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[coverattach=1]BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 19, 2010) - With temperatures in the 90's and high
humidity to match, it's definitely air conditioning weather at this
weekend's NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Trane-sponsored Rick Stivers is
right at home in the heat, taking the 13th position in the NHRA Get Screened
America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series field and sending local-favorite 'Tricky'
Rickie Smith to the trailer early in the first round of eliminations.
Still struggling a bit with his 2006 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod, Stivers earned
his spot on the strength of his Friday-night 6.102-second, 236.75 mph pass,
much slower than his teammate Jay Payne's 5.998 at 237.13 mph.
"I think we figured out what we had going on with my car, something in the
clutch wasn't working right, but Brad [Anderson, team owner and crew chief]
and the team got things worked out, and we got past first round against
Rickie," Stivers said.
In the matchup against Smith, Stivers took the lead off the starting line
and never looked back, recording a 6.182 at 236.05. Smith was disqualified
after his car lost traction around mid-track, forcing him to cross the
centerline to keep control of his nitrous-powered '68 Camaro.
"It was really slick out there, and we both really had to drive to keep
things going. I'm just glad I was able to hold on for the win."
Stivers win matches him with current points-leader Von Smith when
eliminations continue Sunday afternoon.
"Von has a heck of a team and he's a really good driver, but I'm sure we've
got what it takes to get past him in this next round," Stivers said. "With
Jay's car running so well, Brad is able to take the data from that car and
apply it to our car in order to give us an advantage.
"I told Brad all we needed to do was put another charge of Freon in this
Trane and let it do its thing, because especially in hot weather, it's hard
to stop a Trane," Stivers added.
Eliminations continue tomorrow starting at approximately 2 p.m. ESPN2 and
ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened
America Pro Mod Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Sunday,
June 27 at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
humidity to match, it's definitely air conditioning weather at this
weekend's NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Trane-sponsored Rick Stivers is
right at home in the heat, taking the 13th position in the NHRA Get Screened
America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series field and sending local-favorite 'Tricky'
Rickie Smith to the trailer early in the first round of eliminations.
Still struggling a bit with his 2006 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod, Stivers earned
his spot on the strength of his Friday-night 6.102-second, 236.75 mph pass,
much slower than his teammate Jay Payne's 5.998 at 237.13 mph.
"I think we figured out what we had going on with my car, something in the
clutch wasn't working right, but Brad [Anderson, team owner and crew chief]
and the team got things worked out, and we got past first round against
Rickie," Stivers said.
In the matchup against Smith, Stivers took the lead off the starting line
and never looked back, recording a 6.182 at 236.05. Smith was disqualified
after his car lost traction around mid-track, forcing him to cross the
centerline to keep control of his nitrous-powered '68 Camaro.
"It was really slick out there, and we both really had to drive to keep
things going. I'm just glad I was able to hold on for the win."
Stivers win matches him with current points-leader Von Smith when
eliminations continue Sunday afternoon.
"Von has a heck of a team and he's a really good driver, but I'm sure we've
got what it takes to get past him in this next round," Stivers said. "With
Jay's car running so well, Brad is able to take the data from that car and
apply it to our car in order to give us an advantage.
"I told Brad all we needed to do was put another charge of Freon in this
Trane and let it do its thing, because especially in hot weather, it's hard
to stop a Trane," Stivers added.
Eliminations continue tomorrow starting at approximately 2 p.m. ESPN2 and
ESPN2HD will televise 30-minutes of racing highlights from the Get Screened
America Pro Mod Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Sunday,
June 27 at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).
