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NHRA: Jeter Among Several Drivers Pursuing NHRA Pro Stock Truck Crown

6 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - For Brad Jeter, a veteran of many different kinds of drag racing competition, it just doesn't get any tougher than NHRA Pro Stock Truck racing.

Jeter, who has faced some of the best pure drivers in the sport in some of the nation's most high-profile, high-dollar bracket races, says nothing compares to the thrill of competition in Pro Stock Truck. This from the same guy who has driven a powerful nitrous-injected six-second Pro Modified Corvette in IHRA competition. Still, he says Pro Stock Truck is the category of the future.

"The thing about this truck class is you have 16 guys out there who can win on any given weekend," said Jeter, who will lead drivers in his category into the 12th annual NHRA AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Oct. 7-10 at Memphis Motorsports Park. He finished runner-up at the $1.7 million race in 1998, the 19th of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

"There are no guarantees, and no easy rounds," Jeter continued. "I think it's already tougher than Pro Stock. There's so much young talent and everybody is hungry to get a win. There can only be one winner, so that makes it really competitive."

Almost as tough as losing. Jeter can't stand that feeling. He experienced it recently at Indianapolis Raceway Park's prestigious U.S. Nationals when he suffered a rare first round exit.

"I hate to lose," said Jeter, who earned his only win of the season in April at the Pennzoil Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, near Richmond. "It's not that I'm a poor loser, but I'm not a good loser. I've been pretty hard on myself since going out in the first round at the U.S. Nationals. Hopefully that experience will make our team stronger as we chase the championship into the final three races."

They'll need to be stronger. Top title contenders Bob Panella and Mark Osborne aren't going to be pushed over easily. Other top drivers in the category, like two-time winners Mike Coughlin and Randy Daniels, also are still in the hunt.

"I don't feel pressure as far as the championship goes," Jeter said. "Sure, there's a lot on the line, but we feel pretty comfortable out there. We just have to make sure we work hard and get the job done. There's a lot of competition for the championship and even more drivers who are emerging as contenders to win a race. It's going to be brutal over the final few events. The guy that can hang on and win the championship is going to really deserve it."

During the final three truck events in 1998, Jeter made a tremendous move in the points standings, jumping all the way to a third place points finish. He hopes to use the knowledge he gained at those tracks last year to help him leapfrog the competition once again.

"I feel good about the tracks that are coming up," said Jeter, who was runner-up at Memphis, advanced to the semifinals at Dallas and won the season-ending event in Pomona, Calif. "Those races were good to me and I feel confident that we can equal our performances from last year."

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