Ben Bray, who suffered serious back injuries in a June accident, plans a return to drag racing next season. He is still in a partial cast while his body continues to recover from fractured ribs and three fractured vertebrae.

Bray's mobility has been limited for the last four months, although he admits his restrictions are easing up a bit.

Ben Bray, who suffered serious back injuries in a June accident, plans a return to drag racing next season. He is still in a partial cast while his body continues to recover from fractured ribs and three fractured vertebrae.

Bray's mobility has been limited for the last four months, although he admits his restrictions are easing up a bit.

"It's been a bit more painful than I expected," said Bray. "I broke my back before the accident [in a trailer accident] and I thought it would be a bit like that but it wasn't. This injury was a lot more painful."

Bray plans to return next season with a new 1979 Corvette built by Aussie chassis wizard Murray Anderson. He never kept his intentions to race again from his doctors.

"They told me if everything heals properly there wouldn't be a problem with me driving again but then followed the statement with 'why in the f*** would you want to?"

Bray said, "Simple - it's what I do. It's what I was born to do. It's in my DNA."

Bray is upfront in admitting a level of fear associated with driving again.

"It might take about five or ten runs to get me back," said Bray. "One good test day should get the nerve back."

Bray believes he should be released from doctor's care as early as November 30. He plans to inspect his Factory Extreme Nissan in an attempt to determine what when awry with the 200-mph, four-cylinder car which sent it careering through the Willowbank Raceway shutdown area.

Bray still plans to race Factory Extreme once he determines if the car can be fixed for the class. Right now the focus is on fixing himself.

"The last month and a half, I've been able to move around better," said Bray. "When I was laying in the hospital, you have stuff running through your mind. I felt like I did everything I could to prevent it. I still feel safe and know that it wasn't my driving that caused the accident -- so my mind is okay in that sense. I just have to get my body on the same page."

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