Hernandez blasts to Semifinal Finish in Norwalk

NORWALK, Ohio - Dodging persistent rain showers, Josh Hernandez drove the Tommy Lipar Racing-sponsored Dr. Moon's Rage to a solid semifinal finish in the Flowmaster ADRL Inaugural Chevy Drags in Norwalk, Ohio.

After a long summer break, Hernandez and the Howard Moon-led team rolled the classic '57 Chevy off the trailer and ran 3.930/192.82 down the eighth-mile to grab the No. 2 spot heading into Saturday's qualifying. Dodging rains, the team elected to forego another qualifying attempt to prepare for eliminations, and ended up qualifying No. 3.

"Making the show wasn't an issue, and, Howard decided to take some extra time to get ready for eliminations," Hernandez said. "We weren't fighting any issues, it was just a time-saving decision. With all of the rain, the last thing we wanted was to be caught out there, and have to roll it back in."

Originally scheduled to start around 4 p.m., eliminations began after 9 p.m. with Hernandez taking on Dan Bandish in round one. Despite tire shake, Hernandez advanced with a win, 4.129/185.87 to 4.145/181.25. In the quarterfinals, Hernandez took out Nike Neal with a blistering 3.897/192.60 to Neal's 4.071/180.09.

Just after 11 p.m. Saturday night, in a rematch of the 2006 ADRL World Finals in which Hernandez won his first ADRL event title, Dwayne Watkins turned the tables on the Conroe, Texas-resident, putting Hernandez back on the trailer after a tire-shaking 4.674/157.26 to Watkins quicker 3.965/185.97 pass.

"At that time of night, you're never sure what the track will hold, and, we just overpowered it," Hernandez said.

"It's disappointing, for sure, because we definitely had a quick car, but, in the pig picture we're still in the chase for the playoffs. I wasn't able to make up any ground on Bubba [Stanton, first place in ADRL Championship points], but I'm confident we'll do fine come Rockingham," he said.

Hernandez and the Dr. Moon's Rage head next to Indianapolis for the AMS Pro Mod Challenge at the NHRA US Nationals over Labor Day weekend. The Next ADRL event is the Eastern Race Fuels Dragstock IV, September 14-15 at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham.

For more information about Josh Hernandez and the Dr. Moon's Rage Pro Mod racing team, visit the team website: :: Tommy Lipar Racing.com :: Home of Dr. Moon's RAGE Pro Mod.


Photo courtesy of Competition Plus