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Columbus: Mark Whisnant preview
Whisnant Has History In Columbus COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mark Whisnant, driver of the RW Performance Pro Stock Chevrolet Cavalier, likes racing at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. Whisnant is looking forward to competing at this weekends ...
Published: Jun 14, 2002, 3:38 PM
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Whisnant Has History In Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mark Whisnant, driver of the RW Performance Pro Stock Chevrolet Cavalier, likes racing at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. Whisnant is looking forward to competing at this weekends 38th Annual Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals.
"I have always had good luck here in Columbus," said Whisnant. "I don't know what it is about this racetrack, but it seems like we always run well here.
"Last year, in Pro Stock Truck, I went to my first final round here. I lost to (Bob) Panella in the final. Coming into this race last year, we were on the same kind of a roll we are on now. We hoping that history will repeat its self, and we find our way to the final round again this year."
Whisnant began the 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. with a bang. It was there that he qualified his Cavalier 16th, and went all the way to the semi-finals.
For all of his success in Gainesville, Whisnant then went on to have a string of three races where he did not qualify. Whisnant sights personnel changes within the RW Performance team as the reason for the turn around in the teams performance since Atlanta.
"I feel like, since Atlanta, the team has really jelled together. When my crew chief resigned after that race, and we were forced to either get our act together or go home.
"We have qualified for the last four races, went to the final round in Topeka, and have moved into the top 15 in the POWERade points. Considering we have missed five races, I think that we are doing pretty well.
"As well as we are doing, we have no intentions of taking it easy. Every weekend 35 to 40 guys are also trying to get into the show. With that kind of competition, we have to continue to work hard, and go the extra mile to stay competitive. Right now, I feel like as a team we are all on the same page, and we are building momentum.
"We were in this same position when we arrived at this race last year, and ended up in the final. Hopefully our momentum will carry us all the way to the final round again this year. Only this time with a different ending. We want our RW Performance Cavalier sitting in the winners circle at the end of the day instead of someone else."
Qualifying at the 38th Annual Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals will begin on Friday June 14, and continue on Saturday June 15. Eliminations will begin at 11:00 AM EST on Sunday June 16.
-rwr-
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