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Jason Cannon Columbus preview

Cannon looking to get back into points chase in Columbus KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Defending NHRA Division 2 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jason Cannon hopes a strong performance during this weekend's Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit ...

Cannon looking to get back into points chase in Columbus

KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio - Defending NHRA Division 2 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jason Cannon hopes a strong performance during this weekend's Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment at National Trail Raceway just outside of Columbus, Ohio will catapult him into the top five nationally. Cannon and his Caps Coach & Trailer/ InsideTopAlcohol.com backed team enter the race ranked seventh nationally and hope to pick up their first national event win this weekend.

Cannon, from Middleburg, Fla., hopes the traditionally hot weather for this weekend's race will play to their favor. The race is the second in a swing of three back-to-back races for the team that started last weekend in Valdosta, Ga., and ends next weekend in Englishtown, N.J.

"With a blown car you really have to take advantage when it gets hot," said Cannon. "Those A/Fuel cars really fly when it gets cool, and some of them still go pretty fast when it gets hot, but not as much when it's cool. I've ran Columbus before in my Super Comp car, and I know how hot and muggy it can get for this race. That's the conditions we are looking for."

Team owner, Jason's father Phil, cites the logistical strain of running back-to-back races on a team that has to work during the week.

"It's really tough to run these races like this," explained Cannon. "But if you're going to chase national points with a blown car, you really don't have a choice. You only have so many races that are geographically feasible as it is, and then you honestly have to cut that list down to the hot weather events. If my guys were all full timers on the race team, it wouldn't be as much of an issue, but me and Jason run our boat dealership down here, my Crew Chief Will Hanna is from Texas, and my clutch man J.B. Hudson is from South Carolina, and they both have full time jobs. Will won't even be able to make it to the track until right before the run on Friday due to college commitments. It's tough, but this is where you just have to dig in and give that extra effort."

Despite the thrash in between races to get the car ready and to the track, team Crew Chief Will Hanna is confident about the team's chances.

"We wouldn't come to the track if we didn't have the car ready to win," stated Hanna. "We have two goals this weekend: make a solid lap out of the trailer and play the consistency game from there. We overpowered the track our first run in Atlanta, and we were behind the whole weekend from there. Last weekend, we just really overestimated the track. This is a new surface on this track, so I'm sure its green as well. We're just going to take it one run at a time."

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions, and one final session Saturday morning. Eliminations will begin Saturday evening, and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday. Stay tuned to InsideTopAlcohol.com for the latest news in alcohol racing.

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