July 15, 2014
STILL GOT GAHM

 The PDRA Summer Drags marked only the second time that Brian Gahm had taken his Extreme Pro Stock Mustang out in 2014. With business needs growing for their family operation, Gahm has put racing second in order to take care of business at home. But as he proved at the Summer Drags, a limited racing schedule hasn’t affected his ability to take care of business at the track, as well.

In Gahm’s first event this year, the PDRA Georgia Drags, he qualified third, but fell to Lester Cooper in round one. Still, the team posted a 4.101 run for their quickest elapsed time of the weekend - a very respectable showing for no previous outings this season.

Gahm missed the Memphis Drags, but caught back up with the PDRA at US 131 Motorsports Park. He rose to the top of the leaderboard in Aruba Extreme Pro Stock, setting the pace at 4.081. He continued to look impressive through each round of eliminations, taking out Richard Freeman and Scott Hintz to meet Cary Goforth in the final. Goforth, who has arguably been the most dominate XPS car of 2014, had been

running about a hundredth quicker than Gahm all day. In the final, Goforth would again best Gahm’s ET, a 4.081 to a 4.093. However, Gahm’s reaction time advantage put him crossing the stripe first and collecting his first PDRA trophy.

“That was a great weekend for us,” told Gahm. “Every round we made was a good round. We didn’t have a bad one. This is the second time we’ve been out and we won the event. It’s like - wow how does that happen. But we made good runs all weekend. Our performance has picked up. We got a new car last year and had to run some bugs through it. The car’s doing better. Kaase’s been working up some good power and things are coming together now. The crew has busted their butts trying to keep it on it’s A game. Hopefully we’ve clicked onto it.”

Gahm, who lays claims to two IHRA Pro Stock World Championships (2002, 2003), realizes that focusing more on his business may mean turning on few win lights, but isn’t daunted by the task.

“Nothing really changes. Everything has to click,” Gahm explained. “We continually make changes to make it better. Until you find it, it’s the same work ethic week in and week out. You just keeping working on it. Then you gotta go make runs to see if it’s better. I was just happy that it’s coming together. It’s been a good morale booster for the team. We’re seeing results and that helps everybody from the crew chief down to the cook.

“We struggled for a little while, but the crew kept working hard. We don’t run as much as we used to so it’s twice as hard to run quick. Just like anybody else, if you’re going to be on top you’ve got to make runs and that’s something we’ve been a little bit short on. But my guys don’t give up. They’ve kept working hard at it and that paid off up there.

“As a racer you want to race all the time,” he continued. “But business is first. This place is what keeps us going. It takes all of us. My brother and my mom and dad - we all started this business and it takes all of us.”

Gahm’s family businesses include a salvage yard, crane & wrecker service, and a NAPA Auto Parts store, among others. “We can’t run all the events with work the way it is right now. We’ve run them for years but now we’re just going to run the close ones. We hope to make the rest of them, according to how work is. It is what it is in today’s society. Things are tougher. Just the way things are. I used to schedule my work around my racing. I just can’t do that right now.

“I’m looking forward to Richmond. That’s doorslammer country. The PDRA is doing a great job. I enjoy it and it’s fun. Everybody’s family. They’re all glad you’re there.”

Knowing his schedule is limited made Gahm’s first PDRA victory that much sweeter. And while he may not be at every event, one thing’s for sure: Gahm’s still got it.

Photo: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA660.com