FOLEY’S UNCONQUERABLE GIANT
Thu, 2008-12-18 11:29
Billed as the Giant Killer, Foley Faces A 2009 Without Racing
As much as Doug Foley would love to say that he’s prepared for an all-out assault on NHRA Top Fuel, he can’t.
The up-and-coming Top Fuel driver, still reeling from the effects of broken promises (not to mention contract) from a sponsor plans to focus on his drag racing school in 2009 and put his driving career on hold.
“Everything is pretty much on hold right now,” Foley stated. “Hopefully we’ll find some marketing partners to help us to do it; we still have a few small sponsors on tap like SX Caprara and Seneca Constructions. These are companies that still believe in our program but we just don’t have the primary set up so we’re on hold for right now. We’re going to focus on the school; that’s our main thing.”
Billed as the Giant Killer, Foley Faces A 2009 Without Racing
As much as Doug Foley would love to say that he’s prepared for an all-out assault on NHRA Top Fuel, he can’t.
The up-and-coming Top Fuel driver, still reeling from the effects of broken promises (not to mention contract) from a sponsor plans to focus on his drag racing school in 2009 and put his driving career on hold.
“Everything is pretty much on hold right now,” Foley stated. “Hopefully we’ll find some marketing partners to help us to do it; we still have a few small sponsors on tap like SX Caprara and Seneca Constructions. These are companies that still believe in our program but we just don’t have the primary set up so we’re on hold for right now. We’re going to focus on the school; that’s our main thing.”
Foley retains a glimmer of hope that he’ll make a few appearances during the 2009 season, but clearly believes 2010 will be his year to come back.
He never expected to be on the sidelines in 2009 considering the bright hopes he carried headed into 2008.
After a successful stint on the IHRA tour and an impressive part-time program on the NHRA side, Foley had reached an agreement with sponsor Torco Race Fuels to run a full NHRA tour and had procured a wealth of equipment to become a contender.
Then all the Torco programs imploded leaving him holding the bag.
Foley ran a limited schedule in 2008 with modest results.
For now, Foley plans to focus on his popular drag racing school. He has learned though that entertainment dollars in this troubled world economy can be a challenge to earn.
“It definitely affects it,” Foley said. “The school side of it I am seeing the numbers down just a little bit just because the guys that would spend 1800 bucks or two grand to go get licensed, I see those numbers down a lot. Fortunately for us we’re on the entertainment side so that side of it is still hanging in there because it is a low dollar program. Everything is being cut back; there’s nothing you can do about it. Hopefully we won’t lose the corporate programs that could pull us through the year and we’ll just go from there.”
Last season Foley embarked on an A/Fuel Dragster and in the midst of a plethora of unfortunates, this endeavor has been a gleaming positive. Conway provides the car and the crew, Foley provides the teaching expertise. They couldn’t ask for a better arrangement.
Bracket racing superstar Malinda Bertozzi proved the curriculum has its merits. She ran a 5.55 elapsed time to earn her license.
“It actually did real well; me and Tom [Conway] kind of put it together at Pomona last year,” Foley said. “It was kind of cool seeing Malinda Bertozzi and some other good drivers get out there. One thing I will say about Tom is he can get a car down a dirt road; he’s one of the best.”
Even if Foley doesn’t race in 2009, the school is on.
2010, school will be on, but clearly Foley is hanging his hat on that time for a competition return.
“Probably 2010, I’m even hoping maybe we can get a deal with one of these other marketing partners that can get us out there for at least half-season,” Foley added. “But 2010 is our best bet.”
As much as Doug Foley would love to say that he’s prepared for an all-out assault on NHRA Top Fuel, he can’t.
The up-and-coming Top Fuel driver, still reeling from the effects of broken promises (not to mention contract) from a sponsor plans to focus on his drag racing school in 2009 and put his driving career on hold.
“Everything is pretty much on hold right now,” Foley stated. “Hopefully we’ll find some marketing partners to help us to do it; we still have a few small sponsors on tap like SX Caprara and Seneca Constructions. These are companies that still believe in our program but we just don’t have the primary set up so we’re on hold for right now. We’re going to focus on the school; that’s our main thing.”
Billed as the Giant Killer, Foley Faces A 2009 Without Racing
As much as Doug Foley would love to say that he’s prepared for an all-out assault on NHRA Top Fuel, he can’t.
The up-and-coming Top Fuel driver, still reeling from the effects of broken promises (not to mention contract) from a sponsor plans to focus on his drag racing school in 2009 and put his driving career on hold.
“Everything is pretty much on hold right now,” Foley stated. “Hopefully we’ll find some marketing partners to help us to do it; we still have a few small sponsors on tap like SX Caprara and Seneca Constructions. These are companies that still believe in our program but we just don’t have the primary set up so we’re on hold for right now. We’re going to focus on the school; that’s our main thing.”
Foley retains a glimmer of hope that he’ll make a few appearances during the 2009 season, but clearly believes 2010 will be his year to come back.
He never expected to be on the sidelines in 2009 considering the bright hopes he carried headed into 2008.
After a successful stint on the IHRA tour and an impressive part-time program on the NHRA side, Foley had reached an agreement with sponsor Torco Race Fuels to run a full NHRA tour and had procured a wealth of equipment to become a contender.
Then all the Torco programs imploded leaving him holding the bag.
Foley ran a limited schedule in 2008 with modest results.
For now, Foley plans to focus on his popular drag racing school. He has learned though that entertainment dollars in this troubled world economy can be a challenge to earn.
“It definitely affects it,” Foley said. “The school side of it I am seeing the numbers down just a little bit just because the guys that would spend 1800 bucks or two grand to go get licensed, I see those numbers down a lot. Fortunately for us we’re on the entertainment side so that side of it is still hanging in there because it is a low dollar program. Everything is being cut back; there’s nothing you can do about it. Hopefully we won’t lose the corporate programs that could pull us through the year and we’ll just go from there.”
Last season Foley embarked on an A/Fuel Dragster and in the midst of a plethora of unfortunates, this endeavor has been a gleaming positive. Conway provides the car and the crew, Foley provides the teaching expertise. They couldn’t ask for a better arrangement.
Bracket racing superstar Malinda Bertozzi proved the curriculum has its merits. She ran a 5.55 elapsed time to earn her license.
“It actually did real well; me and Tom [Conway] kind of put it together at Pomona last year,” Foley said. “It was kind of cool seeing Malinda Bertozzi and some other good drivers get out there. One thing I will say about Tom is he can get a car down a dirt road; he’s one of the best.”
Even if Foley doesn’t race in 2009, the school is on.
2010, school will be on, but clearly Foley is hanging his hat on that time for a competition return.
“Probably 2010, I’m even hoping maybe we can get a deal with one of these other marketing partners that can get us out there for at least half-season,” Foley added. “But 2010 is our best bet.”
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