Engel knows the simplest things can mean the most

SHANDON, Ohio (May 24) -- Pro Mod racer Steve Engel knows exactly what turned his season around and allowed him to win the eighth annual O'Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals on May 18th, but he isn't willing to divulge any information.

No, it's not some elaborate tune-up or chassis setting he doesn't want to share with his rivals. It's something a little less significant. "It's almost embarrassing to be honest," he said. "Let's put it this way -- some times you can over-think these things and make the simplest of problems a big deal. I'd say we fall into that category."

You can call him Captain Obvious, but the bottom line is Engel and crew chief Brandon Pesz got their Diamond Heavy Haul '63 Corvette straightened out, and in doing so made Engel the 30th different winner in JEGS ProMod Challenge history.

"It's exciting," Engel said. "We'd been to the finals before (in Las Vegas '07 and Dallas '05) but never got the win. It's really quite a feeling when you get it done."

Entering Bristol, Engel had just one elimination round win on the year with a pair of unsightly DNQs to go with one first-round loss and a quarterfinal showing. Now he suddenly finds himself in the JEGS Top 10, just 139 points out of the lead.

"The really neat thing is that no one has run away with the points lead this year," Engel said. "Last year, by halfway along in the season we were all racing for second place because Josh [Hernandez] had just crushed it early on.

"Our season is pretty similar to last year in that we started slow and then got on a roll. Hopefully, the Bristol win will give us the momentum we need for the second half of the year."

Horsepower has never been a problem for Engel, as witnessed by his provisional low qualifying effort Friday night earlier this year in Houston. It was the simple task of getting the car down the track that was the team's foil. Now that appears to be solved.

"We really should be good from here on out," Engel said. "We're gonna do everything we can to make a run at the top and see what happens. We're sure having fun and we're thrilled that JEGS has added so much professionalism to the class. We're putting on a good show this year and people are really enjoying what we're doing, so that's a good thing."