Team CSK Readies for Phoenix on NHRA Tour
- 21 Feb 2007
Jeff Arend and Del Worsham are getting ready for the second race of the year at
the Firebird Raceway track in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jeff Arend's blue CSK Monte Carlo Funny Car
Jeff Arend is No.3 on POWERade chart
This weekend, when Arend rolls to the starting line in his Checker,
Schuck’s Kragen/ Erie Educational Services Funny Car it will be in the No. 3
spot on the POWERade chart. Arend has 72 points in the bank, coming off a
semi-final finish at Pomona.
Del Worsham's CSK Monte Carlo
Chuck and Del Worsham
“In terms of our whole program, having my team mate Del Worsham barely miss the field in Pomona was obviously a bad thing,” Arend said. “We could have put our heads down and just been depressed about it, but instead we got together and made sure we picked the whole organization up with a very good day. To make it to the semi-final at the season’s first race is a great way to start. To give Del and his guys not only a lift, but a lot of good data to work from, was also great.”
Worsham was bumped out of the quickest field in Funny Car history at the Winternationals, and was looking at the worst possible start to his season. From Pomona the teams headed over to Las Vegas and Worsham made 10 laps in three days. “Now we have to make it pay off at the Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen Nationals,” said Worsham. “There is no negativity around here at all. Once it was all over and the race was complete, we could look on the points sheet and see that we’re exactly one round of racing behind John Force, Tommy Johnson, Eric Medlen, Jack Beckman, Ashley Force and some others. It was not the end of the world, it didn’t eliminate us from contention and now we’re headed to Phoenix.”
Arend is the new blue team driver and said he is proud to put on his blue uniform shirt. “I can look in the mirror and see so many logos and I know there are real people behind those logos,” said Arend. “Those people believe in Worsham Racing and I can’t overstate how awesome that feeling is. I also can’t tell you how great it is to drive for Del, his father Chuck, and my co-crew chiefs, Marc Denner and Chris Cunningham. I’m living a dream right now.”
Worsham Racing uses K&N Engineering products on both of their CSK Monte Carlo Funny Cars. “The thick canister walls on the K&N Oil Filters have extra strength and durability,” said Team Manager Bob Wilber. “It reduces the risk of damage from debris on the race track. We never missed a minute of racing due to any filter failure. Our drivers run on the track at 330 mph, and we never have to worry with K&N.”
There is also stress and pressure with the dream to win. “This will be good, positive pressure,” Arend said. “The bad pressure is trying to get to this spot, making one or two races a year. Real pressure is to temporarily give up on the dream, like I did from 2001 to 2003 when the funding wasn’t there and I had to get a real job. Bad pressure having to qualify to get the money to pay for all the parts you’ve used. That’s serious pressure. This is an honor, and our team will be working overtime.”
Follow Team Worsham's progress throughout the racing season at the K&N news site. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
Jeff Arend's blue CSK Monte Carlo Funny Car
Jeff Arend is No.3 on POWERade chart
Del Worsham's CSK Monte Carlo
Chuck and Del Worsham
“In terms of our whole program, having my team mate Del Worsham barely miss the field in Pomona was obviously a bad thing,” Arend said. “We could have put our heads down and just been depressed about it, but instead we got together and made sure we picked the whole organization up with a very good day. To make it to the semi-final at the season’s first race is a great way to start. To give Del and his guys not only a lift, but a lot of good data to work from, was also great.”
Worsham was bumped out of the quickest field in Funny Car history at the Winternationals, and was looking at the worst possible start to his season. From Pomona the teams headed over to Las Vegas and Worsham made 10 laps in three days. “Now we have to make it pay off at the Checker, Schuck’s, Kragen Nationals,” said Worsham. “There is no negativity around here at all. Once it was all over and the race was complete, we could look on the points sheet and see that we’re exactly one round of racing behind John Force, Tommy Johnson, Eric Medlen, Jack Beckman, Ashley Force and some others. It was not the end of the world, it didn’t eliminate us from contention and now we’re headed to Phoenix.”
Arend is the new blue team driver and said he is proud to put on his blue uniform shirt. “I can look in the mirror and see so many logos and I know there are real people behind those logos,” said Arend. “Those people believe in Worsham Racing and I can’t overstate how awesome that feeling is. I also can’t tell you how great it is to drive for Del, his father Chuck, and my co-crew chiefs, Marc Denner and Chris Cunningham. I’m living a dream right now.”
Worsham Racing uses K&N Engineering products on both of their CSK Monte Carlo Funny Cars. “The thick canister walls on the K&N Oil Filters have extra strength and durability,” said Team Manager Bob Wilber. “It reduces the risk of damage from debris on the race track. We never missed a minute of racing due to any filter failure. Our drivers run on the track at 330 mph, and we never have to worry with K&N.”
There is also stress and pressure with the dream to win. “This will be good, positive pressure,” Arend said. “The bad pressure is trying to get to this spot, making one or two races a year. Real pressure is to temporarily give up on the dream, like I did from 2001 to 2003 when the funding wasn’t there and I had to get a real job. Bad pressure having to qualify to get the money to pay for all the parts you’ve used. That’s serious pressure. This is an honor, and our team will be working overtime.”
Follow Team Worsham's progress throughout the racing season at the K&N news site. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
