PHOTO : NATE VAN WAGNEN |
races . I also want to thank Jim Rowe and Marty Noir , who come to the races when they can , as well as my parents and grandparents . Pat Musi ’ s engine was great . The Musi family was always good about getting us parts like rods , rings , and valve springs quickly anytime we needed anything . Carl Rossler and crew at Rossler Transmissions were also great to us . They build a tough , reliable and quick-reacting transmission .
“ I ’ m really happy to be back at the top . When I started this journey , I was only planning on going to one race , with the goal being to make it in the field . I didn ’ t have any idea this is the path it would take . It ’ s pretty surreal .”
Ferguson also thanked class sponsor Magna- Fuel and contingency sponsors Flatout Gaskets , Hoosier Racing Tire , Jesel , Lovendahl Racing Solutions , Edelbrock EFI , VP Racing Fuels , and JRI Shocks .
This season was emotional for Ferguson in more ways than one , with roller coaster highs and lows . At the event where Ferguson took over the points lead , the Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway , his friend and mentor , Ronnie Davis suffered a horrendous on-track accident , injuring journalist and photographer Ian Tocher in the process . Davis later succumbed to his injuries . Ferguson won the event and dedicated his win to Davis and Tocher . Being able to win for them is
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something he counts as a highlight of the season .
The success Ferguson has seen in his young career is almost unheard of in Top Sportsman . He ’ s led the points for an astounding 20 out of the 25 events held by the PDRA in the past three seasons , as well as participating in 27 of 36 potential rounds of racing in the 2016 season with a 20-7 win-loss record .
“ I ’ ve got a great team ,” Ferguson said of his success . “ I sure couldn ’ t have done it without Dale and Rick . I think racing motocross when I was younger gave me a really good feel for cars and mechanics and controls . Keeping my head in the game is the hardest part . When I cut a bad light or make a bad decision on top end , I can look back and see that I wasn ’ t focused during that run .”
Ferguson says he tries to keep his racing approach nonchalant . “ I don ’ t have any rituals . I ’ m not superstitious . I think if you get yourself into too strict of a routine you create weaknesses for yourself . I don ’ t really care what lane I ’ m in . I try to alternate so I don ’ t start getting a favorite lane . Same with staging . If you have a routine and it gets disrupted it can mess you up . I think it ’ s good to not have too much of a routine . The one thing I try to do the same is my burnout . I do my burnout the same every time and I back up real quick . I like to get back to the starting line so I ’ m not rushed at all . My crew guys are
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always telling me I need to slow down ,” he joked .
Although Ferguson ran Dale Pittman ’ s 1963 Corvette with a Pat Musi 903-cubic-inch , nitrous-assisted motor in Top Sportsman this season , he also got some seat time behind the wheel of Cor Valentyn ’ s blown ‘ 63 Corvette , which Ferguson wheeled at local Quick 8 events in Ohio . He and Valentyn plan to continue running local events next season in “ The Patriot ” Corvette , but at PDRA races Ferguson will be behind the wheel of Henry Dogay ’ s show-quality 1968 Camaro in Top Sportsman competition . Ferguson was planning on refreshing his trusty Firebird for a limited campaign in 2017 , and Dogay ’ s overseas work as an oil and gas construction manager was going to limit his ability to race . After befriending Ferguson over the course of the last season , Dogay tapped Ferguson to drive the “ Cajun Nightmare ”.
“ This is an unbelievable opportunity ,” Ferguson expressed . “ I was excited about getting the Firebird back together , but it ’ s just not the caliber of car Henry ’ s Bickel Camaro is , and it still needs a lot of work . How could I possibly pass up an opportunity like this ? Henry is a really amazing person and friend . To be able to race with him this year as a team to defend my championship is an honor .” - LISA COLLIER DI
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