|
Welcome to DragraceResults.Com, the official website of Edmond Richardson racing. This site will feature monthly updates on the progress of two-time NHRA World Champion Edmond Richardson, Jason Lynch, championships in Super Stock, Stock, and Super Comp Eliminators, and run for big money at many of the nation's largest E.T. Bracket races. Edmond Richardson/BorgWarner Automotive Racing
Have you ever had one of those weeks when you couldn't buy a round? I have. In fact, I've had about seven or eight of them, all in a row. I started the year off in great shape to win a championship or two, but now I honestly don't think I'm going to win either of them. I haven't won a race since May, and until recently I couldn't figure out why. For weeks I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my BorgWarner/Rydin Decal Super Comp dragster wouldn't run, and then it finally hit me; my delay box went bad. To make matters worse, it would work for a run or two, and then it wouldn't work. I'd show up at a race, make my first time trial and red-light because there was no delay in the box. I'd throw a couple of hundredths in it for the next round and have a .440 and just think I was driving badly. I'd made me sick because I've never had a problem like that. It also started to wear on my confidence. I finally figured it out when I was in Columbus for the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. I had a .486 light and I knew I was better than that. As for my Stocker, I don't have much of an excuse except to say that I haven't been getting the job done. Ironically, the Division 2 team even managed to win the overall points title at the Federal-Mogul Sportsman All-stars despite my pitiful performance. I had two chances to get a win and blew them both. Thanks to the rest of my Dixie Rebel teammates, who carried us to our fourth overall championship, I was able to take home $4,444.44. At the Federal-Mogul awards banquet, I told Tony Bartone, Larry Pritchett, and Steve Cohen, who won for our team that my kids sure appreciated their efforts. It was great to be part of a winning team, I'm not used to having someone else do all the work for me. Now that I think I'm back on track, I'm not sure which is more frustrating; not being able to find the problem, or realizing just how simple it was. Looking back on the first half of the season, another problem I had was with my Stocker. My E/SA '94 Camaro simply wasn't fast enough to scare anyone. I lost three heads-up races and that was probably enough to keep me from winning the championship this year. I was determined to do something about it and now, I believe I have. I'm just about to get the car back from Amy Faulk. She's had the car in Memphis and the folks at TCI and Fel-Pro have been putting their magic touch on it. When I dropped it off, my only request was to "Make it fast" and based on the performance of some other cars from that area. When I wasn't getting my butt kicked at the race track, I have been trying to spend time with my family. I've taken the kids fishing and we've been heavily involved in the baseball season here. My older sister and her daughter also came to Tennessee to visit for the first time and we did all the tourist things like Opryland. I know I say it all the time, but it's nice to know that there's a little more to life than drag racing. Don't get me wrong. I love the sport and it has been very, very good to me, but I sure wouldn't trade anything for my family. Speaking of families, my helper and driver, Jason Lynch, left my BorgWarner Automotive team in May in order to spend more time with his wife, Tina, and their two young kids. I really hate to lose him, but as I told him, I totally understand. Anytime a man wants to do something in order to better himself, I say more power to him. Jason is a really talented driver and honestly, he should have won more races than he did. He just had a lot of bad luck. Now, it's time for me to look ahead toward the second half of the season. Right now, Todd Burks is helping me out at the race track. He's sitting in Huntsville, Ala., right now for the big Fourth of July bracket race they're having there. I plan on going down there to join him, but I have a lot to do at the shop so I probably won't go until early next week. It's a five-day race, so I will probably catch that last two or three days. That will also give me a chance to spend another weekend with the kids. My oldest daughter, Ashley, will be a senior in High School this fall and I know that college is coming up shortly after that, so I want to spend as much time with her as I can. As for my racing schedule, I'm going to go to Bristol for the Winston Showdown and then lay low and run some big E.T. races near home for a while. I usually take off on the Western Swing to Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma, but this year, I figured we could use a break. I know I sure could. My plan is to pick the tour up again in late July at the Division 3 Federal-Mogul race in Martin, Mich., and then head to Scribner, Neb., for the Division 5 race and the onto Brainerd and Indy for national events. Ben Worth is also finishing up a new dragster for me that we're planning on displaying at the PRI show later this year. It's a beautiful car and I'm pretty excited about getting it. I've also added a new sponsor lately in Mike Hedgecock from Eagle Racing Engines in Knoxville, Tenn. Mike is doing all the engines for my dragsters and I'm happy to be associated with him. That's all for this month. I hope everyone has a safe and happy July 4th weekend. Take care, Edmond |
