he was all for it .
Derek is a little bit like myself : self-funded team , single-car team , kind of a “ racing comes second after work ” situation . I think it ’ s pretty cool to see a guy like that win such a big , prestigious race . Not that everybody doesn ’ t like seeing the Jim Halseys win , but I think it ’ s just exciting to see a smaller team come out on top . It just proves that if you have the right equipment and the right people , you don ’ t have to be a part of the biggest team or a full-time team to win .
You ’ ve had a full year as a WSOPM champion . That came with new attention , new opportunities , and new respect . What advice would you offer to Derek as he takes on that role ?
Just take it all in . It ’ s a great feeling to carry that win around with you all year . People definitely look at you differently . People offer new opportunities . I was fortunate enough to land some sponsorship deals out of it with guys like Red Line Oil and NGK Spark Plugs and a few others . Just run with it . Next year , if you don ’ t win , someone else is going to have the attention like Derek does this year . Just enjoy it and take it all in . DI
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May / June 2024 |
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