Post by daj on May 2, 2005 15:17:19 GMT -5
5/2/2005 : Arend and the CMKXtreme Machine team reach the final round in Bristol
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
BRISTOL, Sunday: CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car driver Jeff Arend raced to a runner-up finish in his second career final round appearance at the 5th annual O’Reilly NHRA Nationals at Tennessee’s Bristol Dragway. Arend ran a career-best speed en route to the final round, where he was defeated by Gary Scelzi.
Rain limited qualifying to just one session and Arend made a solid run, qualifying in the No. 9 position with a 4.923 at 312.78 mph. The CMKXtreme Machine was paired up against Tony Bartone in the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the first round, marking the first time the two drivers have raced during eliminations.
The sunshine returned to Bristol Dragway for Sunday’s eliminations and the good weather changed the racing conditions dramatically from qualifying. Arend and Bartone were the final pair of Funny Cars to roll to the starting line in the first round. Bartone went up in smoke just after the light turned green and Arend took the win with a 5.000 at 256.99 mph. Arend had lane choice in his second round match up with No. 1 qualifier, Eric Medlen.
Arend took a big lead off the starting line against Medlen with a .071 to 114 reaction time. The CMKXtreme Machine roared to a 4.896 at 320.58 mph, the fastest run of Arend’s career, to take the victory and advance to the semifinals. Arend was set to race Cruz Pedregon for the third time this season, with the winner moving on to the championship round of the Thunder Valley Nationals.
Arend’s third race against Pedregon proved to be the charm. The CMKXtreme Machine blasted into the final round with a 4.905 at 310.91 mph as Pedregon smoked the tires at the hit of the throttle. Arend headed into his second career Funny Car final round where he faced Gary Scelzi.
Arend and Scelzi put on a great race in the final round. Scelzi rocketed to a 4.815 at a track record speed of 329.26 mph to out distance Arend’s 4.971 at 282.42 mph and take the victory.
“The CMKXtreme team is doing a great job,” said Arend following the final round. “We’ve been qualifying better and like I’ve said in the past it would only be a matter of time before we started going some rounds. We ran a career-best speed today and also took out the No, 1 qualifier. The car was consistent, my lights were consistent, and overall it was a great day. Scelzi really strapped one on us there in the final. We were just looking to go to the finish line and hoped he make a mistake but he made a spectacular run. I don’t think we’ve even begun to get close to reaching the potential of the CMKXtreme Machine, and I expect us to be a top 10 car by the end of the season.”<br>
Arend added, “This race was a real testament to our crew. Paul Smith, Ronnie Thompson, Doug Tyo, Randy Carmichael, Rick McMenemy, Wayne DeKorte and Mike Hennessy did an outstanding job this weekend. I also want to thank Urban and Carolyn Casavant for their tremendous support and Vinny Ferrone for all of his assistance.”<br>
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
BRISTOL, Sunday: CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car driver Jeff Arend raced to a runner-up finish in his second career final round appearance at the 5th annual O’Reilly NHRA Nationals at Tennessee’s Bristol Dragway. Arend ran a career-best speed en route to the final round, where he was defeated by Gary Scelzi.
Rain limited qualifying to just one session and Arend made a solid run, qualifying in the No. 9 position with a 4.923 at 312.78 mph. The CMKXtreme Machine was paired up against Tony Bartone in the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car in the first round, marking the first time the two drivers have raced during eliminations.
The sunshine returned to Bristol Dragway for Sunday’s eliminations and the good weather changed the racing conditions dramatically from qualifying. Arend and Bartone were the final pair of Funny Cars to roll to the starting line in the first round. Bartone went up in smoke just after the light turned green and Arend took the win with a 5.000 at 256.99 mph. Arend had lane choice in his second round match up with No. 1 qualifier, Eric Medlen.
Arend took a big lead off the starting line against Medlen with a .071 to 114 reaction time. The CMKXtreme Machine roared to a 4.896 at 320.58 mph, the fastest run of Arend’s career, to take the victory and advance to the semifinals. Arend was set to race Cruz Pedregon for the third time this season, with the winner moving on to the championship round of the Thunder Valley Nationals.
Arend’s third race against Pedregon proved to be the charm. The CMKXtreme Machine blasted into the final round with a 4.905 at 310.91 mph as Pedregon smoked the tires at the hit of the throttle. Arend headed into his second career Funny Car final round where he faced Gary Scelzi.
Arend and Scelzi put on a great race in the final round. Scelzi rocketed to a 4.815 at a track record speed of 329.26 mph to out distance Arend’s 4.971 at 282.42 mph and take the victory.
“The CMKXtreme team is doing a great job,” said Arend following the final round. “We’ve been qualifying better and like I’ve said in the past it would only be a matter of time before we started going some rounds. We ran a career-best speed today and also took out the No, 1 qualifier. The car was consistent, my lights were consistent, and overall it was a great day. Scelzi really strapped one on us there in the final. We were just looking to go to the finish line and hoped he make a mistake but he made a spectacular run. I don’t think we’ve even begun to get close to reaching the potential of the CMKXtreme Machine, and I expect us to be a top 10 car by the end of the season.”<br>
Arend added, “This race was a real testament to our crew. Paul Smith, Ronnie Thompson, Doug Tyo, Randy Carmichael, Rick McMenemy, Wayne DeKorte and Mike Hennessy did an outstanding job this weekend. I also want to thank Urban and Carolyn Casavant for their tremendous support and Vinny Ferrone for all of his assistance.”<br>