DI DRIVER BLOG PRESENTED BY WELD RACING: Megan Meyer|

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, Nosotros ARE THE CHAMPIONS…"It'southward true! We are the Globe Gnaw in Top Alcohol Dragster again!!! It's only been a few days since nosotros won the Charlotte NHRA NTK Nationals and wrapped up the points title, just nosotros are still on a roll and haven't had a day to rest yet. We quickly flew home for a couple of days before flying to Texas and they accept been filled with interviews, wedding planning, firm piece of work, and catching up on Netflix.

Every bit I mentioned in my last weblog, we flew in to Charlotte at the outset of the week to stay downtown to visit the Freightliner plant in Mount Holley, the Hendrick Motorsports facility and collection, accept tiffin with Jeff Gordon, who was well spoken and downwardly-to-earth, and drive go-karts at the GoPro Motorplex. It was a couple of fun-filled days with some shut friends to get our minds correct before we headed to zMAX Dragway.

The 24-hour interval before the NTK Nationals started, we hit the rails to bulldoze some Toyota Camrys with fellow sponsored NGK Spark Plugs drivers and NGK employees and customers. We had a nail – it was Team NGK vs. Team NTK and our squad won the squad challenge! Unfortunately, most of us lost outset round. I say it'due south considering their cars were faster.

Nosotros finished qualifying in the 2d spot with a 5.18 ET at 277 mph behind Troy Coughlin Jr., who ran 5.12 at 282 mph. My teammate, Julie, saturday fifth with a 5.22 ET but brutal short to Robin Samsel in first circular. We faced Mick Steele in outset circular and came very close to losing the race by slowing down to a 5.37 ET. I'm not sure why we slowed down so much, but we actually needed to step it up to face Shawn Cowie in second round, who only took out Duane Shields. I'm non going to lie, I was the most nervous I've ever been in the hours leading up to it. I was virtually shaking, only I spoke with Shawn before the round and told him that I've respected him and Norm Grimes all year long, information technology'south been fun merely stressful battling together, and I wish him all the best win or lose. I kept telling myself, stay out of your head, stay out of your caput. My best friend, and former Super Gas World Champion, Mia Tedesco, reminded me to not get likewise worked up; they are chasing the states in points, not the other style around. She was able to calm me down a little bit, merely after I was strapped in I reminded myself that Shawn was three-0 against me in prior races, and each loss kept flashing in my head even while I was inching up to the staging beams. I took a deep breath, stuck to my routine, and said it's all or nothing. I cut a great light, .032 reaction time, and we ran a fast five.25 ET. Luckily for us, Shawn had something in his transmission intermission, so he wasn't able to give information technology a total pull and had to abort the run.

I was then relieved! We had just vanquish the toughest guy in the form, and we were one step closer to the championship. As soon as I saw my crew guys at the meridian end the waterworks turned on and I couldn't terminate crying happy tears. We have worked and then hard for this moment, and information technology felt similar our biggest road block was removed, simply the fight wasn't over just still; nosotros had to take downwardly TJ likewise. Our semi and finals were scheduled for Sunday, but the rain came in and we changed our plans to finish on Monday, which was a beautiful, cool day; perfect for racing.

We took out Dan Mercier in the semis running a 5.18 ET at 275 mph, identical to TJ, who beat Josh Hart as well running a v.18 ET. We were told that as long as we didn't go penalized in the concluding round by oiling downwardly the rails or crossing the center line, we would be crowned champs no matter if we won or lost the race. It was discussed that we could potentially non even make the run and we would still keep the title, but nosotros came here to race and weren't going to stride down. I knew that there wouldn't exist a risk that we would take an oil leak or cross the center line, so we put our all-time tune-up in and gave it our all for the finals against TJ. We sped up to a quick 5.xiv ET to have out their five.xvi ET, which became the quickest side-by-side drag race in Tiptop Alcohol Dragster, to win my quaternary National effect this twelvemonth, the ninth of my career, and clinched the Title!!!!

To see how happy my dad was made it all worth it. This win is for him and is a issue of all of his hard piece of work and sacrifices he made over the years. Although I resented him for missing important moments in my life growing up because he was gone racing, the time spent together over the by four years when I joined the team full-time has been worth it.

Adrian and JJ, and the rest of my entire team have washed their best every weekend to make sure nosotros accept the all-time race motorcar at each and every race. Without them and my great relationship with all of them, this wouldn't be possible. And of course, thank yous to the entire NGK Spark Plugs group that was at the races. I'm so lucky to exist partnered with a fun group that loves drag racing.

My side by side, and concluding, race of the yr will exist this weekend in Dallas for the Texas Fall Nationals, where nosotros will be partnered upwardly with Smart Craven again. I'm excited to return to the rails as the Champion, but I'm also ready to wrap up the flavor and get started on hunting season dorsum home. I've fallen behind on my archery practice, and seriously need to spend quality time at the range as presently as I can before my kickoff whitetail hunt.

Megan Meyer is the driver of the NGK Spark Plugs/Lucas Oil/WELD Racing A/Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This Elevate ILLUSTRATED Driver Blog is presented by WELD Racing. Follow WELD Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and visit them online at www.WELDWheels.com.