NHRA: Dunn Rates Houston Track One of the Best
3 April 1999
Baytown, Texas - - Jim Dunn is ready to test the track at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, during the upcoming NHRA OReilly Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Dunn, owner of the Penthouse Magazine-sponsored Pontiac Firebird Funny Car, rates the Houston track as one of the best for elapsed time (ET) and speed (mph)."Its a combination of things," says the veteran Dunn. "Its just the right time of the year to have cars running big numbers. The air is always good when we run here. Add to that the altitude of this track, being right at sea level, and presto you have record passes."
The two races at Houston Raceway Park echo Dunns feeling with real numbers. The 98 spring race produced, at the time, a new Top Fuel ET record by Joe Amato, a new national mph record and the quickest Funny Car pass in history by Cruz Pedregon and 6-second and 200 mph runs by Warren Johnson.
The fall race last year was no different. Gary Scelzi recorded the fastest speed of 1998 and the fastest, at the time, in NHRA history. Cruz Pedregon once again lowered the national ET standard.
":Even though we know that this track produces big numbers, we are not going to get ahead of our game plan. We are going out and Frank (Pedregon) is going to try and qualify this Penthouse Pontiac Funny Car in the top half of the field - - somewhere in the 4.95 to 5-flat range. Once weve done that we will test our new 5-disc clutch. We cant get in a hurry. Were creeping up on our potential. Once we start running 4.90 to 4.95 second passes consistently, then, and only then, we can start running with the Funny Car leaders," said Dunn.
"There is plenty of year left and plenty of events remaining for this Penthouse Firebird Funny Car to make its move," adds Dunn. Dunns driver Frank Pedregon feels the same as his owner.
"Every driver wants to win and Im no different. Winning is what racing is all about. But to be a winner you must pay attention to every detail that affects the operation of your car. Jim Dunn is a believer in attention to detail and being consistent at each level of elapsed times we run. The score board is starting to show the numbers we want to see out of this Penthouse Pontiac Firebird. Im patience because I know that by mid-season last year Jim Dunn had us winning races. I dont know of any reason why we cant do the same this year," reflects Frank Pedregon.
The Jim Dunn Racing Penthouse Magazine Funny Car will be in action on the quarter mile at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas , just outside Houston during the OReilly Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Professional qualifying for the Funny Cars begins on Friday, April 9 and concludes on Saturday, April 10. There will be two qualifying sessions each day. Final eliminations for all classes takes place on Sunday, April 11.
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