David Baca did an admirable job of filling the Whit Bazemore vacancy at David Powers Motorsports [DPM] for two races and if he has his way, he’ll be back to drive the third car for them possibly in 2008.

Baca said the experience greatly differed from the days when he ran his own independent team.

"I’ve been out here doing this for quite a few years and I finally made it to the elite class,” Baca said. “Did it a little on my own, finally got a corporate sponsor for a year or two and then finally had to pull the plug on it because things didn’t work out in the 2006 season as we had hoped.”

Baca said he was at his Brentwood, Ca. home when he got the call from Powers asking if he’d be interested in filling the seat.

David Baca did an admirable job of filling the Whit Bazemore vacancy at David Powers Motorsports [DPM] for two races and if he has his way, he’ll be back to drive the third car for them possibly in 2008.

Baca said the experience greatly differed from the days when he ran his own independent team.

"I’ve been out here doing this for quite a few years and I finally made it to the elite class,” Baca said. “Did it a little on my own, finally got a corporate sponsor for a year or two and then finally had to pull the plug on it because things didn’t work out in the 2006 season as we had hoped.”

Baca said he was at his Brentwood, Ca. home when he got the call from Powers asking if he’d be interested in filling the seat.

“I’m not out here to keep my name on the list per se,” Baca said. “I’m not that kind of guy.  I’m at home doing my thing.  I can drive these things whether it’s a short car or a long car and I’m available but I’m not going to solicit, it’s just not my style.  I got the call and got to come out here and run for two races and I’m having fun. 

“What a bad hot rod,” Baca said. “I mean finally working with Lee Beard.  Lee and I go back and being part of this David Powers Motorsports racing is just awesome.”

Despite wanting that ride badly, Baca is congratulatory towards Antron Brown, recently named the driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster.

“I wish him well,” Baca said. “I hope he does well but if they ever just need a driver. Maybe I’ll be the back up or the coordinator. I’ll be the driving instructor or whatever.  I’m just having the time of my life and just being here is awesome for me.  Their even talking about a third set of pipes so maybe they’ll keep this old guy around for a while.”

Does Baca really want the demands of a 24-race schedule?

 The bottom line is that we’re in that position to get that murmuring conversation. I mean I’ve watched it for many years in other teams and this time to be right in the middle of it is different for me.  I’m sorry we’re not going to get political right here but I don’t know if I agree with the point system and how it’s structured right now.  The final four is quite a challenge and there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with. - David Baca

“It is getting tougher I’ll tell you that,” Baca said. “I love it while I’m here but a 24-race season provides some mixed emotions about it no doubt.  Being a fly-in driver would probably be different than being an owner but as far as that goes my options are available.  If someone walked into my operation I’d be ready to run 450s all year, so it is on the block to be had.  I’m pretty much over that. 

“There’s a side of me that says yes and there’s a side of me that says no.  It’s getting more grueling and now I hear that their talking about going back to 26 a year in a few years after that so we’ll see what happens with the HD Partners.  We’ll see what happens if they make this thing more lucrative to where it makes sense to get more sponsors in here.  Bottom line is if we don’t get the points up, if we don’t make this thing attractive TV isn’t going to do what we need to have done.”

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE – Baca’s been in the sport long enough to know that politics will always remain; no matter how long you stay away. Baca’s second round loss in Las Vegas to teammate Hot Rod Fuller, put Fuller into the point lead.

“I’ve been getting a lot of tongue and cheek about that with the guys but bottom line is they went low with a 4.54 and we went a 4.59.  We’ve had to hop it up and bottom line is you’ve got to be a little bit more aggressive, you know.  I was going for the world record on that run.”

But, Baca’s heard the talk and the murmurings as he passes through the pits.

“The bottom line is that we’re in that position to get that murmuring conversation,” Baca said. “I mean I’ve watched it for many years in other teams and this time to be right in the middle of it is different for me.  I’m sorry we’re not going to get political right here but I don’t know if I agree with the point system and how it’s structured right now.  The final four is quite a challenge and there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with. 

“Rod had five oildowns credits that he lost and I don’t think that’s fair.  He made 100 and some odd runs to earn those credits and those things shouldn’t apply.  He had one oildown at Pomona and he’s at zero.  I don’t think that’s right for being one of the cleanest cars all year.  Both of these cars have been clean all year.”

But would he take a dive?

“No way I wouldn’t even let that thing smoke the tires,” Baca said.