Jim Whiteley - NHRA Dallas Preview

Whiteley takes Championship fight to Dallas
Enters the event on the heels of two straight Divisional wins

Attached photo courtesy of Roger Richards, http://www.CompetitionPlus.com


ENNIS, Texas – In traditional stick and ball sports, momentum is an intangible element that can be just as important as the players on the field. Defending NHRA Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jim Whiteley and his YNot Racing team hopes having some of that ‘Big Mo’ on his side will help him in his fight for the World Championship during this weekend’s O’Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals at the famed Texas Motorplex just outside of Dallas. The team enters the event with a hot hand after taking Divisional wins in Bakersfield, Calif., last weekend and Earlville, Iowa, the weekend prior.

Whiteley, who won this event last year, currently trails defending three-time World Champion Bill Reichert by just 11 points. Competitors in Top Alcohol Dragster can claim their best five out of the first eight national events they attend. This will mark the seventh national event this year for Whiteley, leaving him one more race to claim towards his points. He must reach the semifinals or better to add to his current points total.

“All of the races are important when you’re trying to win the championship,” said Whiteley. “This certainly is no exception, as we’re getting down to our last few races. I don’t believe that Reichert will be racing in Dallas, but there will be no shortage of strong running cars. We ran well here last year when we won, and I have all the faith in the world that Norm [Grimes – Crew Chief] and the guys will give me a great car again.”

“These late races become critical in our points battle,” commented Grimes. “Winning the last two division races has been a nice booster shot going into the final stretch.”

Racers are sometimes called “superstitious” and other times considered creatures of habit. The YNot Racing crew refers to their methods as “part of a routine.” Whether it is black underwear, a certain pair of socks, no shelled peanuts in the pits, or orange accessories added to the crew’s wardrobes as the racing rounds continue, several in the YNot organization readily admit they stick closely to their “unusual quirks.”

But Whiteley himself is still looking for how the team’s favored color of “orange” meshes with his winning. One thing he knows for sure, his toenails don’t need to be painted orange; at least, not again. Whiteley accompanied his wife, Annie, also a racer, to get a manicure and pedicure. In the process, he was coerced that a pedicure would soothe his aching feet and hopped in a chair beside his lovely bride. His pampering was progressing alongside hers when it came time for polish color selection on Annie’s part. A wide-eyed Jim looked questioningly at his wife, and Annie assured him he didn’t have to get polish on his toenails.

“I don’t know. Do they have orange?” he asked.

So beneath the fire suit and the gnarly dragster, Jim Whiteley donned orange toe polish at the U.S. Nationals in 2008. He lost. He had no toe polish (orange or otherwise) in Indy earlier this month. He lost then, too. So as he heads to his first national event since conducting this scientific experiment, Whiteley may have a few other surprises up his sleeve. But track officials need not worry that the YNot Racing driver is sporting toenail team spirit.

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions followed by one final session Saturday morning. Eliminations begin with round one Saturday evening and final eliminations conclude the event on Sunday.

For more information on the team, visit their website at http://www.YNotRacing.com or follow them on Twitter @YNotRacing

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

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

http://www.Goodyear.com - Fly with the Eagles with Goodyear Tires.

http://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


Courtesy of Will Hanna