Drag Illustrated Issue 149, October 2019 | Page 97

own abilities, and is again a nod to
the fact he only has to worry about
driving these days.
That utmost confidence in Pierce
and his team has had a direct car-
ryover on the car, which was deliv-
ered just three weeks prior to the
WSOPM in 2018.
A year later, it was a bracket car
in the 5.80s in some of the toughest
conditions possible for any driver,
something that wasn’t lost on Oksas.
“How awesome is it to go to the
mountain and run as well as we
did?” Oksas said. “It’s pretty damn
good. I used to think about every-
thing. I would just be sitting in the
trailer working on the laptop. Now
I don’t have to do that anymore.
I just practice cutting my lights. I
have that trust in them and they’ve
gained that trust in me to do my job.
It’s about the putting the right peo-
ple in charge and making it happen.
That’s the key.”
In an instant in Denver, all the
trials and tribulations were worth it.
Oksas compared it to one good shot
on the golf course completely chang-
ing the tone for the day. Instead of
one shot on one day, this was one
victory over 10 years that suddenly
made it all worth it for Oksas.
In truth, it’s been more than one
day. He hasn’t taken the trip to
Las Vegas to celebrate like he pro-
claimed he would leading up to the
race, but Oksas has received con-
gratulations at every turn.
That included at the U.S. Nation-
als, where Oksas was big man on
campus – literally and figuratively.
Getting that respect meant some-
thing for Oksas, who admits the mo-
ments that took place at Bandimere
Speedway are still fresh in his head.
“We went 5.86, 5.87 and 5.88 on
the mountain and that’s pretty damn
good,” Oksas said. “I was thinking
about St. Louis (where Oksas ran in
NHRA Pro Mod in late September)
and how we would have to run in the
mid-to-low 5.70s (to qualify). But if
we went 5.86 and 5.87 in Denver, I
think we can do that. Those are the
things that pop in my head.
“We did it by winning all four
rounds, and that’s what I love. I
think about the competition we beat
and that’s pretty awesome. It just
shows you if you work hard, good
things can happen.”
The WSOPM has reinvigorated
Oksas and he’s thrilled to see what’s
next. It’s a journey that will assur-
edly include his family, who joined
him in the festive winner’s circle
celebration in Denver.
It’s made the entire process more
enjoyable and he’s now preparing
for his son, Joey, to eventually jump
in a Pro Mod. He talked of his son
possibly testing in Las Vegas later
this year and Oksas is fine with him
driving in competition soon as well.
It’s also possibly the next step in
a sport that has meant so much to
him. Oksas always knew he would
find success – he just never expected
he would have to traverse a moun-
tain to do it.
“I’m a determined person. When
I set my mind on something, I’m
going to do it,” Oksas said. “All the
highs and lows you experience, I
wouldn’t change it for the world.
This win, it makes everything
worth DI
it.” DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
October 2019
DragIllustrated.com
| D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | 97