Baytown: Tom Hammonds Friday notes

TEAM HAMMONDS STARTS WITH PROMISE DESPITE WEATHER (Baytown, Texas, Mar. 27, 2009) -- Inclement weather was inevitable at the NHRA Spring Nationals, but Team Hammonds started with promise at the NHRA Spring Nationals holding the 10th qualifying ...

TEAM HAMMONDS STARTS WITH PROMISE DESPITE WEATHER

(Baytown, Texas, Mar. 27, 2009) -- Inclement weather was inevitable at the NHRA Spring Nationals, but Team Hammonds started with promise at the NHRA Spring Nationals holding the 10th qualifying spot in a 24-car field after only one qualifying run.

In the only round of qualifying, Team Hammonds had a solid pass on the quarter round, running an elapsed time of 6.170 seconds at 205.54 mph against Steve Spiess (e.t. 6.752 sec./205.47).

"We set-up the car pretty soft because we have been having troubles of being too aggressive," explains Tomi Laine, Team Hammonds crew chief. "Basically, the whole idea today was to just get ready for tomorrow because the air is going to be a lot cooler and faster."

"I was actually hoping to get that second run in but everything got delayed [due to weather.] But I feel pretty good! We were a little conservative, but the car ran pretty nice and was looking fast."

Laine feels the No. 20 Chevy Cobalt has power and is on the right track for tomorrow. The team will not start off as conservative as they did today, because the air will be cooler producing faster times and speeds. They want to make a nice run tomorrow in the third qualifying session so that they may be able to try something new with set-ups for the fourth qualifying run.

"Everyone did a good job for Tom on his birthday. We need to be on our game tomorrow. It will be much faster tomorrow, and we can qualify good."

Pro Stock qualifying begins at 11:00 AM at the Houston Raceway in Baytown, Texas.