CONCORD, N.C. – LE Tonglet’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs got off to rough start Friday when the motor in the Nitro Fish/Tonglet Racing Suzuki GSXR expired in the first qualifying run in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
With team owner Gary Tonglet and GT Tonglet tuning the replacement engine, LE bumped his way into Sunday’s eliminations Saturday with a run of 6.974 seconds at 189.55 mph to secure 15th place in the starting lineup.
“We barely made it in,” LE said with a sigh. “We changed motors and kept backing down (the tune-up). We’ll get back to our fast combination Sunday . . . and we’re hoping it is a better day. We just wanted to go down the track on our last run and get a time that put us in it. At least this wasn’t as bad as Norwalk (Ohio, where he did not qualify for the race).”
Tonglet, the reigning Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, races Matt Smith (No. 2, 6.871 at 191.84 mph) in the opening round.
With team owner Gary Tonglet and GT Tonglet tuning the replacement engine, LE bumped his way into Sunday’s eliminations Saturday with a run of 6.974 seconds at 189.55 mph to secure 15th place in the starting lineup.
“We barely made it in,” LE said with a sigh. “We changed motors and kept backing down (the tune-up). We’ll get back to our fast combination Sunday . . . and we’re hoping it is a better day. We just wanted to go down the track on our last run and get a time that put us in it. At least this wasn’t as bad as Norwalk (Ohio, where he did not qualify for the race).”
Tonglet, the reigning Full Throttle Series Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, races Matt Smith (No. 2, 6.871 at 191.84 mph) in the opening round.
