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Bristol, TN – After testing his newly repaired Tim McAmis built Corvette Mike Knowles thought things were beginning to look up. His new car reacted positively to the changes they threw at it and the team was able to make progress on each pass, but those positive feelings did not translate into a qualifying effort at the Eighth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
While the team continued to make progress with each qualifying attempt it wasn't enough to break into the tough Jegs Pro Mod Challenge 16 car field. Knowles best run was twenty two hundredths of a second off the qualifying pace and kept him out of eliminations.
"There's something we're missing, just something is out of whack. We have to go out and do some testing between races and learn what this thing needs. We will run the wheels off this car testing and when we get to the next race we will be competitive. I know we have all of the best pieces on a great car, just something isn't right," said Knowles.
To help sort out the gremlins veteran alcohol tuner Norm Grimes will act as a consultant for his Knowles Racing Pro Mod. Grimes is best known for tuning Rick Santos to five consecutive World Championships. Grimes now acts as crew chief for what Bob Frey called "One of the best, if not the best supercharged alcohol dragster in the country"; Jim Whiteley's YNOT Top Alcohol Dragster. Grimes also spent time in the fuel ranks working with Jerry Tolliver.
"Norm is going to be an extra set of eyes for us. Being able to tap into his knowledge should prove invaluable," said Knowles.
One part of Knowles weekend that went well was how both fans and fellow racers received his new "Blown Money" Corvette. "Tim (McAmis) and his guys did a fantastic job on this car and everybody was very complementary. I can't thank Tim and his guys enough for their quality of work and quick turn around," said Knowles.
Knowles Racing consists of:
Driver: Mike Knowles
Crew: Bart Sunn, Billy Rice, Mike and Justin Reiger, Jeff and Mike Strasburg, and Bobbie Knowles
Knowles Racing Competes on the NHRA circuit in the Jegs ProMod Challenge Series. The 2008 JEGS Pro Mod Challenge will compete at NHRA national events in Gainesville (March 13-16), Houston (March 28-30), Atlanta (April 24-27), St. Louis (May 2-4), Bristol (May 16-18), Englishtown (June 19-22), Indianapolis (Aug. 27-Sept. 1), Dallas (Sept. 18-21), Richmond (Oct. 10-12), and Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2).
Photo Courtesy Of: Roger Richards
Struggles Continue For Knowles Racing
Bristol, TN – After testing his newly repaired Tim McAmis built Corvette Mike Knowles thought things were beginning to look up. His new car reacted positively to the changes they threw at it and the team was able to make progress on each pass, but those positive feelings did not translate into a qualifying effort at the Eighth annual O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
While the team continued to make progress with each qualifying attempt it wasn't enough to break into the tough Jegs Pro Mod Challenge 16 car field. Knowles best run was twenty two hundredths of a second off the qualifying pace and kept him out of eliminations.
"There's something we're missing, just something is out of whack. We have to go out and do some testing between races and learn what this thing needs. We will run the wheels off this car testing and when we get to the next race we will be competitive. I know we have all of the best pieces on a great car, just something isn't right," said Knowles.
To help sort out the gremlins veteran alcohol tuner Norm Grimes will act as a consultant for his Knowles Racing Pro Mod. Grimes is best known for tuning Rick Santos to five consecutive World Championships. Grimes now acts as crew chief for what Bob Frey called "One of the best, if not the best supercharged alcohol dragster in the country"; Jim Whiteley's YNOT Top Alcohol Dragster. Grimes also spent time in the fuel ranks working with Jerry Tolliver.
"Norm is going to be an extra set of eyes for us. Being able to tap into his knowledge should prove invaluable," said Knowles.
One part of Knowles weekend that went well was how both fans and fellow racers received his new "Blown Money" Corvette. "Tim (McAmis) and his guys did a fantastic job on this car and everybody was very complementary. I can't thank Tim and his guys enough for their quality of work and quick turn around," said Knowles.
Knowles Racing consists of:
Driver: Mike Knowles
Crew: Bart Sunn, Billy Rice, Mike and Justin Reiger, Jeff and Mike Strasburg, and Bobbie Knowles
Knowles Racing Competes on the NHRA circuit in the Jegs ProMod Challenge Series. The 2008 JEGS Pro Mod Challenge will compete at NHRA national events in Gainesville (March 13-16), Houston (March 28-30), Atlanta (April 24-27), St. Louis (May 2-4), Bristol (May 16-18), Englishtown (June 19-22), Indianapolis (Aug. 27-Sept. 1), Dallas (Sept. 18-21), Richmond (Oct. 10-12), and Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2).
Photo Courtesy Of: Roger Richards
