Jim Whiteley Las Vegas preview

Whiteley to go double or nothing in Vegas

LAS VEGAS – After qualifying No. 1 for last weekend’s SummitRacing.com Nationals at ‘The Strip’ in Las Vegas, broken supercharger mounting studs lead to an early exit in the second round for NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jim Whiteley. This weekend, Whiteley and his YNot Racing team plan on going “double or nothing” at this weekend’s Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at the same venue, ‘The Strip’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Whiteley, the defending Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion, from Grand Junction, Colo., qualified his Norm Grimes tuned blown alcohol dragster on the pole with a great 5.327 second elapsed time at 268.33 mph. In his second round matchup with Del Cox, Jr., the studs that hold the supercharger on broke, leaving his mount powerless as he watched Cox take the win with a less than stellar 6.93.

“The car ran great in qualifying,” said Whiteley. “We got into some tireshake in the second round, it broke the blower studs, and we were done from there. It’s one thing when something like that happens and your opponent makes a good run. But when you see them getting on and off the throttle to a 6.93, and there’s nothing you can do about it in the car, well, that stings a little bit.”

The team is focused on putting that behind them this weekend and getting back to the winner’s circle after winning the season opener in Pomona.

“We’ve been here before,” stated Whiteley. “We had some up’s and down’s last year, then went on a hot streak towards the end of the year. It’s not enjoyable to be on the down side, but I have all the faith in the world that Norm and the guys will get things turned around. Norm has the car flying; we just have to keep the small things from biting us.”

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars, followed by two 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 and Advanced Oil Field Service

Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com

Attached photo courtesy of Roger Richards @ Competitionplus.com