Photos and Interview by Chris Graves
Jimbo Ermalovich was hired onto the independently funded Mitch King Motorsports Top Fuel team prior to the Mac Tools Gatornationals. Jimbo took some time to sit down with me and we talked about what it’s like to jump onto an independent team and what it's like tuning a top fuel car in this new era of rule changes and advanced technology.
Q: When you come on board a new team what are the first steps to creating a relationship that will not only make the car run, but keep the crew working well as a team and tackle all the other tasks that are required to call the shots on a Top Fuel team?
A: The most important thing is to evaluate everything to see what you have. That goes for parts and people. Then you have to build a combination of the two.
Q: What are the challenges for independent nitro teams in this day of NHRA Drag Racing where large budgets and multi car teams seem to dominate?
A: It’s not all that different. It takes more time without money to burn but the challenges are alike.
Q: To be a competitive Top Fuel team in this era, what are the most important things you must have besides deep pockets?
A: Good people is #1. Lots of parts and good people are a must.
Q: Who are your role models or influences in drag racing and to whom do you give credit to for your success as a nitro wrench?
A: I have worked with a lot of people they all had an effect on my success. Al & Helen Hofmann were very good to me; we did a lot with a little.
Q: Where will the NHRA and Top Fuel racing be in five years?
A: That is a loaded question. The guy who is driving the NHRA boat has a plan I am sure but who knows what it is. We are at their mercy.
Q: What is the best track on the NHRA tour to run a Top Fuel car?
A: Gainesville, Indy, anywhere you can burn nitro when the barometer is above 30.00 is always good.
Q: What is your opinion on the rule changes the NHRA has implemented after the death of Darrell Russell?
A: Safety is first, I don't want anyone to be hurt, but I think the spirit of nitro drag racing needs to be maintained also. They need to leave room in the rules for innovation the sport was built on that. In my opinion the 90% rule worked out to be good. The 85% rule is costing more to run and hurting many of the small teams. The small teams need to be out there also, with so few nitro teams in the country we can't have any of them going out of business.
Q: If you could change something in regards to Top Fuel racing in the NHRA, what would it be?
A: NITRO %
Q: Having been around the sport for your entire life, what's your most memorable moment in drag racing?
A: Gainesville in 1997. Al Hofmann and I had the field covered by a tenth we won the race and crashed sending Al to the hospital with a broken arm. I would have traded the win for his health in a second. That moment affected the way I make tuning calls because it made me more conservative.
Q: Do you plan to stick to calling the shots as crew chief for the remainder of your career or do you see yourself driving or owning a fuel operation down the road?
A: I was a driver in my own stuff for years and I would like to own or co-own a top-notch race team. Anyone who says they don't want to drive my not be telling the truth.
Q: Some teams seem to click and get the results (Force for example) and others seem to struggle for extended periods (Prudhomme Skoal cars for example) What do you think are key ingredients in a successful nitro drag race operation?
A: One of the key things to making a team work is your people must have confidence in the decisions they make. One guy needs to listen to his people then make the right move. There are a lot of things to be considered. One is the budget; you must stay in the budget. One super run can put you out of business even if only off by a little. By that I mean you need to keep focused on the task at hand and not get caught up in the tune up of the week. What other guys are doing probably will not work on your car because your car is different.
Q: You see some teams test extensively, while others never test and many times they are able to run numbers capable of winning on Sunday, how important is testing in NHRA drag racing? What do you look for in testing?
A: Testing is everything. Consistency is most important.
Q: The Mitch King Top Fuel team has not had the success they have wished for so far this year, and you have been brought in to turn this around. What are your expectations with the Mitch King team this year?
A: I would like to make it a solid 4.60 car with minimal parts attrition.
Q: Last but not least, boxers or briefs?
A: BRIEFS! Got to have the control.
