No. 12 qualifier, Buddy Perkinson, was dismissed in the opening round of eliminations today due to suspected engine issues.
The Cunningham Motorsports Ford Mustang, owned by Jim and Gloria Cunningham, has the capability of running good numbers and qualified well on Thursday and Saturday of this week. The team is still working out some kinks within the car and has full ability to be competitive throughout the 2011 Full Throttle Drag Racing season.
Under the direction of 10-time Pro Stock World Champion, Bob Glidden, Perkinson was up against No. 5 qualifier, Greg Stanfield. Perkinson shut the car off early, resulting in a 7.664 ET (elapsed time) next to Stanfield’s 6.566 ET.
“When the car left it didn’t have much initial wheel speed. When the car went to second gear, it just blew the tires off of it. When I got to fourth, I could feel it quivering through the shifter and then the motor made a pop. By that point, Stanfield (Greg) was a good ways in front of us and it felt like the best decision to go ahead and shut it off,” said Perkinson, crossing the finish line at 128 miles per hour.
Perkinson says that in no way are they giving up. With a shot at Rookie of the Year for the 2011 season still in sight, the 19-year-old will continue to put forth the effort needed to meet his goals.
“I feel like we need to redeem ourselves. You know, this team is better than that and I’m better than that. We really need to make a stand in Pro Stock. I think all these guys are here to stay. Every pass down the track I learn something and we get better. We work on something and make adjustments after every run. I think I just really need seat time. The more runs we make, the better I’m going to be, the better the team is going to be and the more we will learn about this car,” said Perkinson.
“In Gainesville there are 28 cars in the field trying to qualify, so we’re going to have to be on our game to get in the show again. We really need to bounce back from this with a good run at Gainesville.”
“I’m absolutely thankful that we were here in Pomona this weekend. Just to come out and qualify 12th with these guys was a huge accomplishment for us for our first race. The guys are happy and I’m happy, but we still want that first round win. We have a lot of learning to do and a lot more work to do, but I know we’re going to get there,” added Perkinson.
Perkinson and Cunningham Motorsports will be competing at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 11-13.
| 
|