Gray focuses on next task of the 2012 NHRA season, not looking back on his way to next race in Phoenix

February 15

Johnny Gray doesn't look in the rearview mirror of his 8,000-horsepower Funny Car because there isn't one. But rearview mirror or not, Gray doesn't look back. Once something is done, it's always on to the next task.

That next task is having a successful outing at the NHRA Arizona Nationals with his Big O Tires/Service Central Racing Dodge Charger R/T at Firebird International Raceway.

"You know that wasn't the race we thought we were going to have at Pomona," said Gray, who lost in the first round at last weekend's NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. "But that's okay, because that's over and done and now we go to Phoenix. I don't dwell on something I can't control, especially. We had a parts failure. That's something Rob (Wendland, crew chief) can't control either.

"As soon as race one was over, Rob already had his plans for the next time and said they would do better looking for the little things that can make a racecar do the opposite of what you planned on doing.

"We had such a strong car towards the end of last season and that strength is still there, we just have to have all of our parts and pieces working to show that."

Gray qualified third and was the runner-up in the 2011 event at Firebird near Phoenix in October to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman. 

"We just really want to be consistent this year," said Gray. "It feels like we were just at Phoenix, which is fine because we had a really good car in Phoenix.

"I know that when my guys unload that car this week, it'll be good there once again. Hopefully we do one better this time though."

The NHRA Winternationals event is in the rearview mirror and Gray is looking forward, focused on the Arizona Nationals and getting his Big O Tires/Service Central Funny Car back to the final round.

FUNNY CAR STANDINGS (After one of 23 events): 

1.  John Force, 114

2.  Mike Neff, 95

3.  Ron Capps, 73

     Gary Densham, 73

5.  Jack Beckman, 62

6.  Courtney Force, 52

7.  Todd Lesenko, 51

     Tim Wilkerson, 51

9.  Robert Hight, 41

10.  Bob Tasca III, 39

11. Johnny Gray, 34

12. Matt Hagan, 32

THIS WEEK

NHRA Arizona Nationals, Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz.

Friday: Pro qualifying, 1:30 and 4 p.m.

Saturday: Pro qualifying, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Sunday: Pro eliminations, 11 a.m.

About Service Central

Service Central® is the automotive service offered exclusively at Tire Kingdom®, NTB-National Tire and Battery®, Merchant's Tire and Auto®, and Big O Tires®. Available at more than 1,300 locations, the certified ASE technicians use state-of-the art equipment to provide quality service.

About Don Schumacher Racing

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: in Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM/Prestone dragster of Spencer Massey and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown; and in Funny Car, 2011 NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan in the Aaron's Dream Machine/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T, Valvoline NextGen Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Service Central Dodge of Johnny Gray. DSR has won 174 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.