The first day of qualifying at the NHRA Auto Club Finals was indicative of the season he’s experienced. When Worsham’s car failed to fire for the first qualifying session and nearly failed in the second, it seemed like a continuation of the fate he experienced last year when a parachute failure sent him careening into the shutdown area.

“It’s been a crazy season,” Worsham said. “You know when I look back on the season at all the runs and all the races, from June on we had a pretty good running car.  We didn’t win any of the races but we made some nice runs and got dropped from those races.  We get to the Pomona and it’s a home race and all the problems are back.” 

This kind of fate is what had Worsham puzzled, because he’s had usually good fortunes at Pomona. At least the plusses have outnumbered the minuses.

I feel bad because that car [Blue team] has come a long way in the ten years that we’ve been running it. It’s had some success and failures just like myself but it really feels like they’re starting to put it together right now.  It’s unfortunate but you know I understand with them having to pull back now and across the country.  It’s kind of a cutback to the whole program.  Luckily they only cut one car I’m sure they’re not going to cut myself.  If I could put something together for those guys you know I would.  I’m looking around and if anyone ever wants to sponsor a great funny car then we have one.

“I’ve won this track twice,” Worsham said. “I’ve got 2nd place a lot of times.  I’ve crashed here horribly.  Not qualified many times and lost in a holeshot to John Force in the final round when I was 23 years old.  I’ve pretty much done everything to do here but it’s a great place to race, a lot of family, a lot of friends, sponsors and a lot of pressure.  I’m glad we start and end here.”

When Worsham’s car started for the third session and he gained a place in the field, he felt a lot like he did in Sonoma when he reached the final round after six first round losses and a quarter-final finish.

“It was a monster relief to get in the field, but even then it wasn’t a clean run,” Worsham said. “We broke the main stud on the engine and that caused all kinds of fun but at least we got in the show.  I still felt better because I had all of my sponsors there clapping and cheering me on, even when things were tough.” 

Worsham will be downsizing to one car next year and this is painful for him considering the contribution the blue car made to the two car team. Driver Jeff Arend qualified on the pole in Pomona.

“I feel bad because that car has come a long way in the ten years that we’ve been running it,” Worsham said. “It’s had some success and failures just like myself but it really feels like they’re starting to put it together right now.  It’s unfortunate but you know I understand with them having to pull back now and across the country.  It’s kind of a cutback to the whole program.  Luckily they only cut one car I’m sure they’re not going to cut myself.  If I could put something together for those guys you know I would.  I’m looking around and if anyone ever wants to sponsor a great funny car then we have one.”

The 2007 season was the option year for the Checker, Schuck’s & Kragen sponsorship and up until late in the year, Worsham wasn’t sure what path they were going to take. He wanted to remain with CSK but that didn’t stop him for preparing for a worst-case scenario.

“I was looking at all kinds of things,” said Worsham. “I spoke to other sponsors and I spoke to other owners about possibly driving for them if I had to.  I have a family, a wife, kids, building, a house and stuff that I have to pay for so I weighed all of my options and I definitely considered driving another car if I had to for somebody.”