Drive4COPD Ambassador completes NHRA 2A License cross-grade process under the expert guidance of legendary A/Fuel tuner Jerry Darien at Auto Club Famoso Raceway
McFarland, Calif. – Flemington, NJ based drag racer, and Official Drive4COPD Ambassador Joe Morrison is one step closer to his goal of racing professionally after successfully upgrading his NHRA competition license to the Top Alcohol Dragster category, this past weekend at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in McFarland, Calif. Morrison navigated the legendary quarter mile drag strip in 5.37 seconds at a speed eclipsing 269.87 miles per hour to earn his NHRA 2A competition license.
Under the watchful eyes of legendary drag racer and car owner Jerry Darien, track manager Blake Bowser and licensed NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster drivers, Casey Grisel and Paul ‘Goldie’ Gold, Morrison traveled to iconic Auto Club Famoso Raceway to begin the process of learning to drive a 3,000 horse power A/Fuel Dragster.
In a period of two days, he made five laps in Darien’s A/Fuel Dragster on a very hot race track; including a first test pass, two moderate passes and two full runs. The National Hot Rod Association license process requires a currently licensed driver to make one moderate pass, and two full runs under supervision of two licensed drivers and a track manager in order to officially earn a competition license upgrade.
Take a few minutes to watch my runs on YouTube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YiJu9iVlIs
“Honestly, I can’t believe how well we ran on a 146 degree race track and 3,800 foot corrected altitude, but then again; it’s Jerry D’s car,” noted Morrison, who has been an advocate for the Drive4COPD program for the past three years. “On my first lap I pretty much made a few common rookie mistakes, but after some great advice from both Casey and Goldie; and a stern look from Jerry D, I definitely learned from my mistakes. What’s really cool is that I earned my TAD license in Jerry D’s car, at Famoso Raceway in front of thousands of hardcore racing fans on a hot Saturday Night Nitro event. For a nostalgia racer like me – that’s pretty much as good as it gets.”
Morrison joins a very impressive list of drivers that have accelerated their NHRA professional drag racing aspirations under the guidance of Darien including three-time World Champion Gary Scelzi, Melanie Troxel, Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, Ashley, Britney and Courtney Force, along with Megan McKernan and Casey Grisel who currently drive for Darien. “I am extremely grateful to both Jerry and Debbie Darien, Howard, Casey, Jeff, Big Mike and everybody who helped me this past weekend. It was also great to get some amazing driving advice from Bill Dunlop, Dennis Taylor, Mike Salinas and several other great drivers that were on hand during Famoso’s Saturday Night Nitro event. It is also very special that one of my personal hero’s, Paul ‘Goldy’ Gold was able to sign my competition license. I’ve known ‘Goldy’ for several years, and if my dad couldn’t be with me in Bakersfield, I’m glad ‘Goldy’ was onsite.”
Morrison along with business partner, fellow driver and COPD Ambassador Tim Charlet are currently in the process of planning the remainder of their 2014 racing schedule and looking forward to a very exciting 2015 NHRA season. “We’re currently working with several outstanding marketing partners making plans for the remainder of this season and beyond,” Morrison concluded. “In my perfect world, both of us will be out on the NHRA trail full-time next year, both raising awareness for COPD to a very passionate fan-base. I’m highly optimistic about our racing future.”
For more information about the new NHRA Drive4COPD Program, or to learn how you or your company can become active members of this exciting new educational awareness motorsports marketing program, please contact Joe Morrison @ JMorrison or Tim Charlet @ TimC.
