After two weeks in the hospital and four surgeries later in Edmonton, Canada, I'm back at home and on my way to recovery. Although I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, I am already working on plans for next season and hope to be back in the driver's seat at the beginning of the 2009 season.

There are so many people that have helped us during the last couple of weeks that it's hard to know where to begin. The support and get well wishes have been truly overwhelming.

First and foremost, we'd like to thank all our friends at Jet Label. Your generosity and hospitality meant so much to us. You made a very difficult time a lot easier for my family and me. The words "Thank you" will never be enough for everything that you have done for us. We can only hope that over time there will be some way to repay you for all that you have done.

To Rob and Kim Reeves and the entire Castrol Raceway staff, thank you for your hospitality and making us feel like part of your family. We appreciate everything that you've done and the help that you provided while in Canada. We look forward to seeing you next year.

To the entire track safety crew, the job that you do and the help that you provide at times like this is greatly appreciated. Your help will never be forgotten. I'm thankful to each and every one of you for the great care that you provided. You're a great group of people. Thanks for everything that you do and the help that you continue to provide to all of the racers.

To our families, what would we have done without your support? Mom and Steve, you were by my side everyday in the hospital to take care of me and everything that needed to be done once we were able to come back home. Laurie and I appreciate everything that both of you did and continue to do even now that we're home.

To the staff at Royal Alexandra Hospital, we are so happy to be back home, but greatly appreciate everything you did while we were there. The entire staff all made a very difficult time easier and we can never thank you enough for all that you did and the great care that you provided to my family and me.

Last, but not least, to all my friends and fans. The get-well wishes and prayers have been amazing and have definitely kept our spirits high over the last couple of weeks. Thanks to all of you for your cards and postings on the Get Well Peanut website.

Dale and Laurie Creasy
Creasy Family Motorsports

Dale Creasy, Jr. spoke via phone with friends and family shortly after his final surgery on Sunday. He remains in good spirits, despite being a long way from home.

"I can't say enough about the entire staff here at Royal Alex," he said. "They have really made this stay as pleasant as possible, but I'm ready to go home."

The down time has given the 2-time IHRA Funny Car Champion time to think and reflect. "I don't want anyone to have to go through what I did, but having gone through this, it really makes you aware of the special people around you every day. Craig and the entire Trackside Safety crew did a great job of getting me out of my car. Every race, every lap, they're right there waiting to put themselves on the line to help racers. How can you say thanks for that?"

Dale Creasy, Jr. underwent a second successful surgery yesterday in Edmonton.

Doctors performed the three hour surgery to continue the reconstruction process of his left leg. Dale will undergo an additional surgery on Thursday.

"His spirits are really good," long-time friend Terry McMillen said after a conversation with Creasy. "I was kidding him about how he's going to be in great shape after all of this rehab. I told him I was going to have to get a trainer just to keep up with him. He just laughed and said that I'd have to give him at least one day of looking better than me."

The Creasy family would also like to send 'get well wishes' to crew member Denny Jameson. Denny underwent successful prostate cancer surgery. Denny is recovering in a Chicago area hospital.

EDMONTON, Alb. - Dale Creasy, Jr., two-time defending IHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion and current points leader is recovering at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton from leg injuries he received during a semi-final matchup at the Rocky Mountain Nationals.

Creasy told IHRA.com, "The transmission was spinning. Something broke and it locked up. There was nothing I could do."

Doctors spent five hours repairing Dale's left shin and leg. He is expected to stay at the Edmonton hospital for the next 7-10 days. The recovery process is expected to take between six to nine months.

Reports from the Creasy family shortly after Dale's surgery were encouraging as Dale was able to move his toes.

Doctors will continue to closely monitor swelling in Dale's left leg.

Well wishers are welcome to drop a post to Dale at Get Well Peanut or drop him an email at getwelldale@dalecreasyjr.com. Cards and letters are welcome and may be sent to:

Dale Creasy Jr.
1550 Mallard's Cove
Beecher, Illinois 60401

EDMONTON, Alb. - Dale Creasy, Jr., driver of the Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car, was injured during a semifinal loss at the Rocky Mountain Nationals yesterday.

Somewhere near the finish line Creasy's car had a catastrophic parts failure in the drive line, his legs became entangled in the wreckage. He was air lifted to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.

Creasy suffered broken bones in his right foot that will require a cast. His left leg suffered a crushed shin and a compound fracture that will require surgery. Creasy is scheduled for surgery between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Mountain Time at Royal Alexandra Hospital.

The Creasy family asks that cards and well wishes be held until Dale returns home. The team also wants to thank Jet Label & Tape for the support they are providing to the family during this time.

For updates please check IHRA.com.

Nitro Funny Car points leader will look to win for second time in three years at Castrol Raceway

BEECHER, Ill. - In 2006 Dale Creasy Jr. continued on his road to the IHRA Nitro Funny Car world championship by knocking off Jack Wyatt in the final round at the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton. Last season he advanced to the final again, falling to Terry Haddock with the Ironman on the line. Needless to say, Creasy is very comfortable at Castrol Raceway, where he will look to build on his 2008 points lead at this season’s Rocky Mountain Nationals July 4-6.

"I love that place, love everything about it," he said of Castrol Raceway. "We have a lot of great memories there and have made so many friends over the last couple of years in Edmonton. It’s a long drive up there which can be difficult on the crew guys, but once we get there we always have a blast. I can't wait to get things going again this year."

The Creasy Family Motorsports team is riding a wave of momentum heading into Edmonton. The last time out they visited the winner's circle, stopping Todd Simpson in the final if the President's Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway. That win put the team on top of the 2008 points chase for the first time this season as he looks to claim his third consecutive IHRA Nitro Funny Car title. He currently leads Paul Lee atop the points standings by 45 points.

BEECHER, Ill. -- Creasy Family Motorsports announced today that long-time sponsor Stevenson Crane Service will continue their support of the Nitro Funny Car Team.

"I'd like to thank Donna and Danny Stevenson for their continued support," said Dale Creasy, Jr. "They put tires on my truck when I first got it and the relationship has been great ever since."

Donna Stevenson started Stevenson Crane Service, Inc. with one truck crane that she parked at the local gas station. Seventeen years later, she operates a multi-million dollar company employing over 70 men and women. That first crane has been "retired" and replaced with more than 100 pieces of equipment dispatched from our 27,000 square foot office and 7.5 acre yard in Bolingbrook,Illinois.

Claims 2008 points lead with 10th career national event victory

MECHANICSVILLE, MD - Dale Creasy Jr. was in an unfamiliar place heading into the Torco President's Cup Nationals. Three races into the 2008 IHRA season Creasy, the two-time defending IHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion, had not found his stride and was without a victory on the circuit. He was also looking up at someone in the points standings... a position he was not used to after dominating the field last season.

Last year Creasy won two of the first three events on the IHRA schedule. He ended up winning six national events and wrapped the championship up after the eighth event on the 2007 schedule. This year he came to Maryland International Raceway with a pedestrian 2-2 won-loss record in 2008 elimination rounds and was 16 points behind Steven Macklyn in championship points standings.

Will look to put recent car handling problems behind him at President's Cup Nationals

BEECHER, Ill. -- Dale Creasy Jr., the two-time defending IHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion, is convinced he has things headed in the right direction. After a steering problem caused him to hit a cone and be disqualified in the first round at the Motor City Nationals, the Beecher, Ill. resident is looking forward to getting back on the track.

"We had a little problem in Milan, but I think it was more the guy steering the car than the actual car hitting the cone," Creasy said. "We looked at a couple of things and made some changes. The car really responded and it's handling much better."

Creasy will look to earn his first Ironman of the season at the Torco President's Cup Nationals, June 13-15 at Maryland International Raceway. After dominating IHRA's Nitro Funny Car class last season, winning six national events and rolling up a stellar 26-5 round record, the Creasy Family Motorsports team has struggled out of the gates in 2008. A final-round loss to Steven Macklyn in San Antonio was followed by a pair of first-round exits, one in Rockingham and the disqualification at Milan Dragway.

Check out Dale's radio interview and listen to some of the stories he tells. All true - OK mostly true.

You can check out Racing Sports LIVE each Sunday at 10AM in Texas - or check out their website, Racing Sports LIVE, to listen to past interviews. Plus Creasy Family Motorsports team member Chris Graves is the co-host - all the more reason to check it out.