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Post by Franko10 ™ on Mar 22, 2005 9:59:39 GMT -5
3/21/2005 : Arend wins first round in the CMKXtreme Machine in Florida
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
GAINESVILLE, post-race: CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car driver Jeff Arend advanced to the quarterfinals at the 36th annual NHRA Mac Tool Gatornationals in Florida. Arend won on a holeshot in his first round win of the young season driving his new Chevy Monte Carlo tuned by veteran Paul Smith.
The weather was perfect for Sunday’s eliminations at the Gatornationals, with plenty of sunshine, temperatures in the low 70-degree range and cloudless skies. An overflow crowd squeezed into the Gainesville Raceway grandstands for some tremendous drag racing action.
Arend entered Sunday’s eliminations by qualifying in the No 11 position . with a 4.887 at 304.56 mph. Paul Smith, crew chief for the CMKXtreme Machine, elected to use the team’s new Monte Carlo body during Arend’s first round match up with Tommy Johnson Jr. Arend, one of the best leavers in the class, left first at the flash of green on Johnson and took his first victory of the season on a holeshot with a 4.928 at 301.60 mph to Johnson’s quicker 4.913 at 314.57 mph.
In Arend’s second round race he left the line first again against the 13-time and defending NHRA Funny Car champion, John Force. Arend was ahead of Force at halftrack when the CMKXtreme Machine started to smoke the tires on the tricky Gainesville racetrack. Arend lifted early and coasted to a 5.167 at 240.96 mph, handing Force the win.
“I think we had a really good weekend considering we started out struggling a little bit,” said Arend, a native Canadian. “It was great to win the first round, especially on a holeshot.” said Arend, “It’s been a long time. The car is starting to respond better and we’re learning with each run and I think we’re going to a real contender for the NHRA POWERade points championship very soon.”<br>
Arend added, “It was great to finally earn a win for Urban Casavant, VF Trucking, The Trader Show and all the CMKX shareholders. I’m sure it’s the first of many round wins to come this year.”<br>
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
GAINESVILLE, post-race: CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car driver Jeff Arend advanced to the quarterfinals at the 36th annual NHRA Mac Tool Gatornationals in Florida. Arend won on a holeshot in his first round win of the young season driving his new Chevy Monte Carlo tuned by veteran Paul Smith.
The weather was perfect for Sunday’s eliminations at the Gatornationals, with plenty of sunshine, temperatures in the low 70-degree range and cloudless skies. An overflow crowd squeezed into the Gainesville Raceway grandstands for some tremendous drag racing action.
Arend entered Sunday’s eliminations by qualifying in the No 11 position . with a 4.887 at 304.56 mph. Paul Smith, crew chief for the CMKXtreme Machine, elected to use the team’s new Monte Carlo body during Arend’s first round match up with Tommy Johnson Jr. Arend, one of the best leavers in the class, left first at the flash of green on Johnson and took his first victory of the season on a holeshot with a 4.928 at 301.60 mph to Johnson’s quicker 4.913 at 314.57 mph.
In Arend’s second round race he left the line first again against the 13-time and defending NHRA Funny Car champion, John Force. Arend was ahead of Force at halftrack when the CMKXtreme Machine started to smoke the tires on the tricky Gainesville racetrack. Arend lifted early and coasted to a 5.167 at 240.96 mph, handing Force the win.
“I think we had a really good weekend considering we started out struggling a little bit,” said Arend, a native Canadian. “It was great to win the first round, especially on a holeshot.” said Arend, “It’s been a long time. The car is starting to respond better and we’re learning with each run and I think we’re going to a real contender for the NHRA POWERade points championship very soon.”<br>
Arend added, “It was great to finally earn a win for Urban Casavant, VF Trucking, The Trader Show and all the CMKX shareholders. I’m sure it’s the first of many round wins to come this year.”<br>
