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Untimely Tire Smoke Helps Send Todd to Sidelines |
Unexpected Traction Trouble Disappoints Todd, SKULL Shine Team
LAS VEGAS, October 28, 2007 – After running four consistent qualifying times
during Friday and Saturday qualifying, J. R. Todd and the SKULL Shine Top
Fuel were disappointed when their dragster suffered traction problems en route
to a first-round loss to Larry Dixon in the ACDelco Nationals at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway.
Crew chief Kevin Poynter had the car dialed into the conditions as Todd
posted qualifying elapsed times of 4.627, 4.550, 4.563 and 4.5674 seconds during
qualifying.
Todd was close to Dixon when the tires began spinning he had to abort the
run. At the same time, however, Dixon's car slowed when the blower belt came
off and he coasted to the finish line, too. The winning time was 4.986 seconds
at 216.65 mph to Todd's 7.567 at 109.80 mph.
"After the way we ran all weekend, we certainly didn't expect that," said
Todd. "I probably wouldn't have been so upset if he had run 4.50s (seconds),
but the belt came off at 800 feet and we couldn't catch him. That was the
worst part."
Crew chief Kevin Porter said he "wanted to run better than our qualifying
numbers and we thought we would be in good shape with the tune-up. It's just
disappointing."
Team owner Dexter Tuttle agreed. "Losing like that just gets you," he said.
Only one race remains in the 2007 season, the Auto Club Finals at Pomona,
Nov. 1-4. |
