Mon, 14 Dec 2009, 01:50 PM Cummings Team Reflects on 2009 Campaign

Courtesy of Luke Bogacki

HAMMOND, La. -- The Moser Engineering backed Cummings Motorsports team enjoyed another successful season in 2009, racking up a multitude of event wins and accolades along the NHRA and IHRA sportsman racing tours. The team, which consists of no less than nine competition vehicles and features former IHRA World Champions Britt and Slate Cummings along with family patriarch Larry Cummings, Jody "Cool" Simoneaux, and team partner Allen Constantine, posted a season that most sportsman competitors would salivate over. Having posted world championship campaigns in the past, however, the Cummings team is none too content with their 2009 finishes.

In IHRA competition, the Moser backed team scored a pair of division titles, with Britt Cummings earning the Division 4 Top Dragster crown, and Jody Simoneaux taking the top spot in Division 4 Stock Eliminator. The team scored a trio of IHRA national event victories, with Slate Cummings earning a double victory at the Mardi Gras Nationals in March (Stock and Super Stock) and Larry Cummings' long overdue first national event triumph at the Northern Nationals in August. When the postponed IHRA Tournament of Champions event takes place next April, the team will be represented with no less than six bids (in four categories) in the world championship shootouts. Both Larry and Slate Cummings will fly the Moser Engineering flag in Super Stock; while Slate and Cool Simoneaux earned bids in Stock Eliminator. Britt Cummings earned a seed in the Top Dragster runoff, and Allen Constantine will compete for the title in Quick Rod.

In NHRA competition, both Slate Cummings and Jody Simoneaux earned the right to represent Moser Engineering in the prestigious JEGS All-Stars competition held in Chicago in June. There, Slate Cummings was nearly able to hoist the trophy, falling in a tight final round match-up to Greg Luneack. In NHRA Division 4 action, Slate finished the season in third position in the Super Stock standings.

"We can't look back and say this was a bad season," concluded Britt Cummings. "We all had our moments: Dad got his first national event win and that was huge for all of us. Slate doubled at Baton Rouge and was his usual steady self throughout most of the year. Cool and I brought in division titles in IHRA, despite running a very limited schedule. So it's not like we've got anything to scoff at, but we're moving forward in hopes to take our program to the next level. We're a world championship caliber team, we've proven that in the past, and anything short of that really doesn't meet our expectations."

Britt will be shoeing a new Phantom Chassis hot rod in Top Dragster and 8.90 competition in 2010, and looks forward to getting back to a full schedule next season. Britt spent much of his time the last few seasons at home with his wife Deanna as she's battled with cancer, but the latest prognosis is good and the family's life has resumed some degree of normalcy.

"I'm not one to sit here and make excuses," said Cummings. "But we race as a family, so when you've got a serious illness in the family, it takes it's toll on everyone. Dealing with Deanna's illness has taken a lot out of me, and it's certainly had an effect on the team. Plus, this year Al and I both crashed cars, which set us back once again. I'm just glad it's all behind us now. The future looks bright, both at home and on the track, and we're really looking forward to getting back out in force and getting back to that championship level of competition we're used to."

In addition to major marketing partner Moser Engineering, the Cummings team appreciates the support of the following partners: Reher & Morrison, River Parrish RV, Meguiars, Trick Switch Panels, CSR Performance Products, B&M Performance, Borla, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Mickey Thompson Tires, K&N, Holley Performance, Amalie Oil, Weld Wheels, Richmond Gear, Altronics, Harwood, Nitroplate, Edelbrock, Mr. Gasket, Wegner Racing Engines, Biondo Racing Products, Auto Meter, Phantom Race Cars, Simpson Safety Equipment, Sullivan Transmissions, The Race Shop, H&F Performance, Folk Race Cars, and Milodon.