Funny Car driver Del Worsham looked relaxed when I approached him at the Checker, Shuck's, Kragen (CSK) trailer complex he shares with teammate Frank Pedregon. Del was sitting on a table, propped against his trailer talking about racing. He remained calm, yet so ready to scramble down a drag strip at two hundred ninety miles per hour or more, and Del was equally relaxed when we sat at a CSK table under a canopy and answered my questions. Pull up a chair, prop up your feet, and see what this skilled NHRA Funny Car driver has to say about himself.

©Larsen

DOB: 2/11/70
Birth Town: Whittier, Ca
Home Town: Chino Hills, Ca

What personal quality (one trait) would you want to be admired for the most?

"I work on the car, and I drive it."

What's most important?
1.Fame 2.Money
3.Thrill/fun 4.Winning
5.Other

"Thrill, fun and winning. They go hand in hand. Winning is a huge part of it."

Do you have a nickname?

"No."

Who are your Heroes?

"John Force and Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme."

Are you happy?

"Absolutely. Extremely. I couldn't be happier."

What could make you happier?

" Winning the next race."

When driving a car, do you always wear a seatbelt?
1. Yes. 2. No. 3. Sometimes?

"Yes."

Is racing your full-time occupation?

"Yes."

Do you have time for a hobby?

"No."

What vehicle do you drive on the street?

"I drive a Chevy pick-up."

Do you work out?

"No. I should."

Name one other sport, you feel you could master?

"Badminton. I played four years in school and lettered in it."

If you could make one part of your body stronger, what part would that be?

"Stronger mind."

Do you have pets?

"Last night my wife called and we now have a dog…a 'Yorkie'."

Do you have a special diet?

"No."

What quality do you admire most in other people?

"Loyalty and determination. That's what I have right here on my team."

When frustrated. What do you do first?
1.Erupt. 2.Withdraw 3. Try to be cool.

"I erupt…a little bit to myself in a small way."

What mental routine prepares you for each run?

"It depends on whether I'm qualifying or racing…in drag racing those are two different mindsets. When I'm staging I make sure I do a good job, and stay straight. Racing is all starting line at the tree. I have the worst reaction time in qualifying, the second best in racing."

©Drum

What are (or have been) your scariest moments?

"Fire! Englishtown, 1994. I had a major fire, and wasn't sure I was going to come out of that one."

What do you do to unwind?

"Watch TV."

If you could change one thing about drag racing, what would you change?

"Everybody in drag racing should have a sponsor. It's there, it just needs to be worked out properly."

When asleep do you ever dream you are racing?

"Yes." (Del followed that answer with a big smile.)

Where do you find the most peace in your life?

"At home."

You're a skilled racer… On public highways, what's different about you and other drivers?

"Nothing different. I'm not an offensive driver, and I obey the laws."

What do you worry about the most?

"Sponsors."

Can you describe the G-forces at the tree. The launch?

©Drum

"No. I went from a hundred mph on the street right into a Funny Car. I've never raced anything else but a Funny Car. You have no control the first one hundred feet…it's going to go there."

What does your fastest speed feel like?

"Smooth. The high pitch of the engine is the only way I can tell."

Most people learn something from mistakes. What mistake caused you to learn the most?

"When I first started racing, I had a great running car, and we did very well in my first year of racing, but the success… we weren't really ready for…and sponsorships, we weren't ready for. I hid from the public because I didn't want to do interviews. We hadn't prepared ourselves our team or the driver to deal with it, and we didn't pick up our big sponsorship. Finally six years later when the opportunity came again, I had a great running car the second time around, and I hired the right people. We could do the interviews right. We knew how to push parts. We knew how to sell products. I learned the second time around, and I wasn't going to let it go."

Who means the most to you?

"My wife Connie."

If you could acquire three traits from three people, what traits would you take from whom?

"From Don Prudhomme 'The Snake', I'd take concentration….from John Force, his ability to talk to people…from Don Schumacher I take his ability to find money."

How did you get started in drag racing?

"My father and family."

In a few words, how would you sum up…yourself?

"Dedicated, hard worker, and an unbelievable desire to win."

"The fans are the biggest part of racing, and I hope they appreciate being in the stands, being able to come into the pits and talk to us and watch us prepare to race. That's what separates Drag Racing from every other sport. I hope they enjoy it as much as we do."

©Drum

Del Worsham may appear calm as he gets ready to rip down the strip at incredible Funny Car speeds, but inside Del is a focus on preparation and attention to details. Perhaps this is why he enjoys working on the car he drives. Perhaps his approach to racing is like his approach to answering my questions…swift and concise. At this ending point in the interview, we like to chose one final word to describe the driver's personality. Gary Larsen and I discussed this choice as we do for every interview with a professional. We agreed again…Del Worsham works hard at being…