As I waited with Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army Top Fuel Team for the first run of the 2011 NHRA Mac Tools U.S. National on Friday night, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia.  For a few minutes I was transported back to my first U.S. Nationals in 2000.

It was a cool September evening, not anything yesterday’s close to 90 degrees.  There were butterflies in my stomach as I waited for the first run by the brand new U.S. Army Race Team.    It was hard to believe that in just 5 short weeks we had put together what would ultimately become the cornerstone of the Army’s event marketing program.

Watching the dragster storm down the track that evening, with the flames shooting from each cyclinder was truly awesome.  It was a great beginning to what has been a highly productive partnership.

Fast forward 11 years and there I was again.  Not as many butterflies but anxious for the team to do well.  To say it has been a long season,  is an understatement.  To be entering the most prestigious without a win is a little unsettling.  We need to improve our position in the points to have the best chance to bring home our seventh championship.

There is a degree of comfort in the fact that we have been to four consecutive finals.  Yet, that we didn’t bring home one trophy is still concerning.  This is no sport for the weak of heart.

If we win this weekend, Tony will hold the record for U.S. Nationals win among top fuel drivers.  It will also give us momentum heading into the Countdown to One.

Maybe nostalgia will strike again on Monday.