IT: Of course. Quick numbers had a habit of stirring up the talkers back then.JC: Yeah! It was cool though. From there we hooked with Viet and the Pro Import team and that's when Javier from JG started helping us. His help, especially tuning, has been invaluable. From there we just kept going faster and faster.
IT: So what's the quickest the car has gone to date?JC: Actually, the best pass so far was the championship run at Pomona. We ran a 9.12-second e.t. at 156 mph. The cool thing last season was the fact that we ran 9.1s at three different tracks.
IT: Damn! So what's up for this coming season?JC: This year's gonna be big. The Civic is pretty much retired and we're going to campaign a 2002 Acura RSX. The new car is sponsored by Castrol, K&N, JG Edelbrock and JE Pistons, so with such good backing we're hoping to be able to run really strong. We learned a lot with the old car, and with the RSX we will have improved aerodynamics, better power-to-weight-ratio, and even more reliability. It should be another good year.
IT: So I assume retaining your NHRA title is number one priority?JC: Of course! But also to run quicker.
IT: You mean eights?JC: Yeah, but consistently.
IT: Are you going to run strictly NHRA events or can people come out and see you anywhere else?JC: NHRA is my main focus, but I will be at several IDRC events, especially out here on the West Coast. Really, I want to go race where everyone goes, I love the competition.
IT: I know! Speaking of competition, there were some pretty fierce rivalries between Callos Racing and Kubo Racing last season right?JC: (Laughing) Yeah!
IT: How did all that come about?JC: Let me see. First of all, going into last season they were the reigning points winners from the first championship that IDRC put on in 2000. So of course we're all competitive, and naturally I was out to beat the reigning champs just like they will be this coming season. Anyway, I got off to a slow start in 2001 trying to dial in a new setup and they took a pretty good lead. Once I started getting the car dialed in I began to win races, beating them along the way. The first time we ran head to head I ran a 9.3 to their 9.4 in a close run final. There were some issues over me not having a nine-second license at the time so that kinda stirred things up. In the NHRA points race, Lisa had built up a lead and the only way I could win the championship was to win every remaining event. I put my head down and won something like the next three and everything went down to the finals at Pomona. There were some issues over their car not meeting the weight rules that weekend and things flared up again. Things were just really tense with both of us in the semis and the entire championship riding on whoever made it the furthest. The last four cars were all low-nine-second Hondas and were stiff competition, but we stayed focused and went on to win the event with a new record for a front-drive uni-body Honda, and, of course, the championship.
IT: Sounds like next season should be pretty crazy!JC: I know.
IT: Just think, if you go back say four or five years you couldn't have possibly even dreamed you'd be where you're at today. I mean, pro race car driver, NHRA champion?JC: HELL NO! I just can't believe how big the sport has become.
IT: What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't racing?JC: Probably information technology, I'm pretty into that stuff.
IT: I know you don't get a lot of spare time, but what do you do to get away from the hustle bustle of the industry?JC: I don't get a lot of time, but when I do I like snowboarding and chillin' with friends.
IT: You're one of the most motivated racers I know, but what is it that keeps you that way?JC: (Laughs) Shit Talking! Keep it coming! It just makes me go faster, I love proving people wrong.
IT: All right, finally I know there's some people who have helped you along the way that you want to thank so here's your chance.JC: Wow! First of all my friends and family for all the support and encouragement. Javier at JG for four years of awesome tuning, Jan and Scott for an incredible amount of help over the past couple of years, my crew Kareem, Joel, Carlos and Carlos C. who do a great job at the track and R.J. and Mommy C. for all their support. Also, the people at Denso Iridium, Goodyear Tires and JE Pistons, whose help has also been invaluable.