MONSTER ENERGY FUNNY CAR TEAM ADVANCES TO QUARTERFINALS AT VIRGINIA NATIONALS

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 12)— The Kenny Bernstein-owned Monster Energy Funny Car team made significant improvements this weekend under the tuning guidance of Mike Kloeber, qualifying in the top half of the Virginia Nationals field and advancing to quarterfinals competition.

Driver Tommy Johnson, Jr. drove the distinctive black and green Dodge Charger to the No. 8 qualifying position, posting an elapsed time of 4.070 seconds at 303.64 mph.

In the first round of Sunday’s eliminations Johnson rolled into the staging beams opposite Jeff Arend. It was a good drag race with Johnson edging Arend for the win, 4.114/305.49 to Arend’s 4.126/295.21.

“That win meant more to me than anything,” said Johnson. “ We’ve had a tough year. These team members have been digging all season and to give them a round win was huge. We were happy to get down the racetrack and give Kenny, Monster, Lucas, Mac, the Air Force, and all our sponsors a much deserved win.”

In the quarterfinals, Johnson squared off against Cruz Pedregon. Pedregon advanced to the next round by virtue of a 4.096/303.30 victory to Johnson’s 4.178/293.60.

“It was a great weekend,” said Johnson. “For only the second weekend Mike Kloeber’s tuned the car, we made greater progress than I would have ever imagined we’d make this fast.

“To get the car qualified in the top half of the field and win first round was fantastic. Granted we wanted to win second round, but the car dropped a cylinder on that run, and we’re not sure why. That was basically the 11th run that Mike has tuned the car, and I’d call this admirable progress. I can’t say enough about what a good job he’s doing.”