Hernandez and the National Guard Roll into Radford looking for Two
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RADFORD, Virginia (July 4, 2008) -- Like an Army tank rolling onto the battlefield, Josh Hernandez and his National Guard ’57 Chevy Bel Air roll into Radford, Virginia this Independence Day weekend looking to double-up on victories at Motor Mile Raceway. Already a two-time winner on the ADRL circuit this season, Hernandez is hoping to make it four as the rained-out finals of the Pizza Hut Sumer Drags will be contested during qualifying for the Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags.
“This has the potential to be a monumental weekend for us,” Hernandez said. “We made the finals in Martin [Michigan] before the rain finally won that battle, so we’re going to race those finals first, then try to make the finals again in the scheduled race.
“It’s been a difficult season with the rain, but Jim and Dave Oddy haven’t had any problems tuning us to victory so far – they’re just amazing.
“Really, though, the amazing ones are the men and women of the National Guard. I can’t say enough about their dedication to our country and their willingness to serve. It’s really an honor to be here racing for them because of all they do for us,” he said.
Hernandez and the entire National Guard team spent last weekend as guests of The Guard, touring the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery and attending the IRL SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway. Hernandez was even treated to a ride-along in an Indy car – something he said he’d always wanted to do.
“That was totally awesome,” he said. “As we kept going in and out of the turns, I kept saying to myself ‘brake now, slow down, you’re going too fast, brake, brake!’ but the car just dove into the corners at such an amazing speed. I can see how those guys get hooked on that, too. I’m not ready to give up drag racing and go roundey-round, but that was definitely a huge thrill.
“And, going to the Pentagon and seeing everything first-hand was something that brought up so much emotion for me. It’s kind of surreal – like a place you’ve heard about and seen on television, but when you are actually there, walking in the halls, listening to the stories of strength and honor – it just slams you to the core,” he said.
“This weekend, there’s nothing I’d like more than to give the men and women of the National Guard a double victory to celebrate. I’m confident that with the team we have behind us, the power and blower by Critchley and Jim and Dave tuning us, all I’ll have to do is focus on doing my job so we can bring them something to cheer about,” Hernandez said.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/IMG_02761.jpg" alt="IMG_02761" align="right"borders="0"/>
RADFORD, Virginia (July 4, 2008) -- Like an Army tank rolling onto the battlefield, Josh Hernandez and his National Guard ’57 Chevy Bel Air roll into Radford, Virginia this Independence Day weekend looking to double-up on victories at Motor Mile Raceway. Already a two-time winner on the ADRL circuit this season, Hernandez is hoping to make it four as the rained-out finals of the Pizza Hut Sumer Drags will be contested during qualifying for the Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags.
“This has the potential to be a monumental weekend for us,” Hernandez said. “We made the finals in Martin [Michigan] before the rain finally won that battle, so we’re going to race those finals first, then try to make the finals again in the scheduled race.
“It’s been a difficult season with the rain, but Jim and Dave Oddy haven’t had any problems tuning us to victory so far – they’re just amazing.
“Really, though, the amazing ones are the men and women of the National Guard. I can’t say enough about their dedication to our country and their willingness to serve. It’s really an honor to be here racing for them because of all they do for us,” he said.
Hernandez and the entire National Guard team spent last weekend as guests of The Guard, touring the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery and attending the IRL SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway. Hernandez was even treated to a ride-along in an Indy car – something he said he’d always wanted to do.
“That was totally awesome,” he said. “As we kept going in and out of the turns, I kept saying to myself ‘brake now, slow down, you’re going too fast, brake, brake!’ but the car just dove into the corners at such an amazing speed. I can see how those guys get hooked on that, too. I’m not ready to give up drag racing and go roundey-round, but that was definitely a huge thrill.
“And, going to the Pentagon and seeing everything first-hand was something that brought up so much emotion for me. It’s kind of surreal – like a place you’ve heard about and seen on television, but when you are actually there, walking in the halls, listening to the stories of strength and honor – it just slams you to the core,” he said.
“This weekend, there’s nothing I’d like more than to give the men and women of the National Guard a double victory to celebrate. I’m confident that with the team we have behind us, the power and blower by Critchley and Jim and Dave tuning us, all I’ll have to do is focus on doing my job so we can bring them something to cheer about,” Hernandez said.
