Jerry Toliver: “I think we are capable of qualifying number one at Memphis”
Sep 13, 2007
ROCKSTAR
Only five races remain on the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series schedule and Jerry Toliver wants to make the most of them.
He watched with pride and relief as his ROCKSTAR Energy Drink Toyota Solara Funny Car team became competitive in a tough category after a late start to the season. The proof is in the performances, and Toliver wants to build on that them, including his latest at the U. S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
“Coming out of Indy, we are extremely excited about the performance potential of our race car, ” said Toliver. “We qualified in the middle of the pack – ninth – in tough conditions while some of the best cars didn’t qualify. Only seven-hundredths of a second separated the low qualifier from 16th.
“Right now, Funny Car is probably the most competitive class in NHRA racing. On any given day, any car can either qualify number one or not qualify . .. it’s that close. ”
Toliver, with wily veteran crew chief Dale Armstrong constantly improving the car’s elapsed times, believes he’s now capable of challenging for race victories. He hopes to prove it during the O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, Friday through Sunday.
“I think we have an extremely competitive car going into Memphis, ” Toliver said. “We have caught up with the pack and now I’m looking forward to moving up to the top half of the pack. Maybe we can play spoiler to the drivers remaining in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
“I think we are capable of qualifying number one at Memphis. It wouldn’t surprise me because this team is that close and that good. ”
The ROCKSTAR Toyota recorded its best time of the Indy weekend (4.797 seconds at 320.81 mph) in Friday night’s opening session at Indianapolis, vanquishing yet another trouble spot.
“We knew it could run better, ” continued Toliver, who returned to Funny Car competition when the season was five races old. “The more laps we make, the more we learn. And we learned something during our Friday night run that will help us keep improving. There’s a lot more performance left in this car. ”
Toliver said Armstrong ironed out problems in the clutch area and “the results should get better and better. ”
“I really happy with the way the car keeps improving, ” he concluded.
