YNOT Fontana Wrap Up

Team YNOT Back with a Vengeance

Three months after Jim Whiteley and Team YNOT endured the nightmare of writing off a virtually new car in a qualifying incident at the CarQuest Auto Parts Winternationals, the team, headed by Crew Chief Norm Grimes showed it truly had the right stuff in their first race back from the Pomona incident, at Division Seven Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at The California Speedway/ Dragway in Fontana, California. Team YNOT qualified number one, with a very fine 5.388 second blast at 261.62 mph, which stood as low ET of the event. Then the team went on to run the table Sunday and win the event by defeating Tom Bayer driving Steve Federlin's Toyo Tires dragster, in the final round, with a 5.48 at 260.91 mph, to Bayer's slowing 6.33 second 163.53 mph run.

"This was a phenomenal weekend, the team worked so hard and so well together, and we just couldn't be happier" said a very jubilant Whiteley in the Winner's Circle. "My driving was just ok, but the crew got the job done making the car so fast." There were a few hurdles to get over this weekend, as Team YNOT hurt a motor in the second qualifying session on Saturday when an ignition component failed, necessitating an engine change. Also the unpredictable Santa Ana winds that can cause major problems in Southern California were playing havoc with the racers at Fontana. "That cross wind was a real problem for us. It was moving the car around a lot on the top end of the track" stated Whiteley.

Team YNOT's next step on the road back is to take place in Rusk, Texas on May 16-18th at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division Four Event held at Cherokee County Motorsports Park.

Jim would like personally thank Norm Grimes, Dirk Olsen Don Pulliam Alan Russell, Anita Pulliam, Norm Hill, John Layfield, Tim Nunes and of course his wife Annie for their hard work and dedication.

Team YNOT would like to thank, Chip Nielson Race Cars for building a super new car, and marketing partners Permatex, NGK Spark Plugs, Joe Gibbs Driven Race Oil, Valspar/House of Colors, Impact Race Products, J&A Services, and Raptor Industries for their backing of the team. And of course to all of our fans and supporters for their encouragement in getting the team back on track.
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