Reading: Jack Humphreys preview

Putting on Good Show for Friends, Family Is Justin Humphreys' Goal This Weekend

There once was a Chevrolet commercial that said: "See the USA in your Chevrolet . . ."

Well, Justin  Humphreys could substitute Pontiac in there but it would ruin
the rhyme.   Humphreys, however, is seeing the USA this year after joining NHRA'
s Pro Stock  division, driving his RaceRedi/Knoll-Gas Energy Pontiac GTO.

Along the way, he has been a first-time visitor to the Seattle, Sonoma, Calif., and Brainerd, Minn., areas while pursuing round wins in what is one tough racing category.

A long trek to the track isn't  necessary this week because Humphreys has a "
home" race at Maple Grove Raceway  in Reading, Pa., the Toyo Tires Nationals,
Friday through Sunday. It is one of  two NHRA venues within easy driving
distance of his home in Monrovia, Md.   The other is at Richmond, Va., Oct. 5-7.

"I'm excited to be going  to Reading.  I'm sure we are going to be busy
because there will be a lot  of family and friends there.  It's about a one hour,
20 minute drive for  me," said Humphreys, 30.  "We want to put on a good show
to make their  visit worthwhile."

Humphreys didn't have grandiose ideas of success when the season began in February. But he has faired better than expected, but not as well as he wanted. For example, he has qualified for five of the last six races, but he missed the starting lineup by several thousandths of a second five times in the first 16 events.

Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden joined the team last week at Brainerd and is working with crew chief Eric Luzinski and engine builder Richard Maskin. "I think we are going in the right direction," added Humphreys, a former Sport Compact and Nopi series driver. "We'd like to qualify well and win a few rounds on Sunday.

"We made a lot of changes to the car Sunday before eliminations and we shook the tires against Jason (Line) in the first round." Despite that, the car ran its quickest time of the weekend, 6.707 seconds in losing to No. 2 qualifier Jason Line's 6.690.

Humphreys has been a  semifinalist twice, at St. Louis and Bristol, Tenn., a
finish he would take  frequently.  But he isn't disappointed. To the contrary.
"This is our  first year in Pro Stock and we can't really complain."

-credit: rrm