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BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 3, 2007) -- Jeff Arend will be back in his customary blue Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Impala this weekend, when the NHRA POWERade tour reconvenes at Thunder Valley in Bristol. After having gone "Mad" at two of the last three races, by utilizing the team's special "Madman Murray" body and the corresponding bright yellow crew shirts, Arend will be back in blue at Bristol Dragway, just as we was when he advanced to the semi-final in Englishtown two weeks ago.
Although Arend was thrilled to represent the newest division of CSK Auto, the Murray's Discount Auto chain located in the midwest, and he was likewise happy to once again don the wacky "Madman" crew uniform he wore in his one-race stint with Worsham Racing in mid-2006, he's not afraid to admit he has a soft spot for the classic blue CSK design.
"The Murray's car is a really cool design, and it's important to me because of the one race I got to do with the Worshams last year, but the blue Checker, Schuck's, Kragen design is my favorite. I guess it's kind of like other pro athletes in team sports, when they do those 'throwback' uniforms for a couple of games. It's cool, and it's different, but the main look is like the real thing. We've been to the semi-finals twice this season, so far, and both of those were in the blue CSK Chevy.
"The two bodies we're currently using are almost identical, so there's no real advantage using one or the other. They're both Impalas, both have great aerodynamics, and they're both pretty light. The Murray's car is just a memory now, though, because it went straight back to Square One Designs after Norwalk, to be stripped and re-wrapped as the Chevron Techron car we'll have in Seattle and Sonoma. For Bristol and Denver, it's good old blue."
The fact Arend rattled off those four races in the span of two sentences is just another indicator of the current "USA Tour" the team has embarked upon. Bristol is the third stop on the grueling six-week campaign, and will be followed by Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma. So far, for Arend, the marathon has started with great promise, but he's convinced the best is yet to come.
"We had an outstanding race in Englishtown, and could very easily have won that event," Arend said. "We lost by inches in the semi, to Tommy Johnson, and he went on to win it all. In Norwalk, the key accomplishment was getting qualified again, and now we're the team with the longest current streak, at a massive 12 in a row. We were disappointed to lose in the first round, and we're coming to Bristol to fix that and make up for it. We're planning on having our best weekend of the year, to this point. Our best days are just ahead of us, I can tell you that."
The qualifying streak, which now belongs to the popular Canadian native, may seem inconsequential or minor, considering its length of only 12 races, but the key part to the accomplishment is the 11-for-11 streak Arend and his team have been on in 2007. He stands alone as the only Funny Car driver to have participated in all 11 races to this point, and he's bound and determined to keep the streak alive.
"One lap at a time, not trying to be heroes, just getting the CSK Impala down the track, race after race, that's what's gotten us here," Arend said. "We've been fortunate enough, and good enough, to still make the field even when we miss a little on the key Friday night runs.
In Norwalk, we were a bit soft and left too much on the table, but we held in there in the 11th spot and got to race on Sunday. I'm very proud of the fact we've gotten to do that at all 11 races. Don't even ask me about all 23, that's Mount Everest, or maybe the moon, in today's Funny Car class. Right now, I'm only aiming for 12 in a row. If we do that, we'll think about 13."
With his trusty blue mount back on the track, in the scenic hills and valleys of beautiful eastern Tennessee, Jeff Arend clearly has his priorities set. The final goal is simply to turn Bristol blue.
AREND SET TO TURN BRISTOL BLUE
BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 3, 2007) -- Jeff Arend will be back in his customary blue Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Impala this weekend, when the NHRA POWERade tour reconvenes at Thunder Valley in Bristol. After having gone "Mad" at two of the last three races, by utilizing the team's special "Madman Murray" body and the corresponding bright yellow crew shirts, Arend will be back in blue at Bristol Dragway, just as we was when he advanced to the semi-final in Englishtown two weeks ago.
Although Arend was thrilled to represent the newest division of CSK Auto, the Murray's Discount Auto chain located in the midwest, and he was likewise happy to once again don the wacky "Madman" crew uniform he wore in his one-race stint with Worsham Racing in mid-2006, he's not afraid to admit he has a soft spot for the classic blue CSK design.
"The Murray's car is a really cool design, and it's important to me because of the one race I got to do with the Worshams last year, but the blue Checker, Schuck's, Kragen design is my favorite. I guess it's kind of like other pro athletes in team sports, when they do those 'throwback' uniforms for a couple of games. It's cool, and it's different, but the main look is like the real thing. We've been to the semi-finals twice this season, so far, and both of those were in the blue CSK Chevy.
"The two bodies we're currently using are almost identical, so there's no real advantage using one or the other. They're both Impalas, both have great aerodynamics, and they're both pretty light. The Murray's car is just a memory now, though, because it went straight back to Square One Designs after Norwalk, to be stripped and re-wrapped as the Chevron Techron car we'll have in Seattle and Sonoma. For Bristol and Denver, it's good old blue."
The fact Arend rattled off those four races in the span of two sentences is just another indicator of the current "USA Tour" the team has embarked upon. Bristol is the third stop on the grueling six-week campaign, and will be followed by Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma. So far, for Arend, the marathon has started with great promise, but he's convinced the best is yet to come.
"We had an outstanding race in Englishtown, and could very easily have won that event," Arend said. "We lost by inches in the semi, to Tommy Johnson, and he went on to win it all. In Norwalk, the key accomplishment was getting qualified again, and now we're the team with the longest current streak, at a massive 12 in a row. We were disappointed to lose in the first round, and we're coming to Bristol to fix that and make up for it. We're planning on having our best weekend of the year, to this point. Our best days are just ahead of us, I can tell you that."
The qualifying streak, which now belongs to the popular Canadian native, may seem inconsequential or minor, considering its length of only 12 races, but the key part to the accomplishment is the 11-for-11 streak Arend and his team have been on in 2007. He stands alone as the only Funny Car driver to have participated in all 11 races to this point, and he's bound and determined to keep the streak alive.
"One lap at a time, not trying to be heroes, just getting the CSK Impala down the track, race after race, that's what's gotten us here," Arend said. "We've been fortunate enough, and good enough, to still make the field even when we miss a little on the key Friday night runs.
In Norwalk, we were a bit soft and left too much on the table, but we held in there in the 11th spot and got to race on Sunday. I'm very proud of the fact we've gotten to do that at all 11 races. Don't even ask me about all 23, that's Mount Everest, or maybe the moon, in today's Funny Car class. Right now, I'm only aiming for 12 in a row. If we do that, we'll think about 13."
With his trusty blue mount back on the track, in the scenic hills and valleys of beautiful eastern Tennessee, Jeff Arend clearly has his priorities set. The final goal is simply to turn Bristol blue.
