This weekend, the POWERade Drag Racing Series heads to Baytown, TX for the fourth event of the 2007 season, the O’Reilly Spring Nationals. Under normal circumstances, one of the primary discussions heading into the race would concern performance, with competitors making sure their race cars would be ready to extract every ounce of performance each time down the quarter-mile.
However, in the wake of Eric Medlen’s untimely death following a testing accident in Florida, talk has deservedly concentrated on fond remembrances of the talented young racer’s life. While naturally echoing the sense of loss and sadness expressed by all, GM Performance Parts GTO pilot Warren Johnson wants to make sure that the necessary lessons are learned from this tragic event.
“Wally Parks founded the NHRA over 50 years ago to provide competitors a safe place to race, ” said Johnson. “That premise remains in effect today. Drag racing is certainly a sport, but it is also how we make our living, so I am adamant about minimizing the risks involved. We have sadly lost one of our brightest young stars and as much as we all would like, we can’t change that. What’s important now is how we move forward. ”
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