THESE ARE SHOTS FROM THE

2003 NHRA
CARQUEST
AUTO PARTS
NATIONALS
HELD AT PACIFIC RACEWAYS

HERE IS A LITTLE STORY THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA ABOUT MY FEELINGS REGARDING  THE PEOPLE SHOTS BELOW. A FRIEND AND FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHER OF MINE NOTICED ME TAKING A PHOTO OF THE LEGENDARY GRUMPY JENKINS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE DOESN'T TAKE PICTURES OF PEOPLE, AND THAT "IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE CARS, NOT THE PEOPLE". NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. IT IS THE PEOPLE AND THE PERSONALITIES THAT MAKE THE SPORT OF DRAG RACING. NOW BEFORE YOU START THINKING THAT I AM FULL OF B.S., HEAR ME OUT. SAY SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO JOHN FORCE (GOD FORBID), THEY COULD PUT ANOTHER ABLE BODIED DRIVER IN THE SEAT OF THE CASTROL F/C AND WITH THE TUNING TALENTS OF AUSTIN COIL, THE NEW DRIVER COULD GO ON TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. MY POINT IS THAT YOU CAN REPLACE JOHN WITH A NEW DRIVER, BUT ONCE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE CASTROL F/C, THAT PERSON NO MATTER HOW SUCCESSFUL, COULD NEVER REPLACE JOHN FORCE THE PERSON. LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM, IT IS HIS PERSONALITY AND HIS HISTORY THAT MAKE HIM WHO HE IS.

EVERY YEAR WE LOOSE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT DRAG RACING HAS BECOME. IT IS THE PICTURES THAT REMIND US OF THOSE PEOPLE AND HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. THAT IS WHY THE PEOPLE SHOTS ARE MY ABSOLUTE PERSONAL FAVORITES. BE SURE AND CHECK OUT MY "PEOPLE SHOTS" PAGE IN MY PHOTO GALLERIES AND THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY RAMBLINGS.

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