[coverattach=1] BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Prior proper planning prevents poor performance – the 6 P’s of succeeding at anything – especially drag racing. Whether it’s a start up business you’re dealing with or a world-class Pro Modified drag racing team, there is no replacement for thinking ahead and strategy. The on-track tag team of driver Danny Rowe and crew chief Jimmy Rector felt they had a handle on things going into the elimination rounds of the inaugural IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals this last weekend in Baton Rouge, but fell prey to their own strategy.
After finally getting a handle on an obviously tricky racing surface and qualifying No. 4 with a 6.018-second blast at 240.08mph, Rowe and Rector knew consistency would be the key to success this weekend in Louisiana.
“Our game plan was simple: soften the cars up enough to ensure getting from A to B under power and rely on our ability to make complete runs on a marginal racetrack to carry us through,” said Rowe, driver of the Hottinger Group/Sterling Bridge ’67 Camaro Pro Mod. “We felt like this was our race to win and were confident after the 6.01/240mph lap we made in the 1st round against Folse. Going into the next round against Ed Hoover we knew we’d need to make another good low 6.0 run, but unfortunately, we just got flat outrun – and that’s part of it.”
Despite a fourth-hundredths advantage on the starting line, Rowe’s 6.069/240.81mph pass wasn’t enough to stay ahead of a hard-charging Ed Hoover, who posted an impressive 6.001-second elapsed time at 242mph in the quarter-final round.
“We stuck to our plan and it bit us,” said Rowe. “I’m definitely not disappointed as I know that we’ve got a very competitive program for 2009, and while we would have liked to win the event, of course, no one here is disenchanted with a strong start to the season like this.”
Rowe also entered his brand new ’68 Pontiac Firebird in the special Outlaw Pro Mod Quick-8 at the IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals, although in completely IHRA legal trim, and was able to snag the No. 1 qualifying position at 3.937-seconds and 189.31mph. Rowe then progressed to the 2nd round of outlaw action before the Sterling Bridge-backed hot rod overpowered the track and forced Rowe to shut if off early.
“Our next event is just a week away and this was a solid outing to prepare us for the rest of the season,” said Rowe. “We’re headed to Florida and hope to go the distance against the best in the business.”
Information regarding Danny Rowe Racing can be found at .: Danny Rowe Racing - Pro Modified :.
After finally getting a handle on an obviously tricky racing surface and qualifying No. 4 with a 6.018-second blast at 240.08mph, Rowe and Rector knew consistency would be the key to success this weekend in Louisiana.
“Our game plan was simple: soften the cars up enough to ensure getting from A to B under power and rely on our ability to make complete runs on a marginal racetrack to carry us through,” said Rowe, driver of the Hottinger Group/Sterling Bridge ’67 Camaro Pro Mod. “We felt like this was our race to win and were confident after the 6.01/240mph lap we made in the 1st round against Folse. Going into the next round against Ed Hoover we knew we’d need to make another good low 6.0 run, but unfortunately, we just got flat outrun – and that’s part of it.”
Despite a fourth-hundredths advantage on the starting line, Rowe’s 6.069/240.81mph pass wasn’t enough to stay ahead of a hard-charging Ed Hoover, who posted an impressive 6.001-second elapsed time at 242mph in the quarter-final round.
“We stuck to our plan and it bit us,” said Rowe. “I’m definitely not disappointed as I know that we’ve got a very competitive program for 2009, and while we would have liked to win the event, of course, no one here is disenchanted with a strong start to the season like this.”
Rowe also entered his brand new ’68 Pontiac Firebird in the special Outlaw Pro Mod Quick-8 at the IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals, although in completely IHRA legal trim, and was able to snag the No. 1 qualifying position at 3.937-seconds and 189.31mph. Rowe then progressed to the 2nd round of outlaw action before the Sterling Bridge-backed hot rod overpowered the track and forced Rowe to shut if off early.
“Our next event is just a week away and this was a solid outing to prepare us for the rest of the season,” said Rowe. “We’re headed to Florida and hope to go the distance against the best in the business.”
Information regarding Danny Rowe Racing can be found at .: Danny Rowe Racing - Pro Modified :.
