Post by daj on Jul 21, 2005 6:28:20 GMT -5
Jim Dunn Racing and Got CMKX? work their magic on Thunder Mountain
DENVER, qualifying: It took the final qualifying session for Tony Bartone and the Jim Dunn Racing team to bring the thunder to the mountain at Bandimere Speedway this weekend. Bartone celebrated the signing of the team's new associate sponsor, Cabo Wabo Tequila, by qualifying the Got CMKX/Lucas Oil Funny Car for the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
Bartone kicked off the weekend by visiting children downtown at Presbyterian/St Luke's Medical Center on Friday morning. The New York native then headed to Bandimere Speedway for the beginning of professional qualifying at the Mile-High Nationals.
Qualifying began late in the afternoon after a short rain storm delayed the racing schedule. On his first attempt Bartone drove the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car to a 5.184 to finish the first session in the No. 12 spot. He returned for his evening run and improved to a 5.064 to finish the first day of racing in the No. 15 position. Bartone had two sessions scheduled on Saturday to improve his standing for Sunday's 16-car elimination field.
The third Funny Car qualifying session took place during the middle of the afternoon Saturday under extremely warm conditions. The Jim Dunn Racing team elected to skip the third session and wait for cooler racing conditions during the final session.
By the time the Funny Cars rolled to the starting line for the final qualifying session it was past seven o'clock in the evening. Bartone stormed off the starting line and blasted into the top half of the field with a 4.939 at 310.48 mph
"Jim Dunn told me the car was going to run a low 4.90 and it did," said Bartone. "This is a great way to celebrate our new associate sponsor, Cabo Wabo Tequila, and I'm thrilled about going into eliminations tomorrow. The Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil team did an outstanding job today. I'd love to add another win to my list here on Thunder Mountain."
Bartone will race Tommy Johnson Jr. in round one on Sunday.
DENVER, qualifying: It took the final qualifying session for Tony Bartone and the Jim Dunn Racing team to bring the thunder to the mountain at Bandimere Speedway this weekend. Bartone celebrated the signing of the team's new associate sponsor, Cabo Wabo Tequila, by qualifying the Got CMKX/Lucas Oil Funny Car for the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
Bartone kicked off the weekend by visiting children downtown at Presbyterian/St Luke's Medical Center on Friday morning. The New York native then headed to Bandimere Speedway for the beginning of professional qualifying at the Mile-High Nationals.
Qualifying began late in the afternoon after a short rain storm delayed the racing schedule. On his first attempt Bartone drove the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car to a 5.184 to finish the first session in the No. 12 spot. He returned for his evening run and improved to a 5.064 to finish the first day of racing in the No. 15 position. Bartone had two sessions scheduled on Saturday to improve his standing for Sunday's 16-car elimination field.
The third Funny Car qualifying session took place during the middle of the afternoon Saturday under extremely warm conditions. The Jim Dunn Racing team elected to skip the third session and wait for cooler racing conditions during the final session.
By the time the Funny Cars rolled to the starting line for the final qualifying session it was past seven o'clock in the evening. Bartone stormed off the starting line and blasted into the top half of the field with a 4.939 at 310.48 mph
"Jim Dunn told me the car was going to run a low 4.90 and it did," said Bartone. "This is a great way to celebrate our new associate sponsor, Cabo Wabo Tequila, and I'm thrilled about going into eliminations tomorrow. The Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil team did an outstanding job today. I'd love to add another win to my list here on Thunder Mountain."
Bartone will race Tommy Johnson Jr. in round one on Sunday.