Creasy takes the wheel at IHRA Nitro Nationals
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - It's the day he's been waiting on for nearly a year. Dale Creasy, Jr. will take over the driving duties this weekend on his 8,000 horsepower Nitro Funny Car during the IHRA Nitro Nationals at Rocky Mountain Raceways. Creasy's Beaver Shredding / Tek Pak Nitro Funny Car is the same type of car that nearly ended the two-time IHRA World Champion's racing career last July in Edmonton Alberta. The freak accident in Edmonton left Dale with a badly mangled left leg, requiring nearly a dozen surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation.
"I've got a few butterflies," Creasy admitted about this weekend's race. "But I always do when I get in the car. You have to respect the power and speed of these machines."
Creasy's first race will be a grudge match against current defending IHRA Funny Car Champion, Terry Haddock. Creasy was leading in the 2008 points chase for a third consecutive title before the season ending injury. The two champions will clash in Salt Lake and then take their grudge match to the IHRA River Cree Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton the following weekend.
"Haddock's a great guy and I love to race him," Creasy said. "But the way things ended for us last season sets up the perfect scenario for a grudge match. I didn't get a chance to race Terry down to the wire for that championship. So maybe this is a way we can get some bragging rights."
Creasy will be doing a lot of grudge racing this summer, including match-ups with Jack Wyatt. Creasy edged out Wyatt by just five points in 2006 and again in 2007 he kept Wyatt in the number two spot in the championship hunt.
It doesn't matter to Dale Creasy who lines up next to him on the drag strip. It's a race - and he wants to win it. "This is something that less than 50 people in the world get to do," Creasy told IHRA.com. "I truly feel lucky to be a part of that group. It is a feeling that is hard to explain, but I will tell you, it doesn't get any better than this."
