Post by daj on Jun 26, 2005 11:47:00 GMT -5
Arend remains focused entering St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, pre-race: Jeff Arend remains sharply focused on moving into the top 10 in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings heading into this weekend's Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals. The 42-year-old driver of the CMKXtreme Machine currently sits 12th in the point standings, less than three round wins out of a top 10 spot.
Arend enters the Craftsman Nationals fresh off of the best qualifying effort of his career last weekend at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown. The Canadian native qualified his Paul Smith-tuned Monte Carlo in the No. 2 position with a career-best 4.792 at 322.19 mph before being upset in round one. Arend remains confident despite the early exit in Englishtown, with the knowledge that the CMKXtreme Machine is running as strong and consistent as it has all season.
"The CMKXtreme Machine Monte Carlo is running great right now," said Arend as he prepared for his trip to the Midwest. "Paul Smith and the crew have really come together and given me a fast race car that has been very consistent. We know if we can continue to run in the low 4.80's with consistency that we'll go rounds on Sunday. I feel like our car can run with anyone right now and that gives you plenty of confidence in the thingypit. I'm really eager to run under the lights in St, Louis, it should be spectacular."
Arend will join CMKX Racing teammates Tony Bartone and Connie Cohen on a visit to the St. Louis Shriners Hospital prior to the beginning of Professional qualifying on Friday. They will visit with children and their parents, signing autographs, posing for photos and distributing CMKX Racing merchandise.
ST. LOUIS, pre-race: Jeff Arend remains sharply focused on moving into the top 10 in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings heading into this weekend's Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals. The 42-year-old driver of the CMKXtreme Machine currently sits 12th in the point standings, less than three round wins out of a top 10 spot.
Arend enters the Craftsman Nationals fresh off of the best qualifying effort of his career last weekend at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown. The Canadian native qualified his Paul Smith-tuned Monte Carlo in the No. 2 position with a career-best 4.792 at 322.19 mph before being upset in round one. Arend remains confident despite the early exit in Englishtown, with the knowledge that the CMKXtreme Machine is running as strong and consistent as it has all season.
"The CMKXtreme Machine Monte Carlo is running great right now," said Arend as he prepared for his trip to the Midwest. "Paul Smith and the crew have really come together and given me a fast race car that has been very consistent. We know if we can continue to run in the low 4.80's with consistency that we'll go rounds on Sunday. I feel like our car can run with anyone right now and that gives you plenty of confidence in the thingypit. I'm really eager to run under the lights in St, Louis, it should be spectacular."
Arend will join CMKX Racing teammates Tony Bartone and Connie Cohen on a visit to the St. Louis Shriners Hospital prior to the beginning of Professional qualifying on Friday. They will visit with children and their parents, signing autographs, posing for photos and distributing CMKX Racing merchandise.