Sonoma Friday Chevy S-10 notes

CHEVROLET NOTES AND QUOTES AUTOLITE NATIONALS SEARS POINT RACEWAY NHRA WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1998

PRO STOCK -- CAMARO Z28

TOM HAMMONDS, WINNEBAGO/MAC TOOLS/KENDALL CAMARO Z28, is No. 7 qualifier, 7.033/196.76, following a strong run in tonight's second session of the day. Hammonds plays power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves' basketball team. In the three races Tom has run this season (he debuted his Camaro in Columbus in June) he qualified in Columbus, then did not qualify in the next two events (St. Louis and Denver).

HAMMONDS:  "I thought it was a good run considering we didn't have a
baseline to go off because we rolled the lights the first run.  I think
conditions tomorrow are going to be as good or even better.  We just have
to step it up like everybody else (does).  If we do that then we should be
in good shape.  Our Winnebago Camaro was really running hard the back half
of the track.  I feel pretty confident."

DO YOU REALLY THINK THE CONDITIONS TOMORROW MORNING WILL BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE TONIGHT? "They could be as good or even better. One thing you have to look at is if the track can hold it the conditions can be great considering we're at sea level, it's been pretty cool the last couple of days, and the conditions call for the same thing tomorrow, so it could be another fast session. I just don't think the track will hold it after the first session. I could be wrong, but I don't think the track will stand it (tomorrow afternoon)."

DID YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT? "I still think that run could have been a little faster. I short shifted my first gear by a couple of hundred rpms and it didn't allow the clutch to lock up at the right time. And that might have killed us a couple of hundredths. Under ideal conditions I think I could have run a 7.01."

After two qualifying rounds, KURT JOHNSON, AC DELCO CAMARO Z28, and LARRY MORGAN, RAYBESTOS CAMARO Z28 are not in the show.