<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_toliver_112259.jpg" alt="j_toliver_112259"align="left"borders="0" />
TEMECULA, Calif. (April 30, 2008) – Jerry Toliver is looking to kick start his season this weekend at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., in the shadow of the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing will make his seventh stop of the 24-event 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.
"The Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge is prepared to go to battle in St. Louis," said Toliver, who is currently 17th in the point standings and seeking his first round win of the season. "I'm glad that we're going back to racing the weekend following Atlanta because I don't want to be sitting around right now. I want to get back on the race track with this car. We want to get things figured out and get the Rockstar Funny Car in the winner's circle."
Toliver has been successful at Gateway in the past. The California native won the event from the No. 1 qualifying position in 2000, defeating Dean Skuza in the final round. Toliver qualified 14th at last year's event but lost to Ashley Force in the first round of eliminations.
"It's still early enough in the season that if you can put together one or two good races you're right back in the middle of the hunt," he said. "The only way we're going to get there is to get this car back on the track and get some laps in it. I'm excited about going to St. Louis and I think we made some headway in Atlanta. I'm confident the Rockstar team is going to bounce up and answer the bell.
"The Rockstar team is not about to roll over and die," Toliver added. "This team is all about dedication and getting this thing turned around and we're going to do that. I have all the faith and confidence in (crew chief) Phil Shuler and (assistant crew chief) Scott Okuhara and my crew and the entire DSR organization. We're going to make this program the best it can be and get back in the hunt here very soon."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 17 in Funny Car point standings after seven events in 2008
* Qualified 14th at last year's Gateway event, lost to Ashley Force in round one
* Qualified No. 1 and won the race in Funny Car at the Midwest Nationals in 2000
* Debuted new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink at 2007 Las Vegas event
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* No. 19 in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
* Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
* Qualified in the top half of the field twice in 2007; had top speed of the event in Denver
* Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
* Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
* Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
* Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner
* First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
* Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
* Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
* Nephew of drag racing pioneers and Hall of Fame members, Art and Jack Chrisman
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
GATEWAY 2000 WINNER TOLIVER SET TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN ST. LOUIS
TEMECULA, Calif. (April 30, 2008) – Jerry Toliver is looking to kick start his season this weekend at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., in the shadow of the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing will make his seventh stop of the 24-event 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.
"The Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge is prepared to go to battle in St. Louis," said Toliver, who is currently 17th in the point standings and seeking his first round win of the season. "I'm glad that we're going back to racing the weekend following Atlanta because I don't want to be sitting around right now. I want to get back on the race track with this car. We want to get things figured out and get the Rockstar Funny Car in the winner's circle."
Toliver has been successful at Gateway in the past. The California native won the event from the No. 1 qualifying position in 2000, defeating Dean Skuza in the final round. Toliver qualified 14th at last year's event but lost to Ashley Force in the first round of eliminations.
"It's still early enough in the season that if you can put together one or two good races you're right back in the middle of the hunt," he said. "The only way we're going to get there is to get this car back on the track and get some laps in it. I'm excited about going to St. Louis and I think we made some headway in Atlanta. I'm confident the Rockstar team is going to bounce up and answer the bell.
"The Rockstar team is not about to roll over and die," Toliver added. "This team is all about dedication and getting this thing turned around and we're going to do that. I have all the faith and confidence in (crew chief) Phil Shuler and (assistant crew chief) Scott Okuhara and my crew and the entire DSR organization. We're going to make this program the best it can be and get back in the hunt here very soon."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 17 in Funny Car point standings after seven events in 2008
* Qualified 14th at last year's Gateway event, lost to Ashley Force in round one
* Qualified No. 1 and won the race in Funny Car at the Midwest Nationals in 2000
* Debuted new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink at 2007 Las Vegas event
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* No. 19 in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
* Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
* Qualified in the top half of the field twice in 2007; had top speed of the event in Denver
* Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
* Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
* Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
* Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner
* First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
* Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
* Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
* Nephew of drag racing pioneers and Hall of Fame members, Art and Jack Chrisman
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
