Reading: Frank Hawley preview

Frank Hawley leaves the classroom to return to NHRA Funny Car racing for the fourth time this year. This time he'll be at the controls of the new Rite Aid Pharmacies-sponsored Dodge Charger R/T in POWERade series competition.

The two-time world champion will be competing in the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa., Friday through Sunday. This is Hawley's fourth appearance of the season. He will be back in the same car at Indianapolis in two weeks.

"I am excited to get back with the team," said Hawley. "We've had an opportunity to run a few races and I think we've shown as a group that we can get out there and perform well. We haven't gone a lot of rounds yet with the car but that's not an indication of our capabilities.

"I raced at Reading a long time ago and I'm looking forward racing there this weekend."

Hawley's team is led by crew chief Aaron Brooks and assistant crew chief Rod Centorbi. They are Gotham City Racing teammates of Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel.

"An opportunity to race a car with Rite Aid on the side is very exciting," Hawley commented. "It's a household name, a huge nationwide company, and we are very excited to have them involved in the sport of NHRA drag racing. It's great to be involved with a guy like Roger Burgess, the team owner. He's one of the people who is able to make the introductions to possible racing partners a lot of us haven't been able to approach before."

Hawley won his Funny Car championships in 1982-83 and he was the fourth driver to win races in both Funny Car and Top Fuel. There are now 14 drivers in that special category.

-credit: gcr