Dallas: Johnny Gray Saturday summary

Johnny Gray Puts Wonder Wagon In 13th in Texas

ENNIS, Texas (Sept. 25, 2004) - Johnny Gray made it into the Funny Car field today in Don Schumacher's Wonder Wagon at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals, first by virtue of the 4.954/300.40 lap he posted in the third qualifying session for 15th place. He then advanced himself up the chart to 13th in the final session with a 4.910/313.44 lap.

Gray and crew chief Dan Olson were encouraged by the progress they have made with the research and development vehicle which first competed at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day.

"We continue to test components and pieces at the same time we're trying to qualify for the field, so there are always a number of pressures on you," said Gray. "But we're certainly making progress and no one knows better how to do that than Dan Olson.

Gray will face his teammate Whit Bazemore in the first round of eliminations on Sunday, which begin at 11 a.m.

-dsr-