Las Vegas: Tom Hammonds Friday notes

TEAM HAMMONDS DOES WELL AFTER ONE QUALIFYING

(LAS VEGAS, Apr. 3, 2009) - - Regulated to one session of qualifying due to weather today at SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Team Hammonds ran an elapsed time of 6.759 seconds against Steve Spiess (11.154 sec./86.20 mph) to sit in sixth place.

"We really feel great about the first session," said Tomi Laine, Team Hammonds crew chief. "It was pretty hard to come from Houston to completely different the conditions here in Las Vegas."

Winds were very high and the air was humid causing the No. 20 Race for Achievement Chevy Cobalt to lose power. Laine said they gave up a little at the 60-ft mark and decided to make quite a few changes to the car in preparation for the second session, which was called.

"Since the second round was called today, we just need to get a good night sleep, and see what the weather and air will be tomorrow to decide what the whole package will be. We are close enough that we can make small changes and try to make the car better, faster, and move up in the field."

Laine is pleased with the team's performance and is much happier with the start of this race than in Houston.

Greg Anderson (6.718 sec./205.32mph) is sitting in the number one spot.

-credit: th