Nine months and 22 races after the 2007 NHRA season began at Pomona Raceway, it will come to an end at the same venerable venue this weekend, with the running of the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. For Del Worsham, driver of the red Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen Impala Funny Car, it’s been a season full of both frustrations and positive strides and, although his team was not a playoff contender, his motivation level remains pegged at the red line for this final event of the campaign. Pomona is, after all, Worsham’s home track and, in his mind, this race is similar to the “Fan Appreciation Day” promotions put on by other professional sports teams during their final home game of the season. Worsham has people to thank, and he’d like to do it with a win.
A resident of Chino Hills, Worsham and his family live little more than 20 minutes from Pomona Raceway, and with the extended families of both he and his wife Connie attending in force, the Finals are always something akin to a family reunion for the popular driver. In addition to the relatives and life-long friends who flock to the event, Worsham also helps host more than 100 CSK associates and guests in his pit area each day, which only adds to the carnival-like atmosphere in the Team CSK camp.
“It’s a bit crazy sometimes, but it’s really pretty exciting and I always look forward to the Finals in Pomona, ” Worsham said. “We’d have to reserve the entire pro pit area to host everyone we know, because between my family and Connie’s we have so many relatives, friends, and neighbors it’s hard to even guess what the total number is. We don’t have that much room, though, so we do the best we can and say hi to as many people as possible. Pomona is the only time I get to see some of these people, and I think it’s great I get to do something for a living that other people like to watch. I’m lucky, and I know it.
“As far as the season goes, I’m forgetting all about the first half and just concentrating on how things have gone since July. Once we got our act straightened out, we’ve been pretty darn good since then, and I not only know we can finish strong this weekend, I’m even more excited about how strong I think we can start the ‘08 season. We’re going to go for it with everything we have this weekend, and then we’re going to get to work right away, making sure we’re still on a good solid roll heading into Pomona again, next February. “
Worsham enters the Pomona fray with a near lock on the No. 9 spot on the POWERade points list, which at the very least erases the memory of missing the Top 10 altogether in 2006. He also heads into the race with a record of 18-20, and he’d like to add to the win column in any way he can.
“20 round wins, or more, would be great, ” he said. “The 20s are nice round numbers and something we can build on for next year. Everyone knows we had a lousy season in 2006, and we were 12-20 last year, so we’re already on the rebound and I think we’re about ready to get back up into the 30-plus area next year. We won more than 30 rounds for four years in a row there, from 2002 to 2004, and then things went downhill the last couple of years, so it’s nice to see the graph turn back upward again.
“As for finishing ninth, that is good thing but it’s not where we belong. Just like the round wins, we were pretty accustomed to finishing in the top five, but last year we got slapped in the face by finishing 11th, so I’ll be happy to have a single digit next to my name. We’ll see if they make any changes to Countdown format for next year, or leave it the same, but either way we’re only thinking about being in the playoff group next season. Nothing else will do. “
One more race, one more chance to even or improve his record, and one last time to mingle with those who are closest and most important to him. Del Worsham aims to put on his own version of “Fan Appreciation Day” in a big way, at his final home game.
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