Tue, 6 Dec 2005, 06:03 PM Bob Glidden is Back in the Cockpit of a Pro Stocker

By Norm Froscher

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Yes, Bob Frey.

Bob Glidden is back in the cockpit of a Pro Stock car, but the 10-time NHRA POWERade champion is not going to remain there once the season begins, as you had suggested would be a good idea earlier this year in Drag Race Central.

"I've been driving one or both of the cars at the tests and that's all we're doing here," he said during a Pro Stock test session at Gainesville Raceway. "We're just going to burn in some tires, really. We have nine new sets of tires here to get ready.

"But coming back to race? I've said before and I'll tell you again, I'm too old for that. It takes money to get in the seat of one of these cars. I am too old and I don't have any money," said Glidden, who retired from competition in 1997 after 87 National Event wins and those 10 titles. "That eliminates me"

And just this year he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega, along with another retired driving drag racer whose name you'll recognize -- Joe Amato.

Glidden has been formerly listed as the crew chief for both of the Don Schumacher's Pro Stock Dodges, the one driven by Richie Stevens and the one which was just vacated by Jeg Coughlin.

But still he insists:

"Well, I don't know that I'm the crew chief, I just kinda oversee the whole deal, from all the work in the shop to everything that's going on at the race track. Each of the cars has a crew chief (of record), but we all do whatever it takes, you know."

Now for the second 64 dollar question: Who's going to drive that second car -- or first, if wish -- but the one vacated by Coughlin?

"I have no idea, and I will be the last person in drag racing to find out," he laughs.

No rumors?

"No".

Could it be Rusty Glidden, who was at Gainesville for the tests also?

"Well, I'd like to see that, but because he's my son, that would be hard for me to promote."

Next tests for the team will be in Las Vegas, before the Pomona opener. Dare say, by then there will be driver joining Richie Stevens in that second Dodge Stratus of Don Schumacher's far-flung team.

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