HAWLEY DISCUSSES RETURN
Former Funny Car champion
turned drag racing school instructor could test in
All it took was a hint
from team owner Mike Ashley in an interview to start the fires of speculation
to burning.
“It's most likely going to be Frank Hawley driving
for now,” Ashley said. “Won't that be exciting to see Frank Hawley racing John
Force again?”
Hawley, a two-time NHRA
Funny Car champion under the tuning of Austin Coil, could possibly assume the
driving chores for a second Funny Car team under the Gotham City Racing
umbrella of Ashley and Roger Burgess.
Hawley says such a proposition would be exciting, although it’s not an official deal.
Former Funny Car champion
turned drag racing school instructor could test in
All it took was a hint
from team owner Mike Ashley in an interview to start the fires of speculation
to burning.
“It's most likely going to be Frank Hawley driving
for now,” Ashley said. “Won't that be exciting to see Frank Hawley racing John
Force again?”
Hawley, a two-time NHRA
Funny Car champion under the tuning of Austin Coil, could possibly assume the
driving chores for a second Funny Car team under the Gotham City Racing
umbrella of Ashley and Roger Burgess.
Hawley says such a
proposition would be exciting, although it’s not an official deal.
“We’ve been talking about
it,” Hawley said. “Whether I drive or not will be determined by Mike and Roger
Burgess, they are the team owners. This will also be contingent on the
additional sponsorship to run the second Funny Car. Mike and Roger will
ultimately decide who will be in the car.”
Just the idea of returning
to active competition for the first time since he drove for Darrell Gwynn
following his accident in 1990.
“I think it will be a
great opportunity to do some driving again,” said Hawley. “It’s been a while
since I’ve driven but I haven’t been away from the sport. It will give me a
chance to work with the caliber of people that Mike and Roger have assembled.
That would be absolutely wonderful and they are two exceptionally bright people.
They very confident in their jobs and very dedicated to a fast and safe racing
program. What a neat opportunity should everything work out like that?”
Hawley will have to redo
his licensing procedures and confirmed that could begin as early as next
weekend in
“I’d have to go back and
make runs and get up to speed like a rookie driver,” Hawley said. “It’s been a
while but I’ve been able to make some runs in the school’s car from time to
time.
“The Funny Cars have
changed quite a bit since I drove the Chi-Town Hustler.”