Goodyear Racing final report

RECORDS FALL AND GOODYEAR-EQUIPPED CARS WIN 5 AT GATORNATIONALS

Mike Neff

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13, 2011) – The Tire Kingdom NHRA GatorNationals sizzled with record-breaking runs, terrific competition and a dose of star power.

And cars racing on Goodyear tires won five times, the best total among tiremakers. Del Worsham (in Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) won in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for professionals. Tom Dauber (Super Comp) and Peter Biondo (Super Stock) won with Goodyear in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for sportsmen.

“We definitely didn’t have the fastest car but we had a great car when we needed it,” Worsham said. He added, “I’m driving Larry Dixon’s car from last year. It’s won 12 races. Now it’s 13.”

National or track records fell in the two professional categories for four-wheel racers. Friday’s sunny, mild conditions gave the NHRA Full Throttle professional racers a chance to tune for record-breaking performances and the records fell.

“What a great venue for drag racing,” said Bryce Jones, Goodyear’s sales account manager for drag racing. “Great weather and tons of fans. We are proud to support the professional racers, from Don Garlits who was honored today with his own grandstand, to the current generation of racers who won today.” NASCAR Cup Series star Kurt Busch made his Pro Stock debut at Gainesville and qualified for Sunday’s starting field. Busch raced Erica Enders in the first round of eliminations and narrowly lost. Busch does not have another open weekend that matches with an NHRA Full Throttle race until this summer, when he could compete in the Mile High Nationals in Colorado.

Line raced teammate Greg Anderson in the Pro Stock final round and said, “We were both a little tardy (at the start) but I was less tardy and that’s why you’re talking to me.”

Goodyear is the exclusive tire provider for the NHRA’s Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock categories. The tiremaker also competes in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for sportsmen. Goodyear-shod cars won in two sportsmen categories, bringing the total of Goodyear wins to five.

Tony Schumacher set a track record in Top Fuel qualifying when he was timed at 325.45 mph in the speed trap at the end of the track. Mike Edwards became the first Pro Stock driver to duck under the 6.5-second mark for the quarter mile distance but Roger Brogdon bettered the record during the same qualifying session. The new national Pro Stock record is 6.495 seconds.

Neff’s win marked the second time the John Force team has won in the first two races this season. Neff said, “We needed this to keep the Force string going. That’s four straight (going back to last season) for Team Force.”

-souce: goodyear racing