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LAS VEGAS - It has been a long year and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, David Hope and team owner, John Hammock, have had their share of ups and downs. Now that the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season is nearing the end, the performance of the Vroom Racing Buell is showing immense improvement. Their growth and development as a team was highly evident at the 9th annual Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hope made four strong, consistent qualifying runs, at 7.061, 7.115, 7.089 and 7.094, which put him in the No. 8 position going into race day. "It is extremely rewarding to start reaping some of the rewards from all the hard work and efforts we have put out this year," explained Hope. "It was frustrating earlier this year when it seemed that the door was always being slammed in our face. We had to overcome one obstacle after another. We would do all this prep work and things still seemed to fall through the cracks. "Every time we go out, it's a learning experience. We come back and can see these little increments on the computer, and then we put everything together as a team. The results are a strong running bike that does a good job qualifying and has some first-round wins. That just goes to show the importance of team effort." Hope had to take on the No. 9 qualifier, Craig Treble in the first-round of eliminations. He again showed the consistency that has become the team's trademark and ran 7.081, taking out Treble's 7.141. In the second round, Hope again made a good pass at 7.113 but it was no match against the current point leader, Hector Arana's 7.021. "The emotional rewards of our first-round wins are tremendous for us," said Hope. "Those wins go a long way. I can't put into words the emotions from my first, first-round win this year over Karen Stouffer. There were times earlier this year that we blew all our motors and couldn't get back together to make a qualifying run. I feel those hardships make the wins more special." The team of Hope and Hammock is a relatively new combination, with this being their first full season together. Each brought a set of skills and talents with them and has been dedicated to making all the parts work together in a strong, winning way. "There have been some riding, let's call them, characteristics that I have been working on," said Hope, "and this weekend in Las Vegas I overcame one. It was a big deal because now that I did it, I will do it again and again. So, little things in my riding skills are showing how we are improving. And there are things that John is working on that are coming around. So, together our combined effort is making this team qualify strong and run consistent." "John and I have earned our best career numbers ever this year. It's really cool when we both have big smiles at the end of the track. We both have this feeling like, hey let's do it again. "When you overcome hurdles, achieve new highs and see all your hard work come to fruition, you become more and more excited to be at the track. You know that you build while you are there. John and I are committed to building our success, which comes in many forms, and that becomes contagious." There is one remaining race in the 2009 season, the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and it is an exciting cap on a spectacular year. Hope is anticipating this finale with an enthusiasm he hasn't enjoyed often this year. "I can hardly wait to get back on the bike in Pomona next week," said Hope. "I have the confidence to be excited and know what to do. I don't mean that egotistically, I mean it honestly. If we can overcome one thing at a time those things will all come together and will make the difference between being good and being great. I know that right now we need to take it one lap at a time, be consistent and that's how we'll become better."
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