The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is special because it falls on Father’s Day every year. Racers typically have their kids with them and the fans do as well. For Mike Salinas who appeared in the final round of this race last year, it was an even better result in 2019 as he stopped Steve Torrence’s 22-round win streak and five race domination of the category. The Scrappers top fuel team has already won once in 2019 at the Las Vegas 4-wide race. This was the first win for the team in traditional two-wide competition.

Winning the race was one thing but what Mike Salinas said in his top end interview was entirely another.

It is not disrespectful to say that Mike Salinas is a hard man. A man who started in this life with very little has worked to create what can only be described as a business colossus. Built on sweat and blood, his business interests are operated by his family. His top fuel operation is much the same. It was a struggle for the man last year. He came into 2019 wanting to contend for a championship, wanting to prove that he was capable of building a successful team and standing in the ring with the world’s best. He hired the best people, has the best equipment, and approaches the sport with the same steely determination that he has taken in his business.

So what did we learn about Mike Salinas after he won? We learned that he, like the rest of us, is someone’s son. The son of a man who shares his name. The son of a man who is slipping slowly into the heartbreaking abyss of dementia. We learned that even hardened men have feelings.

If you can watch this interview after the run and not feel the raw emotion, you have no soul.

Press play below to see Mike Salinas win top fuel and honor his father –