Toliver makes first passes in all-new Rockstar Dodge Funny Car
EDITORS: Attached is a digital image of the Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car taken at the National Trials at Firebird Raceway. Photo credit: Ron Lewis. DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2008 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES National Time Trials Firebird Raceway Chandler, Ariz. Jan. 25-27, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net Bill Walters. 561-964-2195; cell 561-632-5713; plus320@aol.com TOLIVER MAKES FIRST PASSES IN ALL-NEW ROCKSTAR DODGE CHARGER FUNNY CAR CHANDLER, Ariz. (Jan. 27, 2008) - Jerry Toliver made his first runs in the all-new Rockstar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car as a member of Don Schumacher Racing this weekend at the NHRA National Time Trials at Firebird Raceway. The 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series begins in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10. The three-day weekend event was shortened to two days because of rain today, but all DSR teams plan to continue testing here through Wednesday. Toliver powered down the quarter-mile five times, with his quickest pass a 5.512-second run at 163.65 mph, which placed him in No. 8 for the weekend. His other laps produced an 11.392/76.38, a 6.262/144.55, a 12.066/70.75 and an 11.052/74.83, as every team struggled to adjust to new rules changes, including the raising of the nitromethane percentage as well as the minimum weight for the 2008 season. Toliver was upbeat following the premature end to the rain-shortened session. "The weekend went well. Unfortunately we were rained out today," he said, with a touch of enthusiasm in his voice. "The good thing is, new crew, new driver, all of us trying to bond together. "I've got a really great group of guys on this team. (Crew chief) Phil Shuler is going to be phenomenal, and we will all benefit from the input of the other DSR crew chiefs. I love working with these guys, so I'm very excited. "The Rockstar Dodge is a new car with new vision for me," added Toliver. "The line of vision with the new Dodge Charger R/T body is different from the car I ran last season. It had me nervous to begin with, but once I got in the car and whacked the throttle, everything was fine. It's just a matter of getting used to how the car reacts." Toliver is confident about the 2008 season. "I think everything is going to be good and I'm extremely excited about it. We made five squirts, three planned early shut-offs and last night it shook the tires twice. The Rockstar Dodge handles well. I'm just getting used to everything inside." Best runs of the event, listed in order of elapsed time, in Funny Car at the National Time Trials (courtesy of Fast News and Compulink): Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type-----------------TT-ET----TT-Spd-Top Spd 1 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '07 Charger 4.785 322.34 322.34 2 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '07 Solara 4.841 313.95 313.95 3 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '07 Impala 4.969 249.67 249.67 4 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '07 Impala 5.216 216.62 216.62 5 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '08 Charger R/T 5.228 216.31 216.31 6 1 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '07 Impala 5.329 204.35 204.35 7 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '07 Solara 5.432 195.11 195.11 8 ROCKS Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '08 Charger R/T 5.512 163.65 163.65 9 3 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '07 Charger 7.584 114.07 114.07 10 999 Melanie Troxel, Indianapolis IN, '08 Charger 8.646 84.44 84.44 11 TASCA Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, Mustang 8.976 93.01 93.01 12 5 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '07 Charger 9.316 76.26 76.26 13 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '07 Impala 9.521 97.12 97.12 14 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '07 Impala 11.016 80.81 80.81 15 999 Melanie Troxel, Indianapolis IN, '08 Charger 11.580 73.08 76.21