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ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22)– In a race weekend marred by tragedy and the untimely death of fellow Funny Car racer Scott Kalitta during Saturday qualifying, the racing fraternity elected to continue with Lucas Oil Supernationals eliminations, though a somber mood hovered over Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Tommy Johnson, Jr., driver of the Monster Energy Funny Car. “We know it can happen in this sport. We all love to drive race cars and that’s the choice we make knowing the possible consequences. It makes racing more difficult today, but in the end it’s what we do because that’s what Scott would want us to do. You go back up there and not think about the tragedy, but race in his honor.”
Johnson qualified the Monster Energy Funny Car in the No. 14 position with a 5.035/302.21.
In the opening round of eliminations, Johnson rolled into the staging beams opposite John Force. Johnson lost traction early in the run and shortly thereafter Force followed suit. Johnson sashayed down the quarter mile trying to get the car to settle down and get traction back to the ground.
Force was also on and off the throttle, ultimately taking the round win with a 5.864/174.17 to Johnson’s 6.695/170.26.
“It shook early,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t expecting it. I tried every technique of pedaling it I could think of in there but it just wouldn’t hook up. I pedaled it quickly twice and I was about to give up when I saw Force smoke the tires in the other lane, so I got back after it. He had a little more momentum and went further before he smoked the tires and it makes it harder to catch him. I pedaled as hard as I could until he was gone. It was frustrating to not get down the track in the first round, but I see a much better car than it appeared to be in that round.
“I’m pleased with the results from the weekend,” said Johnson. “With a new crew chief and without the ability to test (at NHRA facilities to conserve nitromethane), one of the hardest things to do in the middle of the season is to work out a new tune-up while you’re trying to race and qualify.
“I think Rick ( Cassel , new crew chief) has done a great job solving some of the issues we’ve had this season and trying to make the car run better. To actually get qualified in three runs showed huge progress this weekend. I think the team is definitely headed in the right direction. Even though we had a first round loss, overall we came out with a positive weekend.”
MONSTER ENERGY FUNNY CAR TEAM MAKES PROGRESS AT ENGLISHTOWN;
JOINS RACING FRATERNITY IN MOURNING LOSS OF SCOTT KALITTA
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22)– In a race weekend marred by tragedy and the untimely death of fellow Funny Car racer Scott Kalitta during Saturday qualifying, the racing fraternity elected to continue with Lucas Oil Supernationals eliminations, though a somber mood hovered over Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Tommy Johnson, Jr., driver of the Monster Energy Funny Car. “We know it can happen in this sport. We all love to drive race cars and that’s the choice we make knowing the possible consequences. It makes racing more difficult today, but in the end it’s what we do because that’s what Scott would want us to do. You go back up there and not think about the tragedy, but race in his honor.”
Johnson qualified the Monster Energy Funny Car in the No. 14 position with a 5.035/302.21.
In the opening round of eliminations, Johnson rolled into the staging beams opposite John Force. Johnson lost traction early in the run and shortly thereafter Force followed suit. Johnson sashayed down the quarter mile trying to get the car to settle down and get traction back to the ground.
Force was also on and off the throttle, ultimately taking the round win with a 5.864/174.17 to Johnson’s 6.695/170.26.
“It shook early,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t expecting it. I tried every technique of pedaling it I could think of in there but it just wouldn’t hook up. I pedaled it quickly twice and I was about to give up when I saw Force smoke the tires in the other lane, so I got back after it. He had a little more momentum and went further before he smoked the tires and it makes it harder to catch him. I pedaled as hard as I could until he was gone. It was frustrating to not get down the track in the first round, but I see a much better car than it appeared to be in that round.
“I’m pleased with the results from the weekend,” said Johnson. “With a new crew chief and without the ability to test (at NHRA facilities to conserve nitromethane), one of the hardest things to do in the middle of the season is to work out a new tune-up while you’re trying to race and qualify.
“I think Rick ( Cassel , new crew chief) has done a great job solving some of the issues we’ve had this season and trying to make the car run better. To actually get qualified in three runs showed huge progress this weekend. I think the team is definitely headed in the right direction. Even though we had a first round loss, overall we came out with a positive weekend.”
