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Bob Gilbertson hasn't raced his Funny Car since May, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have big goals for this weekend's Carolina Nationals.
“Our goal is to qualify and go rounds,” Gilbertson added. “It's going to be tough to even qualify, but since nobody has been down zMAX Dragway yet in a fuel car, we'll all be starting in the same boat, without any data.”
Gilbertson, who lives in Charlotte, stepped away from National Hot Rod Association competition this year as he focused on his Truck Equipment Manufacturing company. The break also allowed him to make big changes to his Terminator Motorsports team, including the addition of veteran crew chief Mike Kloeber.
Gilbertson also finished a sponsorship deal with Rinnai Tankless Hot Water Heaters and changed his cars to meet NHRA safety specifications.
“It has been a couple of crazy months around here,” he said. “I'm very happy it all came together.”
Tasca's new shop
Bob Tasca III, driver and owner of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Funny Car team, has broken ground on a new shop for his team in Concord. The shop is to be ready in February.
“We'll have the nation's premier race track five minutes from our doorstep, and the location allows for our team to return home for more than half the races in the season, and to have a home shop to work out of between races,” he said.
Tasca's crew chief is Chris Cunningham.
Briefly
Sportsman and Competition Eliminator cars are to begin their qualifying rounds at 8a.m. as the Carolina Nationals get underway today. Professional qualifying begins with Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle runs starting at 2:30p.m. on Friday.
Saturday reserved seating is sold out. Standing room only tickets will be sold race day. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 4,000 Sunday tickets remained. Get tickets at lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-3267.
Doug Herbert and Speedway Children's Charities are hosting a dinner to raise money for the Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe program at 6:30p.m. tonight at the Speedway Club.
Tom Hammonds, the former Georgia Tech and NBA player who drives in the NHRA's Pro Stock division, has hired
Kenny Tom as his crew chief heading into the Carolina Nationals.
Andy Loden won last week's 50-lap Late Model feature at Hickory Motor Speedway.
Chris Champan won in Limited Late Models and
Taylor Stricklin won in Street Stocks
Bryan Robinson of Gastonia held off Charlotte's
Ronnie White, winning the Late Model Modified Sportsman race at East Lincoln Speedway.
Concord Motorsport Park near Midland will have a full schedule of Whelen All-American Series action Saturday on its half-mile oval. Gates open at 5:30; qualifying begins at 5:45.
