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(6-23-08) ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey - Josh Hernandez, driver of the Team Rage '68 Camaro Pro Mod, put another notch in his belt Sunday with a dramatic win in a weekend that will be remembered not for the racing but by the tragic death of nitro Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta Saturday evening.
After qualifying No. 4 with a 6.043/240.72, Hernandez roared through the field in eliminations, defeating local racer Vinny Budano in round one, last-year's event winner Tim Tindle in round two, and current series-points leader Tony Pontieri in the semifinals before facing off against the nitrous-powered '68 Camaro of Mike Castellana for the finals. Saving the best for last, Hernandez ran the quickest lap of the event in the final when he belted out a 5.983 240.51 mph pass as an exclamation point to the event.
"We did exactly what we had to do this weekend," Hernandez said. "We came into the weekend ranked sixth, and now we're number two, just a few rounds out of first, which was exactly our goal.
"It was really cool to see the nitrous guys there with their 6.0 game, and I thought we might see the first five-something run, that's why we had things so tight for the final.
"I have to say that Jim and Dave Oddy and the team really have this car tuned so well, they are amazing. They all make my job a lot easier, because I always know I'll have the very best car on the track every time I go to the line," he said.
Commenting on the loss of driver Scott Kalitta, Hernandez drew a parallel to the accident of Funny Car driver Johhny West in 1990.
"I was here when Johnny West hit the wall and then the car kept accelerating until it crashed into the guard rail at the top-end. The difference was, he came out of that wreck, and Scott didn't. Nevertheless, it was surreal for me, because as I watched it happen Saturday night, it was like I'd been here before, and I hated it.
"I'm excited for the win and the results, but I'm also glad this weekend is over. I'm emotionally drained, torn inside, and ready for a break," he said.
The Jegs ProMod Challenge takes a two-month summer break before hitting the track again at the US Nationals in Indianapolis, but Hernandez and crew will be far from taking a vacation. The current points-leader in eighth-mile ADRL competition, the team will take on an event-filled summer with races in Radford, Va., Budd's Creek, Md., and Norwalk, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of RacerChick.
HERNANDEZ WINS ENGLISHTOWN!
(6-23-08) ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey - Josh Hernandez, driver of the Team Rage '68 Camaro Pro Mod, put another notch in his belt Sunday with a dramatic win in a weekend that will be remembered not for the racing but by the tragic death of nitro Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta Saturday evening.
After qualifying No. 4 with a 6.043/240.72, Hernandez roared through the field in eliminations, defeating local racer Vinny Budano in round one, last-year's event winner Tim Tindle in round two, and current series-points leader Tony Pontieri in the semifinals before facing off against the nitrous-powered '68 Camaro of Mike Castellana for the finals. Saving the best for last, Hernandez ran the quickest lap of the event in the final when he belted out a 5.983 240.51 mph pass as an exclamation point to the event.
"We did exactly what we had to do this weekend," Hernandez said. "We came into the weekend ranked sixth, and now we're number two, just a few rounds out of first, which was exactly our goal.
"It was really cool to see the nitrous guys there with their 6.0 game, and I thought we might see the first five-something run, that's why we had things so tight for the final.
"I have to say that Jim and Dave Oddy and the team really have this car tuned so well, they are amazing. They all make my job a lot easier, because I always know I'll have the very best car on the track every time I go to the line," he said.
Commenting on the loss of driver Scott Kalitta, Hernandez drew a parallel to the accident of Funny Car driver Johhny West in 1990.
"I was here when Johnny West hit the wall and then the car kept accelerating until it crashed into the guard rail at the top-end. The difference was, he came out of that wreck, and Scott didn't. Nevertheless, it was surreal for me, because as I watched it happen Saturday night, it was like I'd been here before, and I hated it.
"I'm excited for the win and the results, but I'm also glad this weekend is over. I'm emotionally drained, torn inside, and ready for a break," he said.
The Jegs ProMod Challenge takes a two-month summer break before hitting the track again at the US Nationals in Indianapolis, but Hernandez and crew will be far from taking a vacation. The current points-leader in eighth-mile ADRL competition, the team will take on an event-filled summer with races in Radford, Va., Budd's Creek, Md., and Norwalk, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of RacerChick.
