Jim Underdahl final report

Underdahl remains upbeat despite frustrating performance in Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas (May 3, 2011) - With the backing of local Houston motorcycle retailer Stubbs 59 Powersports, Suzuki Extended Protection Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Jim Underdahl exited first round in the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas. Although disappointed with his early departure from competition, the 25-year-old Underdahl is pleased with the development of his program and the teams plans for the upcoming races.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say this weekend was frustrating," Underdahl said. "We ran so well on Friday, and then Saturday and Sunday came, and we couldn't get back there. The best part was getting to know the folks at Stubbs 59 Powersports. We all got along really well, and we’re looking forward to working with them again in the future, helping them to sell more motorcycles with Suzuki Extended Protection.”

Underdahl delivered a 6.939-second pass at 193.10 mph in his first lap down the track, but that was his best lap of the weekend. In the first round on Sunday the temperature was 81 degrees with a relative humidity of 72 percent and an adjusted altitude of 2,566 feet - far from the ideal conditions on Friday when he ran so well. Matched up with Eddie Krawiec, Underdahl beat him off the starting line, but didn't have enough to hold on for the win. At the stripe, it was Underdahl's 7.016 at 191.81 mph to Krawiec's 6.910 at 194.24 mph.

"Our bike runs great in cool, dry air. It's when we get to the humid, wet conditions that we start to have trouble. Our main goal is to get it to run in the sticky, humid weather. We just have to find out what the bike likes in the humidity that we'll be seeing over the summer. We basically have our front half numbers where we want them, now we're just working on the fuel ratios that will keep our bike running on the back half.

"The team's spirits are high, though, because we're going into Atlanta with a goal. We have confidence. We know our team is great and we can compete with the best, and we're just working out the fine details," Underdahl said.

Next up for the Minnesota-based team is 31st annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 13-15 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia.