Phoenix: Jerry Toliver final report

TOLIVER SUFFERS EARLY EXIT IN PHOENIX

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2008) - Jerry Toliver suffered an early exit in the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car at the NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway today. The driver of one of the four Funny Car entries from Don Schumacher Racing lost a close battle to rival energy drink-sponsored driver Tommy Johnson Jr. during the first round of eliminations.

Toliver left the starting line hard, but the Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T shook the tires early, forcing him to pedal the throttle to regain traction. By that time, Johnson had driven by him, taking the win with a 4.834-second elapsed time at 310.63 mph to Toliver's 5.067/280.14.

"Everything was going great," Toliver explained, "but the car rattled and I pedaled it and tried to chase him down, but he was long gone. It shook about a second into the run and I slapped the throttle pretty quick and it responded and hooked up and I was chasing after him. But when he hit the 1000-ft. mark I thought there was no sense chasing this guy down and hurting parts and wasting stuff, so I just clicked it off. Not a whole lot to it. She rattled, I pedaled her, and I didn't catch him.

"It's early in the season and I have nothing but praise and confidence in my guys. The whole Rockstar Energy Drink group is a great team and we'll get it together. It's early in the season and unfortunately we've gone out in the first round two races in a row. But we'll go to Gainesville and see what happens. It's just part of racing."

-credit: dsr