Driving the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Jerry Toliver was eliminated today in the first round of eliminations at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. He remained No. 15 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings.
By qualifying No. 15, Toliver was paired against No. 2 qualifier and serious Countdown to 1 contender Tony Pedregon in the opening round. Both cars left the starting line together, but the Rockstar Energy Drink car shook the tires and Toliver pedaled the throttle, while Pedregon drove straight to the win with an elapsed time of 4.057 seconds at 306.05 mph to Toliver’s 4.172/302.21.
“It was another frustrating day,” said Toliver, whose team has struggled this season, but has recently seen an improvement in performance. “The Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge went out there and it rattled the tires and I pedaled it. Looking at the computer after the run it looked like it would have made it, but it was one of those calls as a driver that you’ve got to make. It was a split-second decision. I didn’t see him so I slapped it (the throttle) and that was all there was to it.
“I really wanted to help my DSR teammates in the Countdown (Jack Beckman and Ron Capps) and take out Tony Pedregon. “If I can help any of my guys win the championship, that would be great. But, like I’ve always said, our goal is to win one for my boys, Don Schumacher Racing and my sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink. That’s what we’re trying to do, and if we accomplish that then we’ve accomplished all the stuff that goes along with it.
“We’re getting a handle on the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge and it’s getting better and better. Hopefully we can go to the next race and win one of these damned things. That’s the goal and we’ll see what happens.”
The next event for Toliver and the Rockstar Energy Drink team will be the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Oct. 30-Nov. 2.
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