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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. From the start of the year, through mid-June, I felt like I could do no wrong. My BorgWarner Automotive teammate, Jason Lynch, and I were winning races left and right and all the problems I had last year seemed to be left far behind. I didn’t think it could ever get any better than that, but I was wrong. It has. The last eight weeks have been some of the most amazing times of my career. It all started at the Sears Craftsman Nationals in St. Louis, where I doubled for the fourth time in my career, winning in Super Comp and Stock at the same event. It was well after 3 a.m. when we finally finished the winner’s circle ceremonies, but I wasn’t the least bit tired. I felt so good I think I could have gone at least four or five more rounds. My buddies, Dan Fletcher and Brian Folk won in Super Stock and Super Gas, respectively, and we all had a great time. Of course, the nature of drag racing is that you’re up one weekend and down the next, and it didn’t take long for me to see the other side of things as the following weekend, I went to the Tenn-Tuck Bracket event at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Ky. I should have stayed home that weekend. Three races, three first round losses. I can’t remember a time when I ever did so poorly at a race, especially in Bowling Green, where I’ve won at least one event the last five times I’ve raced there. I drove poorly and drew the wrong people in eliminations. I can remember one other time when I lost in the first round for the first two days, but I came back and won on the third day. This time, no such luck. I got busted in the first round all three days. That just goes to show you what can happen when you let your guard down. The following week, we went to the Division 3 Federal-Mogul event in Martin, Mich., where I lost to Brian Folk. I shot myself in the foot pretty good there, with regards to the championship. After I got beat, I headed to Indy for a bracket race on Sunday and got to the final. I got beat, but at least it was a good, close race. That lifted my spirits quite a bit, because I was starting to get a little discouraged after what happened in Bowling Green and Martin. After the Michigan fiasco, my wife, Sue, and I decided to take a week off. We went to the lake with her family, including her grandfather, Tommy Cunningham Sr., and her dad, Tommy Jr. It was nice to get away for a while, do a little fishing, and just relax. It’s great therapy, and I’d recommend it to anyone who races a lot and gets wrapped up in the points battle. I needed the rest and relaxation because the following weekend, I was back in Michigan for the $50,000 Sportsman Challenge at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton. I drove well that weekend, but got beat early. However, Jason had a strong run and made it to the semifinals. He earned $8,000 for the semi’s, but misjudged the finish line and that cost him more than $40,000. Jason’s going to need to start making some money soon because he and his wife, Tina, are expecting their second child early next year. I decided not to make the western swing this year simply because there is too much to do at home, and too many races locally. I have always said that if I ever win the U.S. Nationals, I will go on the western swing the following year because Sonoma is one track that I’ve never won at, and I’d like to give it a shot sometime. One of my many side projects this year has been preparing to take delivery of my new Super Stock Pontiac Grand Am. The car is currently being finished at Ed Quay’s shop in Pennsylvania and I hope to have it on the racetrack before the end of the year. The car will be powered by an engine from Jeff Stealy, and it will run in GT/EA. I don’t know what I will do with my I/SA ’69 Camaro once the Super Stock car is finished, but I don’t think I will sell it. My wife would probably kill me if I tried, and to be honest, I have a lot of special feelings for that car, and probably would never get rid of it anyway. Besides, I don’t want to put that car away until I’ve won a championship with it, and I’m not sure I will be able to do that this year. Realistically, I’m probably looking at a top five finish in both Super Comp and Stock, unless I can really do some damage at the next couple of points meets I attend. Anyhow, just two months after my fourth NHRA double win in St. Louis, I got my fifth at the Northstar Nationals in Brainerd. I didn’t drive as well as I did in St. Louis, but I had all the breaks go my way, and wound up winning the 36th and 37th national events of my career. It’s still hard for me to believe it’s true. After not winning a race last year, I’ve got six national event wins this year and there is still a lot of racing left to go this year. Right now, I’m in the process of preparing both cars for the U.S. Nationals. Indy is so important to me that I’m not even going to run either of them at the Bowling Green points meet this weekend, even though it’s the closest points meet to my home. Before my career is over, I want to be able to answer the question, "How has winning the U.S. Nationals changed your life?" I’ve heard others talk about what an effect it had on them, and I want to know what it feels like, too. There are two races that I haven’t won, the U.S. Nationals and the Million Dollar race, and I’d like to someday get both of them. |
