Jim Whiteley Pomona wrap up

Whiteley wins second-straight in Pomona

POMONA, Calif. – Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., is a bitter-sweet track for NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jim Whiteley and his YNot Racing Team. Two years ago, he suffered a high speed crash that forced the team to build a new car. However, his fortunes at the famed Southern California track have shifted of late, as he won the 2008 season closer there, and most recently, this past weekend’s Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals.

Whiteley, from Grand Junction, Colo., qualified his Norm Grimes tuned blown alcohol dragster second in the field with a 5.374 second elapsed time at 266.64 mph in the rain-shortened qualifying. The rain forced eliminations back until Tuesday, but the YNot crew made the most of the wait. In round one, they defeated Courtney Force with a 5.516 at 263.46 mph, and then took out Justin Davis in round two with a solid 5.292 at 268.92 mph. Whiteley then stayed in the .20’s to take out local runner Johnny Ahten with a 5.285 at 269.35 mph.

Whiteley’s final round opponent would be another So-Cal racer, Chris Demke. Both drivers fell off of their earlier 5.20 pace, but it was Whiteley who prevailed with a 5.435 at 268.49 mph.

“It wasn’t the prettiest win, but we’ll certainly take it,” said Whiteley. “We really thought we had our hands full with Demke running that 5.27 in the semi’s. The conditions were incredible; it was hard to figure out how much we could get away with. The air was great and so was the track. I think the track cooled off a bit in the final, because we shook pretty hard. I was able to drive through it, and I guess Demke had problems of his own.”

After finishing second in national standings last season, Whiteley is happy to start the year off with a win.

“With the caliber of racers out there, every win counts,” stated Whiteley. “The Reicherts’ and Thackers’ of the world don’t leave you much slack when it comes to running for the championship. We’re definitely excited to start the year off with a win.”

The team’s next stop will start their Division 7 title defense at the Division 7 opener in Phoenix, Feb. 27-Mar. 1.

“We’re doing some different things this year,” Whiteley explained. “We learned quite a bit in testing, but it’s all new. Phoenix hasn’t been good to us in the past, but hopefully we can put that behind us this trip.”

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