Hernandez leads National Guard to four straight finals
<p style="width:310px;float:right;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/PX_winner1.jpg"
<br><font color="Navy">"I couldn't be more proud of my team for taking me along to four consecutive finals and picking up three trophies along the way." Hernandez said.</font>
<p>(7-7-08) Joshua Hernandez, driver of the National Guard Pro Extreme '57 Chevy Bel-Air, wrote another page in the history books last weekend by becoming the first driver in ADRL history to claim victory in three consecutive National Events. Beginning with the 2008 season's second points-earning event in Houston, Hernandez and the National Guard reigned over the ADRL's Dragpalooza IV, Hardee's Georgia Drags and the recently rain-delayed Pizza Hut Summer Drags events.
Hernandez's red, white and blue '57 Chevy looked right at home under the Independence Day fireworks celebration over the staging lanes of the Motor Mile Dragway just before rocketing to a 3.890-second victory over Bob Mandell Jr's 4.20 to clinch his third consecutive victory.
"What an honor it is to bring home another win for this incredible team, all of our sponsors and the fans who braved the weather today to hang out and celebrate the fourth of July and some incredible racing", Hernandez said.
"I can't say enough for the National Guard and the support we get from the folks at InterLinc Mortgage, Red Line Oil, Gatorz Eyewear and all of our family that couldn't be here to celebrate with us this weekend," he said.
Following a rain-soaked Saturday, eliminations would be postponed and then resumed on Sunday. Hernandez and the Oddy-tuned '57 Chevy found themselves sitting number two in qualifying with a 3.852 entering eliminations. The march to a fourth consecutive final round appearance began with a first-round victory over Billy Gibson and a subsequent win-light over Dwayne Watkins in the quarterfinals.
Hernandez' march was not without a stumble, however, as the Pro Mod pilot found himself in the sand trap following his second round victory.
"This is some tough racing up here on the mountain," Hernandez said. "The track is a little short for stopping these 200-m.p.h. cars in thin air, and I've had a tough time getting this 'ol Guard car slowed down without hoppin' on these big Hoosier tires down in the shutdown area.
"I got the car a little dirty and left a mark on her nose but got her cleaned up and back for next round," he added.
With help from teammate Harold Martin's crew as well as Chip King's repair expertise, Hernandez was able to return to the starting line for the semifinal win over Brian Daniels before matching up against the Willy's of Travis Swearingen in the final round.
Hernandez' record would hold at 15-1 in consecutive events as Swearingen took the final-round victory in a 3.81 to 3.95 race.
"I couldn't be more proud of my team for taking me along to four consecutive finals and picking up three trophies along the way. Swearingen has a great team over there and this was their day to be victorious, congratulations to them," Hernandez said.
He commented on the upcoming inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD US Drags in a few weeks by saying, "We've been lucky enough to have been riding a big wave of luck the last few races, now it's time to paddle back out and catch the next one, and I can see it on the horizon," he said
<p style="width:310px;float:right;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/Deby706/PX_winner1.jpg"
<br><font color="Navy">"I couldn't be more proud of my team for taking me along to four consecutive finals and picking up three trophies along the way." Hernandez said.</font>
<p>(7-7-08) Joshua Hernandez, driver of the National Guard Pro Extreme '57 Chevy Bel-Air, wrote another page in the history books last weekend by becoming the first driver in ADRL history to claim victory in three consecutive National Events. Beginning with the 2008 season's second points-earning event in Houston, Hernandez and the National Guard reigned over the ADRL's Dragpalooza IV, Hardee's Georgia Drags and the recently rain-delayed Pizza Hut Summer Drags events.
Hernandez's red, white and blue '57 Chevy looked right at home under the Independence Day fireworks celebration over the staging lanes of the Motor Mile Dragway just before rocketing to a 3.890-second victory over Bob Mandell Jr's 4.20 to clinch his third consecutive victory.
"What an honor it is to bring home another win for this incredible team, all of our sponsors and the fans who braved the weather today to hang out and celebrate the fourth of July and some incredible racing", Hernandez said.
"I can't say enough for the National Guard and the support we get from the folks at InterLinc Mortgage, Red Line Oil, Gatorz Eyewear and all of our family that couldn't be here to celebrate with us this weekend," he said.
Following a rain-soaked Saturday, eliminations would be postponed and then resumed on Sunday. Hernandez and the Oddy-tuned '57 Chevy found themselves sitting number two in qualifying with a 3.852 entering eliminations. The march to a fourth consecutive final round appearance began with a first-round victory over Billy Gibson and a subsequent win-light over Dwayne Watkins in the quarterfinals.
Hernandez' march was not without a stumble, however, as the Pro Mod pilot found himself in the sand trap following his second round victory.
"This is some tough racing up here on the mountain," Hernandez said. "The track is a little short for stopping these 200-m.p.h. cars in thin air, and I've had a tough time getting this 'ol Guard car slowed down without hoppin' on these big Hoosier tires down in the shutdown area.
"I got the car a little dirty and left a mark on her nose but got her cleaned up and back for next round," he added.
With help from teammate Harold Martin's crew as well as Chip King's repair expertise, Hernandez was able to return to the starting line for the semifinal win over Brian Daniels before matching up against the Willy's of Travis Swearingen in the final round.
Hernandez' record would hold at 15-1 in consecutive events as Swearingen took the final-round victory in a 3.81 to 3.95 race.
"I couldn't be more proud of my team for taking me along to four consecutive finals and picking up three trophies along the way. Swearingen has a great team over there and this was their day to be victorious, congratulations to them," Hernandez said.
He commented on the upcoming inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD US Drags in a few weeks by saying, "We've been lucky enough to have been riding a big wave of luck the last few races, now it's time to paddle back out and catch the next one, and I can see it on the horizon," he said
