Whiteley's Wild Ride

YNOT Racing Pomona Friday Wrap UP
Whiteley’s wild ride

On a day that dawned with a great deal of optimism ended in a bad dream
Friday’s first qualifying session netted a number that Team YNOT was looking for a very solid 5.39 at a career best speed of 267 miles per hour, leaving the team in the six qualifying position. The team was very pumped up about the second session that was to start at about 4:30. “There was a lot left in this car” said a very happy Whiteley.

A couple of very lengthy oil downs started pushing the 4:30 time later and later into the day, When the session finally began darkness and a stiff breeze had set in. This seemed to have no effect on the cars running as many competitors stepped up their performances and when Team YNOT took their turn at qualifying they had been bumped to the number 10 position. As Whiteley left the starting line all seemed well then tire shake set in and the car got extremely out of shape, and got up on two wheels, the car then cam down and hit the right guard rail very hard, and started to go back across the track ( (As luck would have it, Mark Niver who was suppose to run Whiteley in that session decided to sit that session out) it started to turn over and proceeded to collect the left guard wall upside down, it bounced off the wall sliding backwards toward the finish line, the engine over-revved and exploded and burned for a brief time, as it crossed the finish line it went back towards the center of the track and then barrel rolled one and a half times coming to rest upright cross ways in the track in the shut down area.
The NHRA Safety Safari was on the scene in an instant, only to see Whiteley unbuckle his safety belts and step out of the car under his own power. Whiteley was checked out by the on-scene medical staff and found to be fine. This could not be said about the car, which is a total write off.

“That thing slid a long time, I remember everything that happened, and I just kept thinking, man is this thing, ever gonna stop” said Whiteley with a slight chuckle. “This is a big bummer but we’ll be back, I really enjoy doing this and we have a good group of people here, so we’ll come up with a plan to get a back on track”

After speaking with his wife and crew Jim was talked into going to San Dimas Community Hospital for a precautionary look over, Jim came back with a clean bill of health.

Jim was quick to thank Chip Nielson for building a very good car, Dennis Taylor for great safety belts, Impact Racing Products for a great helmet and fire suit, Butler Seat systems for the cage pads and R3 head and neck restraints. Allan Russell for making sure he was very secure in the car, and to Norm Grimes, Norm Hill, John Layfield, Dirk Olsen, Timmy Nunes, Don Pullium, Anita Pullium, and most of all to his wife Annie, thank you for all their support and help, and sorry for “scaring the hell out of you all”.

Team YNOT would also like to thank the companies who have helped them so far this year: Permatex, NGK, Impact Race Products, and Joe Gibbs Racing Oil.