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Tommy Johnson, Jr. might consider picking up a nice gift for his crew chief this week before the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series makes its way to Richmond, Va., for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.
After all, the last time the series made a stop at Virginia Motorsports Park was in 2000. Data from that year can be thrown out the window as technology has changed numerous aspects of the thundering Funny Car entries since then.
Johnson said the crew chiefs are going to play an even more vital role this weekend because of the lack of modern data.
So if you see the driver of the Don "the Snake" Prudhomme-owned Skoal Racing Monte Carlo shopping this week, don't be surprised if it's for crew chief Mike Green instead of his Top Fuel-racing wife Melanie Troxel. Green will have his work cut out for him this weekend.
"The first qualifying run could dictate your entire weekend," Johnson said. "Going to a race track that we haven't been to in so long really magnifies how important your crew chief is. They have to learn a lot in a short amount of time. The crew chiefs are going to really earn their money this weekend."
Johnson knows how good Green has been to the Skoal Racing Monte Carlo program. They are coming off their second No. 1 qualifying award effort of the year. They earned the top spot in Reading, Pa., after turning in a 4.693-second pass at 327.27 mph. The team took over the Skoal Showdown bonus points lead with the top-qualifying award.
Since the bonus race won't be held until the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis next season, the team must focus on racing this weekend.
"I'm really looking forward to being back in Richmond," Johnson said. "It's a great racing city and I think the weather is just going to help the teams produce quick times. This team has given me such a great car and it's gone down the track so consistently that I'm definitely excited to see what we can do at a new track."
Qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va., starts Friday with sessions at 3:30 & 6:30 p.m., continuing Saturday at 12:30 & 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday. All the action can be seen on ESPN2 starting Saturday at 10 p.m. (ET) and continuing on Sunday at 7 p.m. (ET).
After Lengthy Break Johnson Jr. Aims to Tackle Virginia Motorsports Park
Tommy Johnson, Jr. might consider picking up a nice gift for his crew chief this week before the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series makes its way to Richmond, Va., for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.
After all, the last time the series made a stop at Virginia Motorsports Park was in 2000. Data from that year can be thrown out the window as technology has changed numerous aspects of the thundering Funny Car entries since then.
Johnson said the crew chiefs are going to play an even more vital role this weekend because of the lack of modern data.
So if you see the driver of the Don "the Snake" Prudhomme-owned Skoal Racing Monte Carlo shopping this week, don't be surprised if it's for crew chief Mike Green instead of his Top Fuel-racing wife Melanie Troxel. Green will have his work cut out for him this weekend.
"The first qualifying run could dictate your entire weekend," Johnson said. "Going to a race track that we haven't been to in so long really magnifies how important your crew chief is. They have to learn a lot in a short amount of time. The crew chiefs are going to really earn their money this weekend."
Johnson knows how good Green has been to the Skoal Racing Monte Carlo program. They are coming off their second No. 1 qualifying award effort of the year. They earned the top spot in Reading, Pa., after turning in a 4.693-second pass at 327.27 mph. The team took over the Skoal Showdown bonus points lead with the top-qualifying award.
Since the bonus race won't be held until the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis next season, the team must focus on racing this weekend.
"I'm really looking forward to being back in Richmond," Johnson said. "It's a great racing city and I think the weather is just going to help the teams produce quick times. This team has given me such a great car and it's gone down the track so consistently that I'm definitely excited to see what we can do at a new track."
Qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va., starts Friday with sessions at 3:30 & 6:30 p.m., continuing Saturday at 12:30 & 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday. All the action can be seen on ESPN2 starting Saturday at 10 p.m. (ET) and continuing on Sunday at 7 p.m. (ET).
