On the Run with Jim Dunn owner and crew chief of the Got CMKX? Lucas Oil Funny Car

National Dragster, Mar 11, 2005 by Dunn, Jim

Anew sponsor, fresh colors, bold graphics, and renewed enthusiasm are aE part of my game plan for the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season. Having celebrated my 50th year in the sport during the 2000 campaign, I can tell you that I'm as excited as ever about the upcoming tour. Some teams might prefer a longer off-season, but I always get the itch to crank things up, and that's exactly what we've done here.

Some of you might be concerned after our less-than-glamorous start, but there's no need to worry. All's well in the tune-up department following my post-Winternationals teardown. I found a minor glitch that was the source of my frustration during Pomona's shortened qualifying sessions.

As far as equipment goes, our war chest is full once again. The winter break allowed us to restock enough parts and pallets of Lucas oil products to begin the tour strong. We've got three new Monte Carlo bodies, three new Plueger chassis, and 11 new forged blocks ready to go. I've always had a good handle on maintaining equipment in a sensible way because I give our car the best parts money can buy. If you've ever watched me in action, you know that building my own engines has always been the most fun part of my job. It has become second nature, and I find a certain inner peace building engines while the rest of the crew handles other chores.

I believe in racing hard and staying focused on that alone; however, I've had to broaden my outlook and turn my attention toward other areas to continue running a high-profile team. I'm really glad we added a hospitality center this year. It has seating for 80 people and a full range of amenities where our sponsors can entertain associates and guests. The sponsor VIP area is outfitted with leather couches, a private office, five televisions, and even a full kitchen, and it's already proven to be a valuable asset. A lot of fans were quick to remark about how much the hospitality center increased our team's visibility and professionalism. I'm pleased we've added it to our program and even more pleased with our relationship with CMKX, Lucas oil, Superwinch, Craftsman, and Gates Belts & Hose.

Speaking of sponsors, I'd like to thank K&N for its support over the last three years. We continue to have a solid relationship with the friends we made at K&N and wish them success in their future marketing programs.

Our partnership with Craftsman over the last couple of years has proven to give our sponsors lots of new exposure. Each of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events includes our display car, shown prominently by Craftsman Tools representatives. It's also on display at several Sears grand openings across the country. We know that lots of racing fans have enjoyed seeing our presence there, and we hope we've introduced some new fans to NHRA POWERade Drag Racing in the process.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the Winternationals was seeing our friends. It's always good to spend some time with NHRA President Tom Compton, Senior Vice President-Racing Operations Graham Light, and NHRA's entire marketing team. Even though we all live in Southern California, it's not like we can find time to have lunch on a regular basis. That just goes to show you that drag racing is as much about people as it is about competition. Don't think that I've lost my competitive nature, though.

Looking at 2005, our Got CMKX? Lucas oil team is ready for the chase. Tony Bartone and I will visit local children's hospitals near every NHRA event, along with Jeff Arend, Connie Cohen, and representatives from CMKX. To support that, we've launched the ABCs of Drag Racing program and kid's T-shirt (ABC stands for Arend, Bartone, and Cohen). We think that will help us bring some smiles to the kids we meet across the country. :

As I'm working on this column, the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol is the focus of our team. I see that as an important race one where I can verify our direction, back up what I learned in Pomona, and get our Monte Carlo thundering. After that, Gainesville will be a pivotal event. It's one of those breakout races that can boost your momentum and charge up the whole team. Because Gainesville is one of the oldest races on the tour, running well there brings a higher level of prestige. One of my favorite sayings is, "It's not how you start but how you finish." I'm putting plenty of legs under Tony, and we know this dog can hunt. We're in it for the long haul.