Alex Hossler has heard Frank Manzo tell the story several times and for the Pro Extreme standout, it’s the perfect example of why Manzo is not only the winningest driver in drag racing history but one heck of a crew chief as well.

It centers around one of the best runs of Manzo’s Top Alcohol Funny Car career, the 5.41 he ran last year at Maple Grove Raceway to set the TAFC record.

But, as Hossler tells it, Manzo only talks about what he could have done better on the storied run.

“He’s not bragging about how great he did, he’s almost ripping himself for where he gave up some E.T. and how he could have went 5.37 or 5.38,” Hossler said.

“I’ve never seen anyone strive for perfection quite like he does. I wish that I had more of that in me in all of the things I do in my daily life. He takes perfection to the nth degree. He is just one of those guys who is never satisfied.”

It’s a mindset that has helped Hossler take his driving abilities to new levels, even if it hasn’t always shown in the performance of the Pro Extreme team.

He won for the second time in 2012 last weekend at the Ohio Drags in Norwalk, even if he admitted not much went right for him and the Al-Anabi Racing Camaro that still has KH Al-Thani’s signature on the side windows.

You’ll certainly never hear Hossler complain about the position he’s in, which is being hired by Al-Thani to drive his car and be on a team where the legendary Manzo calls the shots.

But it also means great isn’t always good enough.

“We’ve made a lot of wholesale changes. Frank doesn’t want to go out and run 3.62 when everyone else is,” Hossler said. “He wants to run 3.52, and that’s just how much of a perfectionist he is. We’re not there yet, but when he gets it, it’s going to be brutal and I hope that I’m able to be a part of it because it’s going to be something great.”

The team has had its moments in 2012, including winning the first race of the year in Houston and going as quick as 3.66 at 206 mph in Norwalk to win there for the second straight year.

But for a car that went 3.55 in Qatar – still the quickest 1/8-mile run in doorslammer history – the performance hasn’t always been consistent in 2012.

The converter combination has proven difficult to solve at times, leading to some disappointing races and also why Hossler is only seventh in the points standings despite the two wins.

But if he ever needed a pick-me-up, Hossler can turn to Summit Motorsports Park, where he’s been in the PX finals the last three years. Things have always seemed to go his way in Norwalk, including last weekend when he had to pedal all four rounds of eliminations, running a 3.74 in the finals to beat Tim Tindle.

“I’ve always enjoyed that track. Obviously it’s a phenomenal facility and I always enjoy going there because of that,” Hossler said. “It’s one of the closer ADRL races for me, and there’s something that’s a little more comforting when you’re not quite as far from home. For whatever reason, I’ve always had success there and I wish all 10 races were there.

“No matter how bad I run, I always seem to figure out a way to have some success there. It’s great and I love that place.”

In a sometimes-trying season, Hossler also expressed great joy in getting another win for crew members Mike Giaffino and John Glade, who also work diligently on Manzo’s TAFC team.

“Those two guys are absolutely unbelievable. I’ve never seen two guys work so hard in my life. Not only are they working on the Pro Mod car, but they’re doing all the maintenance on Frank’s Funny Car,” Hossler said.

“Those guys just work their tail off. They deserve to have some success. In the Pro Mod, it’s just been a struggle. They needed something to make them feel good. To get that win for them, it made me feel really good.”

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