Norwalk: Hillary Will final report

Safety issue ends Hillary Will day

NORWALK, Ohio (July 1, 2007) -- At the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Hillary Will bid for the winner's circle was cut short by a safety issue.

In the opening round Will powered by Clay Millican, stopping the finish line clock in 4.608 seconds, her quickest run of the weekend. Millican recorded a time of 4.682 seconds in a losing effort.

Then in the second round against Whit Bazemore an issue with one of the big Goodyears on Will's KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster ended her day.

"We found a bubble on one of the rear tires on Hillary's car," said team owner Ken Black. "We did the burnout but had no intention of sending her down the track. In a deal like this you can only hopes the opponent fouls. Safety of drivers is the prime concern. I'm glad the problem was found before a small item developed into something that could have tragic results. The NHRA was built on safety and no one associated with KB Racing or any other team would put one of our drivers in a situation that is unsafe."

Bazemore went on to cover the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park quarter-mile track in 4.597 seconds.

NEXT RACE: It's on to the third race of six in a row as the POWERade Drag Racing Series now moves to Bristol, Tenn., for the race that was postponed in May. The NHRA O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals unfolds July 6-8 at Bristol Dragway.

-credit: kbr