Denver: Mark Whisnant eliminations summary

Whisnant heads to Seattle with a good attitude.

MORRISON, Colo. -- Today at the 23rd Annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colo., Mark Whisnant entered eliminations occupying the 15th position on the Pro Stock eliminations ladder.

Whisnant piloted his RW Performance Chevrolet Cavalier to a 7.332 / 188 mph in the second session of qualifying, to secure his position in today's race.

Sunday morning Whisnant met Number 2 qualifier Kurt Johnson in the first round of eliminations.

This morning the mountain and Kurt Johnson would get the best of Whisnant. Johnson ran a 7.265 / 189.50 mph to defeat Whisnant who ran 7.325 / 188.96 mph.

Even though he went out in the first round, Whisnant was upbeat about his first race at Bandimere Speedway.

"I am pretty happy with the way we performed here this weekend," said Whisnant. "Here in Denver just qualifying for the race is a victory all by its self.

"The altitude here in Denver was a factor for everyone. Knowing that everyone would be down on power, James and the guys focused their attention on tuning the car to the racetrack. They basically, concentrated on how the car traveled down the track and made the altitude a secondary factor.

"Coming into this race I was not real optimistic about our chances of qualifying, but my team used their heads and got me in the show.

"This morning however was a different story. I was a little late and we didn't have enough power to catch Kurt, but we were here racing on Sunday and really that is more than I expected.

"This is the first race on the 'Western Swing', and I feel like we did what we needed to do. We have never run the swing before, and have heard all the stories about how it can wear the team and driver out. However, this weekend I feel like we are off to a good start and we are building momentum.

"Tomorrow we head to Seattle with a different attitude than I thought we would have after this race, and I am really looking forward to getting started again at the Northwest Nationals."

The next race on the 2002 POWERade Drag Racing schedule will be the 14th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Wash.

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