<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/0928_berner_pss.jpg" alt="0928_berner_pss" align="right"borders="0"/>
TULSA, OK – Nothing prepares a team better than a healthy regimen of testing. Defending IHRA Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Stock champion Pete Berner has taken the practice to the next level. He’s flogged almost every ounce of potential he can out of his Jon Kaase-powered, Rick Jones-built Pontiac GTO.
The key word the competition should take notice of is – almost. This weekend’s IHRA SKULL Shine Sooner Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma will provide the ultimate test of his tests.
“We tested two days last week in St. Louis and a couple of times in Joliet,” Berner said. “I am excited about our new combination and every time we think we have reached a new plateau, we climb even higher.”
Berner’s enthusiasm comes from performance gains made in the carburetion department. The Crete, Illinois-based driver/team owner knows he should keep performance secrets but can’t help but brag on his set of new 7520 Braswell Carburetor.
“Dave [Braswell] has a winner here,” Berner said, of the carburetors he first ran in Rockingham. “These work flawlessly and the potential is there for some big things. I am looking forward to testing more and fine-tuning everything in.
“He put in a lot of time helping us to make things right. I am quite pleased.”
Berner’s St. Louis test utilized his newly appointed second motor nicknamed “Kong.” He unveiled his newest unnamed piece during Joliet’s Route 66 Raceway session.
“This thing has the potential to run 6.20s in good air,” Berner said. “We haven’t named it yet. We’re leaning towards Shaft because this new Kaase piece is a bad mother. We haven’t even scratched the surface of its potential.”
The common denominator for the aforementioned sessions was a hot race track. A quick look at this weekend’s forecast reveals mid-Eighties with a 40% chance of thunderstorms predicted on each day. Berner and his crew feel confident of their baseline combination headed into the third stop on the eleven-event Knoll Gas Nitro Jam tour.
“Anytime there is a threat of rain, you want to try and get in solidly on the first run,” Berner said. “Today we will be testing in similar conditions, so we will go ahead and try to find the baseline. We should be able to get it right on the first lick.
“Once you are in there, you can fine-tune. You just have to get in there. We are well known for being hot weather racers. We aren’t the fastest, but we know how to get down the track on Sunday.”
DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPION BERNER TESTED AND READY FOR TULSA CHALLENGE
TULSA, OK – Nothing prepares a team better than a healthy regimen of testing. Defending IHRA Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Stock champion Pete Berner has taken the practice to the next level. He’s flogged almost every ounce of potential he can out of his Jon Kaase-powered, Rick Jones-built Pontiac GTO.
The key word the competition should take notice of is – almost. This weekend’s IHRA SKULL Shine Sooner Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma will provide the ultimate test of his tests.
“We tested two days last week in St. Louis and a couple of times in Joliet,” Berner said. “I am excited about our new combination and every time we think we have reached a new plateau, we climb even higher.”
Berner’s enthusiasm comes from performance gains made in the carburetion department. The Crete, Illinois-based driver/team owner knows he should keep performance secrets but can’t help but brag on his set of new 7520 Braswell Carburetor.
“Dave [Braswell] has a winner here,” Berner said, of the carburetors he first ran in Rockingham. “These work flawlessly and the potential is there for some big things. I am looking forward to testing more and fine-tuning everything in.
“He put in a lot of time helping us to make things right. I am quite pleased.”
Berner’s St. Louis test utilized his newly appointed second motor nicknamed “Kong.” He unveiled his newest unnamed piece during Joliet’s Route 66 Raceway session.
“This thing has the potential to run 6.20s in good air,” Berner said. “We haven’t named it yet. We’re leaning towards Shaft because this new Kaase piece is a bad mother. We haven’t even scratched the surface of its potential.”
The common denominator for the aforementioned sessions was a hot race track. A quick look at this weekend’s forecast reveals mid-Eighties with a 40% chance of thunderstorms predicted on each day. Berner and his crew feel confident of their baseline combination headed into the third stop on the eleven-event Knoll Gas Nitro Jam tour.
“Anytime there is a threat of rain, you want to try and get in solidly on the first run,” Berner said. “Today we will be testing in similar conditions, so we will go ahead and try to find the baseline. We should be able to get it right on the first lick.
“Once you are in there, you can fine-tune. You just have to get in there. We are well known for being hot weather racers. We aren’t the fastest, but we know how to get down the track on Sunday.”
