Oswald Comes Roaring Back….. It’s Been a Long time.
Despite a decade away from driving, Oswald still is championship-caliber
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After his team’s In-N-Out Burger sponsorship ceased at the end of the 1997 season, 1984 NHRA Funny Car world champion Mark Oswald thought he was done with driving, and, after 27 years in the cockpit, that was alright with him. The 55-year-old from
Oswald’s tuning abilities and low-key demeanor made him a perfect fit to work with crew chief Brian Corradi and car chief Steve Boggs on the Melanie Troxel-driven ProCare RX Dodge Charger.
Though Oswald had no desire to get back in the driver’s seat or the limelight, he posed no argument when team owner Mike Ashley called upon him to dust off his driver’s suit and get back into action shortly before the start of the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in
Ashley had been called into action at his mortgage company, Lend
“I found out on Thursday at around midnight,” said Oswald, whose team dubs him “the Ice Man.” “Naturally, I was nervous because I haven’t made any runs this year at all and made every few runs last year. As we did better and better throughout the weekend, I was fine.”
Oswald quickly showed why he is a winner of 20 national events. Despite only making six runs in testing last season and none this year, Oswald obliterated his career-best marks of 4.981 seconds and 308.64 mph with a 4.946 in the opening session and a 4.783 at 324.67 mph in the second. The veteran expertly guided the A&R Transport Dodge Charger down the quarter-mile in the final session as he laid down an outstanding 4.757 at 328.46 mph to qualify second behind his teammate Troxel.
What Oswald did was especially impressive considering that the national records when he last drove at the 1997 NHRA Finals were 4.889 seconds and 314.49 mph.
“That was a great day for the whole Gotham City Racing team,” said Oswald. “We couldn’t be happier about our teammate Melanie Troxel qualifying No. 1. Our sponsor, A&R Transport, is located right in
Eliminations went well as Oswald posted competitive .08-something lights in the first two rounds and ran a 4.82 to defeat Jack Beckman before losing to eventual winner Tony Pedregon in a close drag race when both drivers posted 4.88s. Oswald admits he had fun and would drive again this season if asked, but he doesn’t know if or when he will be driving and is not exactly chomping at the bit to do so.
“[Driving] was a necessary means to an end, but, honestly, that was a lot of fun. You never know with Mike Ashley whether I’ll be driving again or not. With him, we’re always on a need to know basis. Most of the time, he doesn’t think we need to know,” said Oswald with a chuckle.
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Oswald, the second driver to ever win in both fuel categories and one of few drivers who possess a winning record against John Force (26-24), is clear in his focus to help tune Troxel to a title.“Our goal is to make Melanie the world champion,” Oswald continued. “We’re taking steps toward that. Even when I drove this weekend, I was rooting for Melanie because we all know that we use this car to support her.
“The reason that Mike Ashley and Roger Burgess decided to field two cars is to make one better. Our owners are very motivated people, and they keep us striving to give them results. I take my hat off to Mike and Roger, because they assembled a great group of talented people who work well together. We were happy to get back to being competitive a few races ago. Now we’re trying to make a step towards the front. The new points format gives us the opportunity to make up some ground with Melanie so long as we get her into the top 10.”
