Pomona: Bob Panella Motorsports final qualifying
Pomona, Calif. - - Heat was a factor today and for the most part no trucks improved their position on the NHRA AutoZone Winternationals qualifying ladder. Bob Panella, Jr., from Stockton, Calif., who established a Pomona Dragway track speed record ...
Pomona, Calif. - - Heat was a factor today and for the most part no trucks improved their position on the NHRA AutoZone Winternationals qualifying ladder. Bob Panella, Jr., from Stockton, Calif., who established a Pomona Dragway track speed record and set the national standard for Pro Stock Trucks at 181.42 mph in a Chevy S-10 yesterday, qualified second. Teammate Jeff Gracia, from Ontario, Calif., held down the fifth spot when qualifying ended today.
“Tomorrow we concentrate harder in all phases of our operations. We concentrate harder on the tree and we concentrate on our shifts. They say its going to be hotter tomorrow. We know how to run in the heat. We had a good test run this afternoon in this heat, tomorrow we’ll try to improve on that. Hopefully, we’ll be the quickest truck out there on all four run,” said Panella, as he looked toward eliminations.
Gracia followed in Panella’s tire tracks, in that, his two runs offered no upward mobility on the qualifying grid. His pass of 7.504 seconds at 179.14 mph, which he ran on Thursday, locked the second year Pro Stock Truck driver in the fifth qualifying position.
“We had two good run today considering the increase in temperature,” said Gracia. “We will go out one round at time and try to take the win light. Because we are on opposite sides of the ladder, we won’t have to meet Bob (Panella) until the finals. That is, if we both keep winning rounds. I think that would be a great way for our team to start the season.”
Professional eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
- Team Panella
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