Topeka: Frank Hawley Saturday notes

Hawley a model of consistency in qualifying, claims No. 3 spot

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 31, 2008) - Consistency is the key to winning races, and Frank Hawley, driver of the Lend America Dodge Charger R/T, has modeled success all weekend in qualifying for the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. Hawley will start eliminations tomorrow in the No. 3 spot, his best qualifying effort of his abbreviated season.

"I hate to sound like a broken record, but I've been saying it all weekend - consistency is exactly what you want to have heading into race day, and Aaron Brooks and the team have this Charger driving like a bracket car," Hawley said.

During the four qualifying sessions, Hawley and Brooks delivered consistent efforts in every pass: 5.020 seconds at 291.95 m.p.h., 4.907/311.63, 4.945/301.27, and 4.976/300.40. Hawley's speed of 311.63 m.p.h. was the fastest Funny Car of the event.

"We've made it down the track every pass this weekend, and we've been in the top group if not the quickest in each session, so I'm really confident, given the same conditions, about our success tomorrow."

Hawley stopped short of predicting any round wins during eliminations, however.

"I'll never make any predictions about race day, because if you're good enough to qualify for one of these things, you can definitely win it, so you've always got to be at your best," he said.

Hawley will face current Funny Car points leader Tim Wilkerson in the first round of eliminations, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.

-credit: gcr