TOLIVER PLACES ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK DODGE IN 15TH IN VIRGINIA QUALIFYING
DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2008) -- Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver used his final attempt to
qualify 15th for Sunday's eliminations at the third annual Virginia NHRA
Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, recording an elapsed time of
4.125 seconds at 299.00 mph.
In his opening run on Friday, Toliver ran a 4.107/298.87 mph, good for
No. 5 at the time. The Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge then shook the tires
and slowed to a 7.282/84.96 (No. 15) on the second attempt. Out of the
top 12 on the qualifying chart, Toliver's times were tossed out, forcing
him to attempt to qualify into the top 16 during today's two remaining
rounds.
In his third stab, the car lost traction off the starting line, producing
a 12.582/64.84 (No. 17). Still out of the show, the Rockstar Energy Drink
team rose to the occasion in his final try under nearly ideal fall
conditions.
"We're here to race, so it's extremely important to make every field,"
said Toliver, who is No. 15 in series points. "We started out Friday with
a good lap with that 4.10 and we probably got a little too greedy and got
after it a little too hard and smoked the tires during the night session.
"We felt like with the great conditions today that we could go out and
duplicate that 4.10 on our first run, but it blew the tires off for no
apparent reason and that put us behind the 8-ball. So the Rockstar Energy
Drink boys went back to the pits and put a safe tune-up in it and we went
out and ran a 4.12.
"It's a big deal for us. Like I've always said, you've got to be in to
win and we're in. I'm proud of these guys. They had their backs up
against the wall and they got the job done. The Rockstar Energy Drink car
will move on tomorrow."
Toliver faces No. 2 qualifier Tony Pedregon in first round of
eliminations. He could prove a valuable spoiler and Don Schumacher Racing
teammate in the Countdown to 1 playoffs by eliminating Pedregon (tied in
No. 2 in points with DSR driver Jack Beckman) in that round.
-credit: dsr
