Pro Stock racer V. Gaines is racing this weekend a crew chief short of a full team. His longtime wrench Clyde West is back in Colorado recovering from a serious illness and unable to attend the event.

Gaines said he’s genuinely missing West this weekend, but he and the team have bonded together to run the car in his absence.

“Clyde is in the hospital and he’s gonna be out of commission for a little while,” Gaines said. “We’ve all banded together and we’ve tried to fill in his job as well as ours. Hopefully we won’t screw up anything he’s done.” Pro Stock racer V. Gaines is racing this weekend a crew chief short of a full team. His longtime wrench Clyde West is back in Colorado recovering from a serious illness and unable to attend the event.

Gaines said he’s genuinely missing West this weekend, but he and the team have bonded together to run the car in his absence.

“Clyde is in the hospital and he’s gonna be out of commission for a little while,” Gaines said. “We’ve all banded together and we’ve tried to fill in his job as well as ours. Hopefully we won’t screw up anything he’s done.”

This is the first time in a long time he’s raced without West.

‘It’s been so long I can’t remember when the last time was,” Gaines admitted. “We can’t replace him but we can certainly get through the weekend.”

Gaines said he’s keeping West in the loop as much as he feels appropriate.

“This is his life,” Gaines said. “We’re keeping him up to date, but he’s a sick puppy right now.”

Gaines is still celebrating his win from Phoenix earlier this season. He won the race largely on quicker starting line reactions.

“You have to win a round or two every weekend,” Gaines said. “You have to be consistent. In the past, the racers overlooked us because the lights maybe weren’t that great. Phoenix changed that. They are on to us now.”

Gaines said the car is still reacting quickly and he’s got West and the crew to thank for that.

“This car is so lightning quick, I believe Helen Keller could cut a light in it.”