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NHRA: Bottom Line --Jeter Needs to Win

9 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Memphis, Tenn. - - On the eve of qualifying for Pro Stock Trucks, Brad Jeter began to give full attention to the AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil. Jeter, 24, from Greenville, S.C., has his Chevy S-10 in third position in the Winston championship point standings, 135 points behind leader Bob Panella, Jr. Panella took over the points lead last weekend at Topeka and sits at the top of the Pro Stock Truck category with 894 points.

"Im ready to get it on," said Jeter. "Win, lose or draw, the bottom line is that we need to have some luck and we need to win. In the last two truck events, at Indy and Topeka, I have lost in the first round. I cant do that at Memphis. I need to have (Bob) Panella and (Mark) Osborne go out very early and I need to go all the way to the winner's circle. It's the quickest way I know to make up the point difference."

In last year's event, the first year for Pro Stock Trucks at Memphis Motorsports Park, Jeter was the number one qualifier. The final was a classic match-up between Panella and Jeter, with Panella coming away with the victory. Entering this year's race, Jeter holds the track ET record at 7.601 seconds and Panella holds the track speed record at 176.12 mph.

At Topeka, Jeter and Bill Taylor, CEO of Jericho Investments Company of Columbus, Ohio, announced that Jericho Mortgage would become the primary sponsor of the Brad Jeter Racing Pro Stock Chevy S-10 Truck. The marketing partnership was to begin with this race but contractual details are still being worked out. Both parties are optimistic that a signed agreement can be reached in time to showcase the new sponsorship this weekend. Until an agreement is signed, Jeter will continue to campaign as an independent.

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