MONSTER ENERGY FUNNY CAR TEAM NARROWLY MISSES COMPETITIVE MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS FIELD

CLERMONT, Ind. – The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend is probably the most intense weekend on the NHRA circuit. It’s also the weekend of the highest car counts and the stiffest competition to make the 16-car elimination field.

Fractions of a second separate the qualified from those who came close.

In the case of the Monster Energy Funny Car team it was three one-thousandths- of- a- second that put them one spot shy of making the sweet 16 this year.

A very impressive run in the dramatic final round of qualifying yielded a 4.211/291.07.

“I didn’t leave anything on the starting line on that final pass,” said driver Tommy Johnson, Jr. “I staged very shallow so we could get every ounce of elapsed time out of the run. Rick ( Cassel , crew chief) and the Monster Energy team did a great job under pressure. We were so close! It’s a heartbreaker not to qualify for this event.

“We really wanted a good showing for Monster Energy and for Kenny Bernstein.

“Now it’s on to the new facility at Charlotte . We’re excited to race there where we have a lot of family and friends. We look forward to a competitive weekend at the new “Bellagio of drag strips.”