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MORRISON, Colo. – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jim Whiteley shattered both ends of the track record on his way to collecting an impressive victory at this past weekend’s Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway just outside of Denver. Whiteley and his Norm Grimes lead YNot Racing team lowered the track record by over a tenth and bettered the track speed record by over seven mph.
Whiteley, from Grand Junction, Colo., not only became the first Top Alcohol Dragster to run in the 5.50’s on ‘The Mountain,’ but stunned the field 5.491 second elapsed time at 262.90 mph during Saturday evening’s final qualifying session to qualify No. 1. The previous track records were a 5.604 by Richard Putz and 255.00 mph by Whiteley that were both run last year.
In round one, Whiteley received a competition bye and ran another impressive 5.511 at 261.07 mph. Whiteley then squared off with defending event champion and Division 5 Champion Richard Putz. Whiteley took another win with a 5.541 at 259.21 mph. That set up a final round matchup with No. 2 qualifier Ed Schmeeckle.
The race was quickly over at the start, as Schmeeckle rolled through the staging beams, resulting in a disqualification while Whiteley blasted to a 5.568 at 259.86 mph to score his second-straight win on the divisional level.
Whiteley credits the new track surface for the new track records. Over the winter, a new all-concrete racing surface was installed. The track is first drag strip to incorporate heating and cooling in the racing surface.
“This was a great weekend for the team,” said Whiteley. “I can’t say enough about the job they have done with the facility at Bandimere Speedway. The starting line was nearly 30 degrees cooler than the rest of the track, and both lanes were as smooth as glass. There was no ‘bad’ lane. I’m sure the pros are going to reset all the records next month when they come in town for the nationals.”
“Norm and the guys are doing a great job,” Whiteley continued. “What more can you ask for? We beat the old track record by over a tenth and seven mph. We really have a great chemistry right now. As good as the car ran, there’s still more left in it. We learned some stuff in the process this weekend as well. It was good to get the monkey we’ve had on our back off and get the win this weekend.”
With his strong performances of late, Whiteley readily invited NHRA officials to look at his car to dispel any rumors of cheating.
“We’ve heard rumblings on the street we’ve been running an illegal blower,” commented Whiteley. “I invited NHRA to come over and take our blower off and look at it. In fact, there was an official watching us service the car in between rounds. We have nothing to hide from NHRA and we’ll gladly comply with anything they want to check.”
The win moved Whiteley to fourth in national standings and moved him to first in Division 7 points standings. The next event for the YNot Racing team will be the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals, Jul. 18-20, just outside of Seattle.
For more information on the team, visit their website at The Home of Y Not Racing - Home
Whiteley shatters track records en route to Denver win
MORRISON, Colo. – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Jim Whiteley shattered both ends of the track record on his way to collecting an impressive victory at this past weekend’s Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway just outside of Denver. Whiteley and his Norm Grimes lead YNot Racing team lowered the track record by over a tenth and bettered the track speed record by over seven mph.
Whiteley, from Grand Junction, Colo., not only became the first Top Alcohol Dragster to run in the 5.50’s on ‘The Mountain,’ but stunned the field 5.491 second elapsed time at 262.90 mph during Saturday evening’s final qualifying session to qualify No. 1. The previous track records were a 5.604 by Richard Putz and 255.00 mph by Whiteley that were both run last year.
In round one, Whiteley received a competition bye and ran another impressive 5.511 at 261.07 mph. Whiteley then squared off with defending event champion and Division 5 Champion Richard Putz. Whiteley took another win with a 5.541 at 259.21 mph. That set up a final round matchup with No. 2 qualifier Ed Schmeeckle.
The race was quickly over at the start, as Schmeeckle rolled through the staging beams, resulting in a disqualification while Whiteley blasted to a 5.568 at 259.86 mph to score his second-straight win on the divisional level.
Whiteley credits the new track surface for the new track records. Over the winter, a new all-concrete racing surface was installed. The track is first drag strip to incorporate heating and cooling in the racing surface.
“This was a great weekend for the team,” said Whiteley. “I can’t say enough about the job they have done with the facility at Bandimere Speedway. The starting line was nearly 30 degrees cooler than the rest of the track, and both lanes were as smooth as glass. There was no ‘bad’ lane. I’m sure the pros are going to reset all the records next month when they come in town for the nationals.”
“Norm and the guys are doing a great job,” Whiteley continued. “What more can you ask for? We beat the old track record by over a tenth and seven mph. We really have a great chemistry right now. As good as the car ran, there’s still more left in it. We learned some stuff in the process this weekend as well. It was good to get the monkey we’ve had on our back off and get the win this weekend.”
With his strong performances of late, Whiteley readily invited NHRA officials to look at his car to dispel any rumors of cheating.
“We’ve heard rumblings on the street we’ve been running an illegal blower,” commented Whiteley. “I invited NHRA to come over and take our blower off and look at it. In fact, there was an official watching us service the car in between rounds. We have nothing to hide from NHRA and we’ll gladly comply with anything they want to check.”
The win moved Whiteley to fourth in national standings and moved him to first in Division 7 points standings. The next event for the YNot Racing team will be the Schuck’s Auto Supply Nationals, Jul. 18-20, just outside of Seattle.
For more information on the team, visit their website at The Home of Y Not Racing - Home
