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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2008) - Jerry Toliver lost in the first round of eliminations on Sunday at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third round of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, who qualified No. 16, made a valiant effort but was unable to knock off No. 1 qualifier Tony Pedregon.
Toliver, who entered the race with a new Murf McKinney chassis under the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car body, made his quickest run of the weekend against Pedregon, an elapsed time of 4.931 seconds at 316.38 mph, but it wasn't enough to take out Pedregon, who scored the win with a 4.861/317.12 pass by .0857 of a second.
"That wasn't a bad lap," Toliver said. "I left with him off the starting line, but he ran low elapsed time of the round and we got beat. It is always disappointing to lose in the first round, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. The Rockstar Energy Drink team did its job and everybody over here at DSR is coming together and it’s a team effort.
"We made another step forward and got some good information out of it. This is a brand-new race car and we need some laps on it, so we'll stay here and test tomorrow. That was only the third full lap with the new chassis and, if we can run a 4.93 with just three runs on the car, then we're headed in the right direction. I have all the faith and confidence that we can turn this thing around. I guarantee this Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge will be in the mix soon."
Next up is the 21st annual NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, Texas, March 28-30.
NHRA FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after three events:
1. Robert Hight, 222
2. Jack Beckman, 216
3. Cruz Pedregon, 202
4. Tony Pedregon, 182
5. Gary Densham, 175
6. Jim Head, 156
7. Tim Wilkerson, 152
8. John Force, 147
9. Ashley Force, 137
10. Scott Kalitta, 118
11. Gary Scelzi, 114
____________________
13. Jerry Toliver, 99
14. Ron Capps, 96
TOLIVER OUSTED IN FIRST ROUND AT GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2008) - Jerry Toliver lost in the first round of eliminations on Sunday at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the third round of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, who qualified No. 16, made a valiant effort but was unable to knock off No. 1 qualifier Tony Pedregon.
Toliver, who entered the race with a new Murf McKinney chassis under the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car body, made his quickest run of the weekend against Pedregon, an elapsed time of 4.931 seconds at 316.38 mph, but it wasn't enough to take out Pedregon, who scored the win with a 4.861/317.12 pass by .0857 of a second.
"That wasn't a bad lap," Toliver said. "I left with him off the starting line, but he ran low elapsed time of the round and we got beat. It is always disappointing to lose in the first round, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. The Rockstar Energy Drink team did its job and everybody over here at DSR is coming together and it’s a team effort.
"We made another step forward and got some good information out of it. This is a brand-new race car and we need some laps on it, so we'll stay here and test tomorrow. That was only the third full lap with the new chassis and, if we can run a 4.93 with just three runs on the car, then we're headed in the right direction. I have all the faith and confidence that we can turn this thing around. I guarantee this Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge will be in the mix soon."
Next up is the 21st annual NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, Texas, March 28-30.
NHRA FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after three events:
1. Robert Hight, 222
2. Jack Beckman, 216
3. Cruz Pedregon, 202
4. Tony Pedregon, 182
5. Gary Densham, 175
6. Jim Head, 156
7. Tim Wilkerson, 152
8. John Force, 147
9. Ashley Force, 137
10. Scott Kalitta, 118
11. Gary Scelzi, 114
____________________
13. Jerry Toliver, 99
14. Ron Capps, 96
