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TEMECULA, Calif. (March 26, 2008) – Rockstar Energy Drink Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver is seeking his first victory for his new Don Schumacher Racing team at this weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, the fourth of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Toliver has reached the Funny Car final round twice in Houston, walking away with runner-up honors in 2000 and 2004.
"Houston is a great track," said Toliver, who has five career national-event wins. "Texas has a great bunch of fans. Everywhere we go it seems like the NHRA increases its attendance. I've had good success at Houston Raceway Park, not great, but I've been in some final rounds. I haven't had a win there yet, so we're looking forward to doing that this weekend."
The Rocktar Energy Drink team is encouraged by its new Murf McKinney chassis which made its debut two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla.
"This Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge is really starting to come on," said Toliver, who made four test runs on Monday following the national event at Gainesville Raceway. "We brought a new chassis to Gainesville and we stayed over and tested and ran a mid-4.80-second elapsed time. We feel like we're getting a handle on the car; it's starting to repeat.
"We're looking for big things to come. We changed to a new car early so we could get a jump on things and I think, looking at the long term, it's going to help out tremendously.
"The Rockstar Energy Drink team is really starting to jell. Everyone is getting comfortable working together and we're starting to come together as a group. We all get along well and we're all here for the same reason. With our strong desire to win, along with all of the resources that Rockstar and Don Schumacher Racing provide, I feel like we're going to get to the winner's circle soon. I'm really excited about going forward and racing in Houston again."
Toliver enters the Houston event 13th in the point standings, just one round win out of the top 10. The California native hasn't competed in Houston since 2004.
"It's really early in the season and one good race and you're right back in the middle of the points chase. With the new points system, the key is to get in the top 10 and get on a roll at the end of the year. That's another reason I think going to this new car is going to benefit us later."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 13 in Funny Car point standings after three events in 2008
* Funny Car runner-up in Houston in 2000 and 2004
* Last competed at Houston in 2004, where he lost in the final round to Tim Wilkerson
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* 19th in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
* Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
* Qualified in the top half of the field twice last season; had top speed of the event in Denver
* Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
* Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
* Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
* Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner
* First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
* Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
* Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
EVENT SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Qualifying continues at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 29. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise the race beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
TOLIVER READY TO ROCK HOUSTON
TEMECULA, Calif. (March 26, 2008) – Rockstar Energy Drink Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver is seeking his first victory for his new Don Schumacher Racing team at this weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, the fourth of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Toliver has reached the Funny Car final round twice in Houston, walking away with runner-up honors in 2000 and 2004.
"Houston is a great track," said Toliver, who has five career national-event wins. "Texas has a great bunch of fans. Everywhere we go it seems like the NHRA increases its attendance. I've had good success at Houston Raceway Park, not great, but I've been in some final rounds. I haven't had a win there yet, so we're looking forward to doing that this weekend."
The Rocktar Energy Drink team is encouraged by its new Murf McKinney chassis which made its debut two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla.
"This Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge is really starting to come on," said Toliver, who made four test runs on Monday following the national event at Gainesville Raceway. "We brought a new chassis to Gainesville and we stayed over and tested and ran a mid-4.80-second elapsed time. We feel like we're getting a handle on the car; it's starting to repeat.
"We're looking for big things to come. We changed to a new car early so we could get a jump on things and I think, looking at the long term, it's going to help out tremendously.
"The Rockstar Energy Drink team is really starting to jell. Everyone is getting comfortable working together and we're starting to come together as a group. We all get along well and we're all here for the same reason. With our strong desire to win, along with all of the resources that Rockstar and Don Schumacher Racing provide, I feel like we're going to get to the winner's circle soon. I'm really excited about going forward and racing in Houston again."
Toliver enters the Houston event 13th in the point standings, just one round win out of the top 10. The California native hasn't competed in Houston since 2004.
"It's really early in the season and one good race and you're right back in the middle of the points chase. With the new points system, the key is to get in the top 10 and get on a roll at the end of the year. That's another reason I think going to this new car is going to benefit us later."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 13 in Funny Car point standings after three events in 2008
* Funny Car runner-up in Houston in 2000 and 2004
* Last competed at Houston in 2004, where he lost in the final round to Tim Wilkerson
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* 19th in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
* Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
* Qualified in the top half of the field twice last season; had top speed of the event in Denver
* Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
* Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
* Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
* Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner
* First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
* Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
* Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
* Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
EVENT SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Qualifying continues at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 29. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise the race beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
