TOLIVER AND ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK TEAM READY TO ROCK VEGAS
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TEMECULA, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2008) – Rockstar Energy Drink Dodger Charger R/T Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver heads to this weekend's Las Vegas NHRA Nationals with a consistent race car and a great deal of confidence. After seeing improvements in performance and consistency over the last several races, including a No. 2 qualifying effort in Memphis two races ago, he is eager to end the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series on a winning note.
"It's been a frustrating season and obviously it's too late to turn things around, but it's still not too late to put this Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge in the winner's circle," said Toliver, who won the inaugural race in Las Vegas in 2000 as team owner of the Funny Car driven by Jim Epler. "We want nothing more than to bring Rockstar Energy Drink a win. That's our main focus and our goal going into Las Vegas.
"We've had a sporadic hot rod this season. It's been on and run really well and then when it came down to crunch time it seemed to be a tick off. We just haven't had the performance on Sundays necessary to win, and that includes everybody, as well as myself. We haven't jelled and I don't know why. It's frustrating. And the crew guys feel the same way. They're dedicated, true professionals and I love them. They've worked they're asses off all year and it would be nice for them to finally have a chance to celebrate.
"We've got two more races to accomplish our goal of winning for Don Schumacher Racing, all the sponsors and Rockstar crew members, and who knows what's going to happen.
"We've seen glimmers of some terrific performance out of the Rockstar Energy Drink car this season and I know crew chief Phil Shuler and the team have what it takes to get this car to the winner's circle. It's those glimmers that keep you going. The bottom line is that we want to be the best we can be on any given day out there, whether it's during qualifying or eliminations.
"I love going to Vegas, it's a great race track and it's a lot fun and I look forward to going. We just want to go to go to Las Vegas and do the best we can and give something back to Rockstar Energy Drink for all they've put into this program. Hopefully that something is a winner's trophy."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 15 in Funny Car point standings after 22 of 24 events in 2008
* Qualified No. 15 at Vegas 2 in 2007, lost first round. DNQ'd at spring race
* Made quickest run of the 2008 season in Joliet, Ill., 4.783 seconds
* Debuted new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink at 2007 Las Vegas event
* Qualified second twice in 2008, at the season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend (4.790 seconds) and in Memphis.
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* Nineteenth 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 inaugural race in Las Vegas 2000 as team owner for driver Jim Epler
* 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
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_toliver_112259.jpg" alt="j_toliver_112259" align="right"borders="0"/>
TEMECULA, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2008) – Rockstar Energy Drink Dodger Charger R/T Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver heads to this weekend's Las Vegas NHRA Nationals with a consistent race car and a great deal of confidence. After seeing improvements in performance and consistency over the last several races, including a No. 2 qualifying effort in Memphis two races ago, he is eager to end the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series on a winning note.
"It's been a frustrating season and obviously it's too late to turn things around, but it's still not too late to put this Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge in the winner's circle," said Toliver, who won the inaugural race in Las Vegas in 2000 as team owner of the Funny Car driven by Jim Epler. "We want nothing more than to bring Rockstar Energy Drink a win. That's our main focus and our goal going into Las Vegas.
"We've had a sporadic hot rod this season. It's been on and run really well and then when it came down to crunch time it seemed to be a tick off. We just haven't had the performance on Sundays necessary to win, and that includes everybody, as well as myself. We haven't jelled and I don't know why. It's frustrating. And the crew guys feel the same way. They're dedicated, true professionals and I love them. They've worked they're asses off all year and it would be nice for them to finally have a chance to celebrate.
"We've got two more races to accomplish our goal of winning for Don Schumacher Racing, all the sponsors and Rockstar crew members, and who knows what's going to happen.
"We've seen glimmers of some terrific performance out of the Rockstar Energy Drink car this season and I know crew chief Phil Shuler and the team have what it takes to get this car to the winner's circle. It's those glimmers that keep you going. The bottom line is that we want to be the best we can be on any given day out there, whether it's during qualifying or eliminations.
"I love going to Vegas, it's a great race track and it's a lot fun and I look forward to going. We just want to go to go to Las Vegas and do the best we can and give something back to Rockstar Energy Drink for all they've put into this program. Hopefully that something is a winner's trophy."
JERRY TOLIVER QUICK FACTS:
* No. 15 in Funny Car point standings after 22 of 24 events in 2008
* Qualified No. 15 at Vegas 2 in 2007, lost first round. DNQ'd at spring race
* Made quickest run of the 2008 season in Joliet, Ill., 4.783 seconds
* Debuted new sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink at 2007 Las Vegas event
* Qualified second twice in 2008, at the season-opening Winternationals, tying for No. 1 with the quickest Funny Car run of the weekend (4.790 seconds) and in Memphis.
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing for the 2008 season
* Nineteenth 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 inaugural race in Las Vegas 2000 as team owner for driver Jim Epler
* 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
