He was the kid seeking autographs. The son of the owner of a Ford dealership, who would hire race teams to put their cars on display
in the days leading up to the IHRA events.

He was the kid who dreamed that would day he would be just like Rickie Smith, Ronnie Sox, Roy Hill and  “General” Lee Edwards.

Robert Patrick never wavered in his belief that a day would come when he would be an IHRA Spring Nationals champion just like them.

Over the years the 38-year old, former IHRA Pro Stock world champion from Fredericksburg, Va., has never let go of the dreams of his youth. This weekend as the IHRA drag racing tour heads to the racing hamlet of Rockingham, N.C., for the 38th annual IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts/Castrol GTX, Patrick's youthful desire still burns strong.

“I love coming down and racing with Steve Earwood at Rockingham Dragway,” Patrick said. “I honestly believe the fans are in store for one of the greatest IHRA Pro Stock events they’ve ever witnessed. I hope we can win it all. It’s not going to be easy. Winning this race never is.” He was the kid seeking autographs. The son of the owner of a Ford dealership, who would hire race teams to put their cars on display in the days leading up to the IHRA events.

He was the kid who dreamed that would day he would be just like Rickie Smith, Ronnie Sox, Roy Hill and  “General” Lee Edwards.

Robert Patrick never wavered in his belief that a day would come when he would be an IHRA Spring Nationals champion just like them.

Over the years the 38-year old, former IHRA Pro Stock world champion from Fredericksburg, Va., has never let go of the dreams of his youth. This weekend as the IHRA drag racing tour heads to the racing hamlet of Rockingham, N.C., for the 38th annual IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts/Castrol GTX, Patrick's youthful desire still burns strong.

“I love coming down and racing with Steve Earwood at Rockingham Dragway,” Patrick said. “I honestly believe the fans are in store for one of the greatest IHRA Pro Stock events they’ve ever witnessed. I hope we can win it all. It’s not going to be easy. Winning this race never is.”

The IHRA Spring Nationals remains a marquee event on the schedule for many of the mountain motor Pro Stock=2 0racers; With a list of event winners that includes the likes of Warren Johnson (1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989), Lee Shepherd (1982, 1984) and Bob Glidden, this is one race  every driver wants to add to his resume as being a winner.

Patrick, who drives the Purvis Ford Shelby Cobra, knows a thing or two about winning an IHRA Spring Nationals title. As a sophomore Pro Stock racer he drove his way to the 1994 crown. Granted, the race was held for many seasons on the revered grounds of Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., the relocation to the equally hallowed IHRA grounds of Rockingham Dragway has ensured the event has not missed a beat.

“You look at what track defines mountain motor Pro Stock and while Maryland International Raceway is my home track, you can’t mention Rockingham Dragway without visions of Rickie Smith running the first seven second run or Ronnie Sox bringing the crowd to their feet,” Patrick explained. “I love racing here and my car does to. I may not be a full time racer on the IHRA tour but there are events I refuse to miss and this is one of them. I think when the mountain motor cars fire down the drag strip the fans will understand what I am talking about.

“Thirty years ago mountain motor Pro Stocks were running here at Rockingham Dragway and the class would bring the fans to their feet. Some things will never change.”