Gainesville: Gary Densham preview

Densham teaching Racebricks team about the Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Gary Densham spent more than 30 years in a classroom preparing generations of students for the real world beyond high school. Some things never change.

The veteran Funny Car driver has a new team, new car and new sponsor this season and he's also got a new set of goals. When Densham pulls the Racebricks Chevy Monte Carlo to the starting line for this weekend's historic Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway he knows that his team is making positive improvements everyday.

"This team wasn't quite ready for Pomona and we got slightly better at Phoenix and we may not be ready to go out and whip anyone's butt this weekend, but we're already better than we were at the first two events," Densham said. "We need more work together as a team. We have a couple of people who didn't even know what a Funny Car was before the season. We've come a long way already."

Densham didn't qualify for the season opener at Pomona, but he not only qualified in Phoenix, but he logged a first round victory too.

"I'm not ready to admit that we are going to hit our stride this early in the year, but we're making improvements everyday and that's all I can ask for," Densham said. "The time off between races helped us because we went back to the shop, freshened up the parts and were able to get a little more work as a group in and that will translate into better results on the track whether it's this weekend or in the future."

Densham has already posted a victory at Gainesville, winning the 2003 event when he beat Del Worsham in the final. To say the least, Densham is a big fan of the Gatornationals.

"The Gatornationals is just a great atmosphere for racing. It's one of the races I have been lucky enough to win and it just happened that we were the most dominate car all four rounds that day," he said. "That was a great weekend but we always have a great time at this race. We love seeing everyone at The Ale House, we have won here before and this is just one of the best races of the year because the stands are always packed and everyone is ready for a great race.

"It's the first time we're on the East Coast and people are ready to come out of the snow and winter conditions to have a great time in sunny Florida. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us this year too."

All the action from the Gatornationals can be seen on ESPN2. Qualifying will air March 20 at 12:30 a.m. and final eliminations will start at 5 p.m. later that day.

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