Whiteley extends Denver win streak to five-straight years

Whiteley extends Denver win streak to five-straight years

MORRISON, Colo. – “King of the Mountain” may be a children’s game to some, but for four-time defending NHRA Division 7 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jim Whiteley, it’s become a reign of dominance. For the fifth-straight year, Whiteley wheeled his YNot Racing Top Alcohol Dragster into the winner’s circle of this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series “Thunder on the Mountain” Central Regional at Bandimere Speedway just outside of Denver.

Whiteley, a Colorado native from Grand Junction, qualified his Norm Grimes tuned blown alcohol dragster on top of the field with a 5.474 second elapsed time at a track-record speed of 265.27 mph. He received a competition bye in the first round, soloing to a 5.526 at 258.91. In the semifinals, he defeated Canadian racer Greg Hunter with a 5.540 at 261.17 mph.

Whiteley’s final round opponent would be Ed Schmeekle, a rematch of last year’s final of sorts. In last year’s contest, Schmeekle crewman James Stephens was behind the wheel. Whiteley powered to another win on ‘The Mountain’ with a 5.566 at 261.12 to defeat Schmeeckle’s 5.776 at 249.49 mph.

The win moved Whiteley into a tie for first in national standings along with moving him to first place in the Central Region.

“It was a great race and we love racing here,” said Whiteley. “It was a packed house on Sunday; John Bandimere and his team do a great job of promoting this race. It was pretty windy and warmed up on Sunday, but Norm and the guys did a great job of adjusting for the conditions. Ed ran well and gave us a good race in the final. Its unfortunate there was only five cars here this weekend. This is such a great facility and they treat you so well here. If more racers would give this race a shot, I’m sure they would come back every year.

“Norm does such a great job of making the adjustments to make the car haul here in Denver,” Whiteley continued. “The .47 in qualifying was pretty stout, but the 265 speed was impressive. It’s too bad we don’t race here more often.”

The Denver Regional was just the first stop on a four week tour as the team heads to Tulsa, Okla., for this coming weekend’s Central Regional event.

“We would really like to do well in Tulsa,” stated Whiteley. “With the new points structure for national points, you can only claim three regional events. We have two wins now, so if we can pick up one more, we will have that column maxed out and we can focus on national events. For whatever reason we haven’t fared well in Tulsa in the past, so hopefully we can put that behind us this weekend.”

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The team would also like to thank the continued support of J&A Services and Advanced Oilfield Services.

Contact: Pro Race Communications 979.415.4959
Attached photo courtesy of YNot Racing