Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Russell takes aim at sweep of ‘Western Swing’

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Darrell Russell obviously doesn't believe in the sophomore jinx.

Russell, the 2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is on a two-race Top Fuel winning streak and will be looking to join some rare company when the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing series visits Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., this weekend.

Russell will attempt to become only the fourth driver to sweep the NHRA's "Western Swing" -- races in Denver, Seattle and Sonoma -- in consecutive weeks.

"It's pretty cool to be in this position," Russell said. "But I'm not going to put any pressure on myself or this team. Our routine isn't going to change.

"I will say this: The best crew with the car that's running the best will win this race, guaranteed. I hope it's us."

Russell's team owner Joe Amato (1991), John Force (1994) and Cory McClenathan (1997) are the only drivers to sweep the Western Swing.

Russell defeated McClenathan in the final at Denver two weeks ago and then beat Kenny Bernstein Monday in the rain-delayed Top Fuel final in Seattle.

On Monday, Russell had to get past Dixon, the Top Fuel points leader, in the semifinals before dispatching Bernstein, second in points, in the final for his fifth career victory.

"Man, when you beat Larry Dixon and Kenny Bernstein in back-to-back elimination races, it seems like you've been through a dark alley on Saturday night," Russell said.

"Those guys are the best in the world for a reason and it's pretty satisfying to beat them both in one day. It has been very exciting to win two in a row and to have beaten both of the beer cars (Dixon is sponsored by Miller and Bernstein by Budweiser) in Seattle."

Russell, who struggled at the start of the season, said the addition of crew chief Wayne Dupuy has been the reason for his success.

"Wayne Dupuy has got to be one of the best crew chiefs in the world," Russell said. "He has made us into a solid, every-race contender and (he) and his crew deserve all the credit. It's easy to drive when you have the confidence these guys give you.

"I look at the start of the season, where we lost in the first round three times in a row, and then I look at the last 11 races since Wayne took over and I see that we've won three races and runner-upped at another and it seems like two different worlds."

Four weeks ago, Dixon held a 259-point lead over Bernstein. In the last three races, Bernstein has responded with a win in St. Louis, a semifinal appearance at Denver and a runner-up finish in Washington.

After 14 of 23 national events, Marnell is seventh in the standings -- 247 points behind front-runner Jim Yates but only 140 points out of fourth place.

Marnell, who has two career Pro Stock victories, has never finished higher than seventh in points.

Lee will join Del Worsham and Johnny Gray at the Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Lee's future with the team beyond those races has yet to be determined.