AJ Powell SSO #2397 from Route 66

[AJ Powell]

Boy o Boy what a long weekend! Joliet starts on Wednesday and it is non stop work from the time you get there until the time you leave. Three weeks before Joliet we had a major engine failure and my crew: Dad (John), brother (Dustin) and myself worked very hard to get it back together. We also made three passes on Thursday during test and tune trying some new parts, they didn't seem to work out and actually slowed us down just a little bit.



We went in to qualifying with the same setup we had won Milan with because it was proven. The first full 1/4 mile pass of the weekend proved very good for us and we went 7.47 and started out in the number 1 spot. The second pass we made with some very small adjustments in the tune-up and in my wildest dreams did not think we could of done it but went 7.42! The corrected air was pretty bad it was 3200' and the water grains were 125! It is very hard to burn water in a motor and thats what you get when water grains are above 100. I was so excited, I had a little room between me and the number 2 qualifier.



Friday evening was spent grilling and hanging out. I live 15 minutes south of the racetrack and all of my family was there. Saturday morning I backed up the record 7.42 pass with a 7.47 and I secured my very First number 1 qualifier. Unfortunatley the record did not hold and and someone else went a little faster. Not only did the record not stand but we also got beat first round, I was a little slow on the tree with an .080 light then the car went out made a hard left to the wall and I had to peddle the car and after I got back in it I just didn't have a enough race track left and got beat.



To me even though we got beat first round it was still a good weekend, my family and freinds were there and we did qualify number 1. I look forward to doing this race report more but right now I better get back in the garage and get to work! Talk to you all very soon.

AJ Powell

[Mark Keiser]

Hope Atco is better for you AJ.

See you there.

[powerjames]

Congrats on the #1 qualifier AJ, you guys have really stepped your stuff up this year and it has REALLY showed.. keep it up and keep it between the guard rails!