Backed by CP-Carrillo, Westerfield begins 3-race swing

Backed by CP-Carrillo, Westerfield begins 3-race swing

Hot off a final-round appearance in his most recent start, fast-rising Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Shane Westerfield is embarking on a three-race Western Swing – not the Denver-Sonoma-Seattle trifecta of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, but Woodburn, Sonoma and Seattle.

Westerfield, best known for his lightning-quick reflexes, reached the final at the NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka his last time out, whipping perennial championship contender Jay Payne in the semifinals and strapping a holeshot on the top-ranked Alcohol Funny Car driver in the country this season, Tony Bartone, in the final. "The car is running well, and our goal is to be back in the Top 10 when we get home from Seattle," said Westerfield, who currently stands 17th in the national standings despite having competed at just five events so far this year.

Led by crew chief Bob DeVour, who has worked with some of alcohol racing's all-time greats, including many-time world champions Frank Manzo, Brad Anderson, Gary Scelzi, and Billy Williams, Westerfield's team, backed by longtime major sponsor CP-Carrillo, has reached at least the quarterfinals in three of its four 2012 national event appearances. "Bob's always done well at Woodburn and Sonoma," Westerfield said. "He's got new stuff he wants to try, and we're always testing new parts for CP-Carrillo."

New associate sponsor Fluid Sealing Products Inc., a Houston-based manufacturer and distributor of gaskets, stud bolts, fasteners, and related sealing items, joins longtime Westerfield backers Coeste Design, Lucas Oil, MavTV, A1 Technologies, Goodyear, and Juice Plus. "Mike Blake from Fluid Sealing Products is going to be with

us at Seattle, and we really want to do a good job for the Blakes and the company," said Westerfield, who also reached the final round at last year's Big O Tires Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.