Owner
Post by Franko10 ™ on Nov 13, 2004 12:33:14 GMT -5
8/29/2004 : Arend returns to Indy eager to become part of history at the 50th U.S. Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, pre-race: It has been almost a decade since Jeff Arend has driven in competition at the prestigious U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the heart of Indiana. But the 41-year-old driver of the CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car will return to the fabled quarter-mile at IRP this Labor Day weekend and attempt to become a part of history at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The event will feature five rounds of professional qualifying as the largest field of Funny Cars seen on the POWERade Drag Racing tour this season battle for one of the 16 qualifying positions for Monday's eliminations.
"Indy is the granddaddy of them all so I'm very excited about competing there again," expressed Arend as he made preparations for 'The Big Go'. "I think the CMKX team is getting a pretty good handle on everything. With so many cars entered at Indy, just qualifying for eliminations is going to be a tough deal. If we can continue our qualifying streak there I would be really happy and, of course, we're still looking for that first round win of the season. But right now our goal is just to qualify for Indy and we'll worry about everything else later."
Arend and crew chief Paul Smith collaborated at the U.S. Nationals in 1995, impressing everyone by qualifying fifth before the native Canadian lost in the opening round of eliminations. Arend enters the 50th U.S. Nationals riding on the momentum of a 10-race qualifying streak that began in May. "I'd be happy to duplicate our qualifying effort from 1995," Arend admitted, "and Indy would be the perfect place for the CMKX Funny Car to start winning rounds. There is so much history at the U.S. Nationals and we would love to become part of it with a victory."
Arend has qualified the CMKXtreme Machine for 12 races in 13 starts since returning to the Funny Car small thingypit on a full-time basis this past April. He has also put in many hours away from the race track, visiting hospitals around the country along with teammate, CMKXtreme Pro Stock Bike rider, Connie Cohen. The pair will continue their efforts to reach those who can't make it to the races with a visit to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis Thursday afternoon prior to the event. They will join several NHRA professional drivers in signing autographs and posing for photos and they will also donate CMKXtreme merchandise to the hospital.
INDIANAPOLIS, pre-race: It has been almost a decade since Jeff Arend has driven in competition at the prestigious U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the heart of Indiana. But the 41-year-old driver of the CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car will return to the fabled quarter-mile at IRP this Labor Day weekend and attempt to become a part of history at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The event will feature five rounds of professional qualifying as the largest field of Funny Cars seen on the POWERade Drag Racing tour this season battle for one of the 16 qualifying positions for Monday's eliminations.
"Indy is the granddaddy of them all so I'm very excited about competing there again," expressed Arend as he made preparations for 'The Big Go'. "I think the CMKX team is getting a pretty good handle on everything. With so many cars entered at Indy, just qualifying for eliminations is going to be a tough deal. If we can continue our qualifying streak there I would be really happy and, of course, we're still looking for that first round win of the season. But right now our goal is just to qualify for Indy and we'll worry about everything else later."
Arend and crew chief Paul Smith collaborated at the U.S. Nationals in 1995, impressing everyone by qualifying fifth before the native Canadian lost in the opening round of eliminations. Arend enters the 50th U.S. Nationals riding on the momentum of a 10-race qualifying streak that began in May. "I'd be happy to duplicate our qualifying effort from 1995," Arend admitted, "and Indy would be the perfect place for the CMKX Funny Car to start winning rounds. There is so much history at the U.S. Nationals and we would love to become part of it with a victory."
Arend has qualified the CMKXtreme Machine for 12 races in 13 starts since returning to the Funny Car small thingypit on a full-time basis this past April. He has also put in many hours away from the race track, visiting hospitals around the country along with teammate, CMKXtreme Pro Stock Bike rider, Connie Cohen. The pair will continue their efforts to reach those who can't make it to the races with a visit to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis Thursday afternoon prior to the event. They will join several NHRA professional drivers in signing autographs and posing for photos and they will also donate CMKXtreme merchandise to the hospital.
