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POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2008) – In his first NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national event driving for Don Schumacher Racing, Jerry Toliver missed qualifying No. 1 in the Funny Car class at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals by less than five miles per hour. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car had to settle for No. 2 after posting the quickest run of the weekend during the final qualifying round. He set a 4.790-second elapsed time at 320.51 mph, but relinquished the top spot when Tim Wilkerson followed him with an identical elapsed time but a faster speed (325.22 mph), relegating Toliver to No. 2.
His other lap times included a 7.048/109.09, a 5.163/223.17, and a 4.861/298.01.
"I am extremely happy to do that well," said an upbeat Toliver, who's won three times at Pomona. "We wound up No. 2 but, guess what, there was only one car that ran better than us and he only beat us by speed. No. 1 is great, but winning the race is what's important. I've won this race right here in Pomona from the 15th spot, so it's all different on race day.
"My goal this weekend is to get by first round. If I win that first round tomorrow against my new teammate Jack Beckman, then after that it's all gravy. I want to win the race, but I'm just being real. There are a lot of good cars out here and a lot of good teams and it's competitive. So, if we get by first round it’s a good weekend."
Toliver struggled during the first two days of qualifying, but things turned around for the Rockstar Energy Drink team on Saturday. "That 4.79 made me feel good," he said. "it gave me confidence, and I think it gave the guys confidence in me. (Crew chief) Phil Shuler and the entire crew have done a great job and it's fantastic, and I'm as happy as I could be.
"I've made some driver errors in this car from the moment I stepped in it during testing. It's a new car, a new seat, a new steering wheel, a new clutch pedal, a different view out of the body, a new everything. It takes some laps to get used to it and I just wasn't comfortable, but these guys never wavered. They stuck with me and they believed in me. This is a team effort. All I do is point and steer it and go from A to B. They give me the race car and I drive it as hard as I can.
"I think there is going be some great things coming out of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge team this year. I think we're going to be a force to be dealt with and I'm very excited."
As mentioned, Toliver will face DSR teammate Jack Beckman in round one of eliminations on Sunday. "It doesn't matter who's in the other lane. When you get in the glue it's time to go," said Toliver with a smile. "The only objective you can have is to beat that guy. I don't care if it is my mother."
TOLIVER QUALIFIES No. 2 AT THE WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2008) – In his first NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national event driving for Don Schumacher Racing, Jerry Toliver missed qualifying No. 1 in the Funny Car class at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals by less than five miles per hour. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car had to settle for No. 2 after posting the quickest run of the weekend during the final qualifying round. He set a 4.790-second elapsed time at 320.51 mph, but relinquished the top spot when Tim Wilkerson followed him with an identical elapsed time but a faster speed (325.22 mph), relegating Toliver to No. 2.
His other lap times included a 7.048/109.09, a 5.163/223.17, and a 4.861/298.01.
"I am extremely happy to do that well," said an upbeat Toliver, who's won three times at Pomona. "We wound up No. 2 but, guess what, there was only one car that ran better than us and he only beat us by speed. No. 1 is great, but winning the race is what's important. I've won this race right here in Pomona from the 15th spot, so it's all different on race day.
"My goal this weekend is to get by first round. If I win that first round tomorrow against my new teammate Jack Beckman, then after that it's all gravy. I want to win the race, but I'm just being real. There are a lot of good cars out here and a lot of good teams and it's competitive. So, if we get by first round it’s a good weekend."
Toliver struggled during the first two days of qualifying, but things turned around for the Rockstar Energy Drink team on Saturday. "That 4.79 made me feel good," he said. "it gave me confidence, and I think it gave the guys confidence in me. (Crew chief) Phil Shuler and the entire crew have done a great job and it's fantastic, and I'm as happy as I could be.
"I've made some driver errors in this car from the moment I stepped in it during testing. It's a new car, a new seat, a new steering wheel, a new clutch pedal, a different view out of the body, a new everything. It takes some laps to get used to it and I just wasn't comfortable, but these guys never wavered. They stuck with me and they believed in me. This is a team effort. All I do is point and steer it and go from A to B. They give me the race car and I drive it as hard as I can.
"I think there is going be some great things coming out of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge team this year. I think we're going to be a force to be dealt with and I'm very excited."
As mentioned, Toliver will face DSR teammate Jack Beckman in round one of eliminations on Sunday. "It doesn't matter who's in the other lane. When you get in the glue it's time to go," said Toliver with a smile. "The only objective you can have is to beat that guy. I don't care if it is my mother."
