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As odd as it might seem, running the full 24-event NHRA Mello Drag Racing Series will be an easier proposition for Scott Palmer, the working class hero of the Top Fuel fraternity.
Just because he wasn't running every event in years past didn't mean he wasn't fooling with nitromethane. Last year, Palmer and his tireless crew spent 34 weekends on the road either racing by land or water. In addition, Palmer's doorslammer diversion took up four spare weekends.
"It’s pretty much the same as what we are used to doing," Palmer said. "Tommy Thompson and his World Championship Top Fuel Hydro team that he owns, they are running our Top Fuel boat at the races that overlap, so we actually can just concentrate on these 24 races. So to us, at least mentally, it’s going to be a little bit easier for us because they’re handing the boat. We love nitro."
Just the idea he's able to run legitimately for a title means the world to Palmer, who is No. 10 in the NHRA Top Fuel points headed into this weekend's event in Las Vegas. He's living the dream thanks to Thompson's support and sponsorship from CatSpot Litter.
"We’ve never had the opportunity to even be able to plan ahead this far," Palmer said. "We always planned to run 10 races a year, and do our Pro Mod series. Tommy has enabled us to do that. Part of the deal is the CatSpot Litter deal. It’s a great company, and they’re meeting a lot of new customers."
What better a front man than Palmer, who wins more hearts than he does rounds. Nothing can deter the growing legions of fans who clamor for the man who still seats the clutch in pre-race warm-ups.
"We have a lot of feedback from emails and Facebook and people buying cat litter," Palmer added. "There are 50-70 million cat owners in the world, we want to reach out and get some of them. We’ll be racing out here for a few years."
Peddling cat litter is just one of the many unorthodox approaches Palmer has for the big stage of championship drag racing.
"There's really very little about us which is orthodox," Palmer admitted. "Our deal is, if it’s not fun, we’re not going to do it. We’re a unique group of guys out here. You know, it’s hard to fit in our little group. We’ve got a great group of people that race with us. Every sticker you see on this car is a friend; it’s not a sponsor."
And they band together like a platoon of soldiers, but don't take our word for it, just ask the gentleman who thought it would be a good idea to allegedly steal their golf cart.
If you want to hijack a plane, don’t hijack Connie Kalitta’s. And if you’re going to steal a golf cart, don’t steal Palmer’s. In not so many words, you'll get dealt with.
"Probably not the pit area to get by with it in," Palmer said with a smile. "You might steal it, but we might come after it and get it back. We got it back."
It's this true grit which propels Palmer and his team headed by girlfriend Ashley Fye. In years past, a round win here and there was nice for morale. However, this season the team has a legitimate of not only winning rounds but also a chance to win an event.
Palmer and his time have also gained invaluable assistance from the Lagana Brothers, Bobby, and Dom, along with Capco Racing and Steve Torrence.
"Realistically until now, we thought we might luck into winning a race, but now with the support we have this year, we can actually be prepared to win some rounds," Palmer said. "Last year we won two or three rounds, this year we’ve won a round. If you combine those, it could actually happen on one day. If all of them happen on one day, you could win a race. So, it’s the first time we’ve ever been able to even have that in our minds."
One cannot even imagine what winning a race or finishing the season in the top 10 would mean for Palmer and the CatSpot Litter team.
"It’s everything. It’s what we all do this for," Palmer said. "We do this because we love it, and you want to come out and earn it. You want to run with the big guys. We won the round at Phoenix, and it wasn’t because they smoked the tires at 50 feet and idled through. We had a race, an .83 to an .87, and that was a race. That’s all we can ask for is to be able to be competitive and make them have to outrun us.
"The thought of running, winning, or even, there’s a possibility this car could run in the .70’s pretty quick. It’s run .83 three or four times this year already. It’s really consistent. We just keep working on it. That’s not our goal, but I’m telling you when this thing runs a .79, the party’s on in our pits."
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Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
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