| OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT - NASCAR DRIVERS DRIVING PRO STOCK | ||||
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Two NASCAR drivers find out just how complex racing a straight line can be … 
Bobby Bennett Photos
Ever wonder what might happen if you took two of NASCAR’s driving stars and put them behind the drag racing equivalent to a 
Scott Woodruff, director of public relations for Jegs Mail Order, was
approached by Anna Fleming, a producer on SPEED TV, acting on an idea
presented by J.B. Langley.
Scott Woodruff, director of public relations for Jegs Mail Order, was approached by Anna Fleming, a producer on SPEED TV, acting on an idea presented by J.B. Langley. Woodruff loved the idea and set forward on his end to bring the idea to fruition. “We were just thinking outside of the box,” Fleming explained. “We thought it would be fun to put a NASCAR guy with a Pro Stock guy and let them provide lessons on how to drive a Pro Stocker.” The idea was to take obviously talented race car drivers capable of driving in excess of 200-miles per hour and place them in circumstances completely out of their element. In stick and ball aspects, this would be akin to a leading football quarterback standing on the pitcher’s mound to throw a round of batting practice. “When Anna came to me with the idea, I got excited over the potential,” Woodruff recalled. “I went to Victor Cagnazzi and he loved the idea too.”
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Kenny Wallace was very attentive, asking good questions of Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.
The first order of importance for Woodruff was to find the right drivers. The first call Woodruff made was to Kevin Harvick who regretfully had a truck race scheduled for that same evening. Then Woodruff turned his attention to Joey Logano. That idea was quickly squelched because his Toyota contract would not allow him to drive a Chevrolet. Woodruff made numerous calls to a list of high profile and eager drivers who couldn’t commit immediately. Woodruff then called on his working relationship with Richard Childress Racing. This led to Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet, being the first driver selected. Former NASCAR champion 
Dave Connolly looks on as his student Clint Bowyer slides into the cockpit.
However, as time drew closer to the event, Stewart was forced to withdraw due to commitments related to the formation of his new team. Woodruff looked to Wallace who was all too happy to oblige. The plan was for the oval track drivers to meet up with their straight-line instructors moments after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at zMAX Dragway at Concord USA was completed. The cars would not be watered down, detuned or whatever term you choose. The Pro Stockers would be exactly the same caliber as those piloted by Caganzzi’s drivers in competition. The plan was to begin with simple burnout procedures since the track was still green from a lack of rubber applied.
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Bowyer was joined by team owner Richard Childress for the day.
Both NASCAR drivers brought to the occasion a measure of drag racing experience. Bowyer shares the same hometown as former NHRA Lucas Oil Series champion Gary Stinnett in Emporia, KS. In fact, their paths crossed on more than one occasion as Stinnett formerly built the engines for Bowyer when he raced dirt track. Bowyer even boasts friendships with nitro Funny Car racer Ron Capps and his teammate Gary Scelzi. Wallace’s association with the Coughlin family has brought him to the strip on more than one occasion. 
Wallace prepares mentally for his first attempt at a Pro Stock burnout.
Both drivers quickly learned there’s a huge different between the burnouts they do after taking a checkered and those when they are strapped into a 1000-plus horsepower Pro Stocker. The different in horsepower was immediately noticeable as Wallace emerged from the Coughlin Pro Stocker with the comment, “My head is still spinning.” Wallace only burned out from the waterbox to about a foot shy of the starting line before lifting. Bowyer went just a little further. The experience was enough for Bowyer to convey to Wallace openly, “We have stock cars, these guys have hot rods.” Bowyer was preaching to the choir when it came to Wallace.
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“I told Clint Bowyer that we and the rest of NASCAR doesn’t know what horsepower is,” Wallace admitted. “I’ve watched Pro Stocks go from the seven second to the six second brackets up to the 200 mph mark. These things are awfully violent for 
Wouldn't this be a vision in real life?
Bowyer confided his first objective was not so much to do the best burnout as it was not to screw up. “You’re just so far out of your element, that’s the biggest thing,” Bowyer explained. “The comfort level is not there. You have no idea what’s in store. You have to hold on to the gear shifter or it will pop out of gear the whole time you’re in the car. We’re used to getting our hands up on the wheel and wheeling the car. Even when all I was doing was a burnout all I wanted to do was to put my hands on the wheel and I couldn’t. “It’s really an incredible feeling when the car’s really starting to bite and the horsepower is really starting to lay into it. When it starts to really take a bite the car squats and she really wants to go. You know you’re talking double the horsepower that you’re used to and triple the traction. It’s a pretty good hot rod.” Wallace was in the Chevy Cobalt that Coughlin won the 2007 title with while Bowyer’s ride, cloaked in Jack Daniels livery, was the Cagnazzi Cobalt drove by Tom Lee in limited appearances last season. Since there is no comparison to the nitro cars and any other motorsports venue, drag racing’s only other comparison is Pro Stock to the Nextel Sprint Cup cars. “I think that’s a very fair assessment,” Bowyer said. “That’s what attracts me to Pro Stock. It’s all about good people. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist and it didn’t take me long to figure out why these two cars are at where they are at. It’s the guys behind them; all of these guys are racers. It’s evident they have what they need to go out there and be successful and win championships. That success has shown.”
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The look on Kenny Wallace's face says it all after his first launch in a Pro Stocker.
There wasn’t a chance. If the NASCAR thing doesn’t work out, judging his performance on the launch, Bowyer could have a career as a Pro Stock driver. He left the starting line with the wheels up and lifted about a second into the run. “It’s unbelievable to feel that horsepower behind you,” Bowyer said. “Just to be able to be a fan of this sport and to see what they have to go through every week. It’s no different from us. If Dave was to get into my car he’d probably be nervous because he doesn’t know what’s in store for him. So there isn’t a whole lot going on but you’re going. It’s just incredible. I’m a big fan of the sport. It’s cool not only to get in a Pro Stock car, but to do so in two of the best cars in the sport right now.” Woodruff left the day feeling that AJ’s idea had been a good one and that he and Fleming had pulled off something great, if only to provide a new stage for drag racing. “I knew this experience would give at least two drivers a new found respect for drag racing,” said Woodruff, who pointed out many of the NASCAR drivers are avid drag racing fans. 
Bowyer prefaced out interview by quickly saying he's not going drag racing. If he does, based on his performances this day, he's made a good Pro Stock driver.
“Hopefully the payback will be putting Connolly and Jeggie in a pair of Cup cars,” Woodruff added. “Then they will get a chance to sit on the other side of the fence like these guys got to.” Is Woodruff afraid of losing his drivers? “I know at least one of them isn’t going anywhere,” Woodruff answered. Wallace has no plans to go straight line racing but admitted the experience afforded him the opportunity to add one more accomplishment to his list of things to accomplish in life. “It was all good, it was a big day for me because I don’t care what you do, I don’t care if you play football, baseball whatever you do, when you’re out of your element you want to try and succeed,” Wallace said. “Today was a nerve racking day but it was something that I wanted to reach. So let’s see I’ve raced indoor midgets at the Hoosier Dome, I’ve raced trucks, Busch cars, Cup cars, dirt cars, now I did a burnout in a Pro Stock. My resume is getting fuller.” And so is his respect for drag racing and the level of complexity thereof.
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