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Point Leader Hernandez Okay After High-speed Accident


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DALLAS, TX. October 26, 2008: Defending JEGS ProMod Challenge champion and current point leader Josh Hernandez is okay after a high-speed accident during a non-sanctioned event Saturday night at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. Hernandez hit both retaining walls in a '57 Chevrolet Bel Air racecar after completing a 4.90-second, 129-mph pass. He was examined by emergency medical personnel at the track and released.

"I'm starting to feel like I upset the racing gods," Hernandez said. "We've had two first-round losses and an accident in our last three races. Fortunately, I'm fine. I hit my right hand and forearm on something when I hit the wall the first time and it hurts a little bit but it's not bruised-up this morning so I'm lucky in that regard. I'll be in Vegas next weekend, no problem."

Hernandez is currently locked in a very tight battle with Tony Pontieri for the 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge title. Entering the upcoming eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hernandez is 20 points, or exactly one round of action ahead of Pontieri. The Vegas race is the final event of the 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge.

"It would take a lot more than this to keep us away from Vegas," said Hernandez, a three-time winner on the JEGS tour this year. "That title means a lot to this team and we're going to do everything we can to defend our championship."

The accident in Dallas certainly got Hernandez's attention as his steering wheel came off in his hands just as he impacted the wall for the first time.

"We had lined up closer to the centerline than normal because we liked how it looked over there," Hernandez said. "The run was interesting, to say the least, and I had to pedal it twice to get the win light. But we got the win and that was good.

"As soon as the light came on I started my shutdown procedure but just as I touched the brakes the car went hard left on me. I saw that big ol' yellow Motorplex wall coming at me so I threw the 'chutes and braced for the impact. As soon as I hit, the steering wheel came off in my hands and at that point I was along for the ride. Not the best feeling in the world."

The car went across the track, hit the other retaining wall and continued down the strip until it came to a stop.

"I bashed up the car pretty good but it can be fixed. I hate that I created all this work for the guys. Luckily, this isn't the car I race in NHRA so it won't factor into next weekend's race. We'll be there ready to go."