BAKER’S DREAM SEASON CONTINUES IN INDY

“I think our chances are very good between utilizing Roger’s equipment
and having Chuck Ford tuning,” Baker said.

(8/28/08) INDIANAPOLIS – What has proven to be a great season has gotten even better for Joe Baker.

The Milton, Fla.-based Pro Modified driver has been added to the line-up of the R2B2 Motors team owned by Roger Burgess where he will race for the balance of the 2008 season.

This adoption comes at the perfect time as the NHRA JEGS tour rolls into the most prestigious national event on the ten-race tour, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Such success has come as a pleasant surprise for the first-year series driver who wasn’t even scheduled to race in NHRA JEGS ProModified competition yet got invited as an alternate for the first event of the season and drove his way to the winner’s circle. He qualified No. 16 at that event as well.

Baker provides the ultimate underdog to top dog story for drag racing.

“This has been a great line of circumstances which has all fallen in place,” said Baker, who will compete this weekend in his first NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Baker is presently ranked third in the championship standings with only four races remaining. He is a round and a half behind defending world champion Josh Hernandez and four rounds behind point leader Tony Pontieri.

Baker has been a test driver for the R2B2 Motors team and this position might have led to his inclusion on the invitation-only NHRA JEGS tour. While testing in Valdosta, Ga., in the days before the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., Baker received a call from the series promoters asking if he could fill a last minute opening.

He obliged and drove his way to the winner’s circle at that event. Baker then filled in for Burgess at the next event in Houston, Texas, when the successful businessman was away on company obligations and once again drove his way to a final round.

“The difference between the first race and the second race was night and day,” Baker admitted. “Immediately, I didn’t have to worry about every single detail when I raced in Houston, I did so without any real pressure because Roger’s team had every detail covered. I could concentrate on driving.”

This experience left an impression on Baker, who admitted he later brought up the idea to Burgess of joining the team to fill the opening created when Mike Ashley left to concentrate on his mortgage business.

“I just kind of threw out the idea that we could do some winning,” Baker admitted. “Roger thought about it for a little bit and asked me if I thought we could win. I told him I thought we could and it all fell into place.”

This is why Baker heads into this weekend’s Indy experience with a solid foundation of confidence.

“I think our chances are very good between utilizing Roger’s equipment and having Chuck Ford tuning,” Baker said. “I think we have the potential to show really well. I think the combination we are bringing in will provide a good thing.”