Jim Whiteley Denver preview

Whiteley looking to score home state win

MORRISON, Colo. – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jim Whiteley and his YNot Racing team will be looking to win their second-straight divisional event during this weekend’s Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway just outside of Denver. Whiteley, a Colorado native, hopes to keep the “Wally” trophy in-state.

Whiteley, from Grand Junction, Colo., enters the event tied for sixth place nationally. In his last outing on the division level, he scored an impressive win at the Division 7 event in Tucson, Ariz. While Whiteley and his Norm Grimes lead team have been locked in the 5.30 zone at nearly any track they have attended, the high altitude they will encounter on ‘The Mountain,’ calls for a completely different tune-up.

“We have to change quite a bit to run on ‘The Mountain,” said Whiteley. “The air is so thin up there you have to make some pretty significant changes to the motor, clutch and gearing to compensate. Normally when we go from one track to the next, the set-up pretty much stays the same except for a few minor changes. You can throw all of that out in Denver. It’s a great facility and the Bandimere’s put on a great event, so we always enjoy racing there.”

“This is definitely a good event to have Norm Grimes in your corner,” Whiteley added. “He’s had a lot of success here over the years. There will be some stiff competition there this weekend. We’re looking forward to it.”

With the team back on the divisional trail, Whiteley’s wife Annie and her sister Anita Pulliam will return to the track in their ’32 Bantam Altereds to compete in the Top Dragster category.

“We enjoy racing as a family,” Whiteley stated. “We all have the bug. It’s been great to see Annie and Anita develop their driving skills in their Altereds. Those cars are a handful to drive, and they’ve done a great job of learning how to handle them.

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two more sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

For more information on the team, visit their website at www.YNotRacing.com

For more information on the team's fine partners visit the websites below:

www.bandjtransmission.com - Choose the racing transmission that powers the YNot Top Alcohol Dragster down the track.

www.Goodyear.com - Fly with the Eagles with Goodyear Tires.

www.NGKSparkPlugs.com - Choose the spark plugs winning teams like YNot Racing use, NGK.

The team would also like to thank: J&A Service, Raptor Industries, Advanced Oil Field Service and Knowles Enterprises