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VALDOSTA, Ga. (March 11, 2008) – Jerry Toliver will be behind the wheel of a new race car at this weekend's NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., the third of 24 races on the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car tested two days this week with a new chassis at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga., in advance of this prestigious event.
The 2000 Gatornationals Funny Car winner made several shakedown runs down Valdosta's quarter-mile in the new Murf McKinney chassis on Sunday and Monday. The Rockstar Energy Drink team then packed up and headed to Gainesville.
"I think it's going to be a good race car," said Toliver on Monday from Valdosta. "We made a couple of planned shut-off runs to half-track, but after that the track kind of went away so we never made a full pull. The car seems to handle well and the crew did a miraculous job getting it ready. The Rockstar Energy Drink crew received the chassis late Tuesday in Indianapolis and had it ready to go here in Valdosta on Saturday morning. So hats off to the crew. It helps when you have guys that have 110 percent of their hearts into the deal, and that's what we've got over here. We made some good squirts here in Valdosta, now we're off to Gainesville."
Toliver began his first season with Don Schumacher Racing by qualifying the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge second at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., with an impressive 4.790-second elapsed time, which tied him for No. 1 (Tim Wilkerson claimed the pole with a faster speed). At the second season race in Phoenix, Toliver recorded a respectable 4.865-second lap to qualify 13th, but was ousted in the first round for the second straight event.
"We have a much better race car and program than what the points are saying," explained Toliver, who is currently 14th in the standings, just one round win out of the top 10. "Unfortunately, we went out during the first round in Pomona with a broken clutch arm. But we ran low E.T. there with a 4.79, so that tells you we've got a good hot rod. We went to Phoenix and we struggled a little bit, but we got in the show and once again went out first round. It's very early in the season and with this new points format it's not as bad as it used to be if you got off to a slow start. Not that we're off to a slow start. One good race and we're right back in the top five.
"We've got a great team and a good race car. With the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Don Schumacher Racing and my other teammates, I think we'll be in some winner's circles this year and hopefully in the Countdown to the Championship. I couldn't be happier with the crew chief and team that I have right now."
When Toliver won the Funny Car title at the Gatornationals in 2000, he defeated current DSR teammate Ron Capps in the final round. The last time Toliver competed in Gainesville was in 2004, where he posted a quarterfinal finish.
"There are highlights on the tour and Gainesville certainly ranks way up there," Toliver said. "I think you've got Pomona, Gainesville and Indy. Not in that order, but I think those three are probably three of the most important races. Not that any race is more important than the other as far as the points go, but those are huge races. The Southeast crowd comes out for the Gatornationals in droves - we get humongous crowds - and they love drag racing. It's always a good time going to Gainesville.
"I was fortunate to win the Gators in 2000 and I've done well in Gainesville. It's a great race track, a great facility. Any time you win an event it becomes one of your favorite tracks, so Gainesville Raceway is one of my favorite tracks."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 14 in Funny Car point standings after two 2008 events
* Gatornationals Funny Car winner in 2000 over Ron Capps
* Last competed at Gatornationals in 2004, finished in quarterfinals
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 in the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
*Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
*19th in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
*Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
*Qualified in the top half of the field twice last season; had top speed of the event in Denver
*Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
*Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
*Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
*Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner.
*First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
*Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
*Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
*Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
*Nephew of drag racing pioneers and Hall of Fame members, Art and Jack Chrisman
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 14, nitro qualifying is at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, the qualifying is the same, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations on Sunday begin at 11 a.m.
2000 GATORS CHAMP TOLIVER TO DEBUT NEW CAR IN GAINESVILLE
VALDOSTA, Ga. (March 11, 2008) – Jerry Toliver will be behind the wheel of a new race car at this weekend's NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., the third of 24 races on the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule. The driver of the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car tested two days this week with a new chassis at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga., in advance of this prestigious event.
The 2000 Gatornationals Funny Car winner made several shakedown runs down Valdosta's quarter-mile in the new Murf McKinney chassis on Sunday and Monday. The Rockstar Energy Drink team then packed up and headed to Gainesville.
"I think it's going to be a good race car," said Toliver on Monday from Valdosta. "We made a couple of planned shut-off runs to half-track, but after that the track kind of went away so we never made a full pull. The car seems to handle well and the crew did a miraculous job getting it ready. The Rockstar Energy Drink crew received the chassis late Tuesday in Indianapolis and had it ready to go here in Valdosta on Saturday morning. So hats off to the crew. It helps when you have guys that have 110 percent of their hearts into the deal, and that's what we've got over here. We made some good squirts here in Valdosta, now we're off to Gainesville."
Toliver began his first season with Don Schumacher Racing by qualifying the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge second at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., with an impressive 4.790-second elapsed time, which tied him for No. 1 (Tim Wilkerson claimed the pole with a faster speed). At the second season race in Phoenix, Toliver recorded a respectable 4.865-second lap to qualify 13th, but was ousted in the first round for the second straight event.
"We have a much better race car and program than what the points are saying," explained Toliver, who is currently 14th in the standings, just one round win out of the top 10. "Unfortunately, we went out during the first round in Pomona with a broken clutch arm. But we ran low E.T. there with a 4.79, so that tells you we've got a good hot rod. We went to Phoenix and we struggled a little bit, but we got in the show and once again went out first round. It's very early in the season and with this new points format it's not as bad as it used to be if you got off to a slow start. Not that we're off to a slow start. One good race and we're right back in the top five.
"We've got a great team and a good race car. With the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Don Schumacher Racing and my other teammates, I think we'll be in some winner's circles this year and hopefully in the Countdown to the Championship. I couldn't be happier with the crew chief and team that I have right now."
When Toliver won the Funny Car title at the Gatornationals in 2000, he defeated current DSR teammate Ron Capps in the final round. The last time Toliver competed in Gainesville was in 2004, where he posted a quarterfinal finish.
"There are highlights on the tour and Gainesville certainly ranks way up there," Toliver said. "I think you've got Pomona, Gainesville and Indy. Not in that order, but I think those three are probably three of the most important races. Not that any race is more important than the other as far as the points go, but those are huge races. The Southeast crowd comes out for the Gatornationals in droves - we get humongous crowds - and they love drag racing. It's always a good time going to Gainesville.
"I was fortunate to win the Gators in 2000 and I've done well in Gainesville. It's a great race track, a great facility. Any time you win an event it becomes one of your favorite tracks, so Gainesville Raceway is one of my favorite tracks."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 14 in Funny Car point standings after two 2008 events
* Gatornationals Funny Car winner in 2000 over Ron Capps
* Last competed at Gatornationals in 2004, finished in quarterfinals
* Qualified second at 2008 season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 in the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend, (4.790 seconds)
*Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
*19th in 2007 Funny Car point standings after running limited schedule (19 races)
*Returned to Funny Car competition in 2007 after two-year hiatus with new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink
*Qualified in the top half of the field twice last season; had top speed of the event in Denver
*Made Funny Car debut in 1998 running 12 races with sponsorship from MAD Magazine
*Earned first Funny Car national event win over John Force at 1999 NHRA Finals at Pomona
*Won five races in 10 career final rounds as driver
*Won seven races in 14 final rounds as a team owner.
*First Top-10 season finish in 1999 (eighth)
*Finished career-high No. 3 in Funny Car points in 2000 with career-best three wins in seven final rounds
*Named Car Craft Magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to drag racing
*Debuted WWF Get R.E.A.L (Respect, Education, Achievement, Leadership) National Youth Education Program in 2001
*Nephew of drag racing pioneers and Hall of Fame members, Art and Jack Chrisman
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 14, nitro qualifying is at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, the qualifying is the same, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations on Sunday begin at 11 a.m.
