PXM’s Hunnicutt Ready For Golden Opportunity

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Last week, Rob Hunnicutt was the guy in the neighborhood who put up the Christmas decorations way too early.But at least the Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider had a good reason for his early Christmas spirit.For the first time in his career, Hunnicutt is headed overseas to Qatar and will be competing in the eight-race Arabian Drag Racing League, which begins the first weekend in December.The series is broken down into three separate segments and the first is a three-race stretch in December, which meant Hunnicutt had to finish with the decorations a little ahead of schedule.“I was putting up Christmas stuff trying to get it all taken care of,” Hunnicutt said. “It’s a big thing to be gone with a business and I really didn’t think my wife would go for me being away this long. It’s amazing how it worked out.”After the three-week stretch in December, Hunnicutt will travel back to Qatar for a two-week stretch in January, finishing the year with three consecutive race weekends in February.He is part of a traveling motorcycle group that includes ADRL standout Terry Schweigert, T.T. Jones and Dave Norris.The fifth rider was Ashley Owens, but he broke his forearm in a crash just two weeks ago and will likely be unable to race this winter.Hunnicutt didn’t think he would have the chance, either.He owns Hunnicutt Glass Inc., but he managed to convince his wife on the opportunity.“When I was coming back from St. Louis (and the Gateway Drags), I was talking to Ronald Procopio about it and we both wondered if I could swing it,” Hunnicutt said. “I told my wife and told her there was probably some good money if I were to win and it would be a good experience.“She told me to go ahead and do it. She’s really stood behind me.”Hunnicutt has since shipped the bike over - it is due to arrive on Monday - and is now waiting to leave the day after Thanksgiving.As it comes closer to reality, Hunnicutt is thrilled about the once in a lifetime opportunity.“I definitely view it like that,” Hunnicutt said. “I’m real excited about it. Everyone has told me how well everyone treats you over there.“I’ve never traveled outside the country, but I made my decision to go and ran with it.”Hunnicutt also has some grand plans once he arrives in Qatar.The PXM class will be competitive with the likes of Schweigert, Jones and Norris heading overseas as well, but Hunnicutt felt like he ended the 2010 ADRL season in strong fashion.He debuted a new bike - a 2010 Suzuki - that was built by Terry Stemper in St. Louis and it has made a considerable difference.Just a month after it debuted, Hunnicutt went a career-best 4.16 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Oh., advancing to the semifinals of the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags IV.“I’m one of the heavier guys in the class, so when Terry built the bike, he tried to make it as light as he could,” Hunnicutt said. “I’m definitely on the right path and headed in the right direction.”Hunnicutt doesn’t plan on slowing down in Qatar, either in a deep and competitive field.In fact, he plans to run well over the winter and carry that momentum over to the 2011 ADRL season, where he hopes to jump out of the gates quickly and earn a spot in the 2011 Speedtech “Battle For The Belts” field.He didn’t get there in 2010, but a winter overseas could spark a quick start next spring - even if it meant getting to work early on those Christmas decorations.“I was more or less hitting my stride and starting to get consistent at the end of the year, so I was upset that the season was ending,” Hunnicutt said. “I’m looking at this as a great experience and a chance to continue learning what I’m doing with the bike.“Hopefully next year I’ll come out and have a little head start on people.”(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

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