Fri, 11 Sep 2009, 05:20 PM Patrick Counting Points Towards Championship Battle for the Belts

Courtesy of Bobby Bennett

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Four points never meant so much to a driver.

For Fredericksburg, Va.-based Robert Patrick, those points determine whether the 2009 season will be deemed a success or failure. If Patrick can pick up four points on eighth-place ranked Cary Goforth, he will be one of eight drivers qualified to compete in the ADRL's Speedtech Battle for the Belts competition.

If Patrick's most recent events are an indicator of his momentum, then the competition had better watch out.

"We've had a good running car lately," said Patrick, who is currently ranked tenth after the first session of qualifying at the ADRL Dragstock event in Rockingham, N.C. "We know the challenge we have before us and we are just going to go out there and do what we have to do."

Patrick missed the combination on the first qualifying attempt but isn't overly concerned with the slow start. The previous two races of the season began the same way but ended with the former mountain motor Pro Stock champion pushing his Purvis Ford-sponsored entry to the No. 1 qualifying effort in both.

"Clearly it's been the little things out there that have bit us at the most inopportune times," Patrick said. "That's a part of drag racin g and if you don't learn to accept it, then you'll drive yourself crazy dwelling on it. If you want to be competitive in this class you have to learn that drag racing can be cyclical."

Qualifying has been an important link in the chain for Patrick who boasts back-to-back semi-final finishes.

Patrick races eighth-mile this weekend but earlier in the season, he competed in quarter-mile, mountain motor competition at Rockingham Dragway and performed impressively en route to a semi-final finish.

"I grew up coming to Rockingham Dragway and this place has always been special to me," Patrick said. "Getting into the Speedtech Battle for the Belts this weekend would be just another great memory from here."

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