The most frequent questions we get for "Big" Jim Dunn have to do with the maintenance that's necessary to keep his Fuel Funny Car healthy from race to race. Here are a few more we received recently.

Q How many crew members travel with the car and how many guys fly in?

A I like to have two guys share the driving duties, then we have a total of eight crew members who fly to the races.

Q Of the guys that travel with the car, what regular jobs do they perform - cylinder heads and blowers, maybe? It seems like those pieces need constant attention.
 
A The main duties for the guys on the road are to see that everything is clean and polished to start each race weekend. It's very important for Lucas Oil teams to present a professional appearance, and we provide that at every race.

Q We've heard that you prefer to build your own short blocks. Is that true? If so, how often are you cranking one together?

A Yes, I still enjoy putting my own short blocks together. I always have between six and eight motors together at one time. When a motor is taken out of service, that's when I start another new one. I usually build one or two after each race. By building the motors myself, I can make sure the initial setup (and timing) is within my standards. After that, the team is responsible for the routine maintenance of the motor.

Q Your son, Jon, has an important role in helping you manage the team. What are his primary tasks, aside from servicing the clutch?

A My son, Jon, and my wife, Diane, are instrumental in all aspects of running Jim Dunn Racing, unlike the old days when I could do it by myself. It now takes the three of us, along with good sponsors.

Q Do you have a dedicated crew member who works on the ignition, computer and electronics, or is that a group effort?

A The responsibility of maintaining the ignition, computer and electronics is shared between me and the rest of the crew. If we encounter a malfunction that stumps us, we rely on David Leahy of Electrimotion. DR