Jim Whiteley-LODRS 7-3 Las Vegas Wrap-up

Whiteley rebounds with final round showing in Vegas


LAS VEGAS - Defending NHRA Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jim Whiteley and his YNot Racing Team bounced back from a recent slump to make a final round showing at this past weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at 'The Strip' at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Whiteley qualified No. 1, set low elapsed time and top speed en route to the final when a freak parts failure derailed his chances at victory.

Whiteley, from Grand Junction, Colo., qualified his Norm Grimes tuned blown alcohol dragster on the pole with a 5.326 second elapsed time at 270.32 mph, both of which stood for low e.t. and top speed of the meet. In round one, he defeated former Division 7 Champ Chris Demke with a 5.335 at 267.48 mph and then defeated defending Division 6 Champ Joey Severance with a 5.352 at 266.64 mph.

Whiteley's final round opponent would be the blown alcohol mount of Shawn Cowie. Whiteley was well ahead at half track when a freak parts malfunction made his car lose power, allowing Cowie to streak by right at the finish line and take the win.

"Our Vegas luck was just terrible this year," said Whiteley. "At the national we had the blower studs break, then here in the final we had another freak deal happen. We had actually inspected the parts that broke the night before; they were fine. It's just one of those deals. That's racing I guess. I think it's worse to lose that way than getting beat on a holeshot.

"I will say Norm and the guys have the car working great right now," Whiteley continued. "We're all looking forward to getting to Topeka, seeing what the car will do and putting this Vegas trip behind us."

The next stop for the YNot Racing Team will be the O'Reilly Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., May 28-31.



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



YNot Racing

Media relations

Contact: Will Hanna/Pro Race Communications

Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com


**-Attached photo courtesy of Roger Richards, CompetitionPlus.com