Hernandez wins first round at E-Town

Englishtown, N.J. (June 18, 2005) –Joshua Hernandez remained consistent with every pass he made down the track at the K&N Filters NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, qualifying third in the quickest top-8 qualified cars in TLR/AMS Pro Modified Challenge history. Hernandez piloted the Tommy Lipar Racing Dr. Moon’s Rage ’57 Bel Air to 6.102 seconds and 230.29 miles per hour to win his first round of eliminations against Jim Halsey who ran 6.151/228.19.

“I feel like we’re on fire right now,” said Hernandez. “Every run just keeps getting better and better, smother and quicker.”

“After I left the line, I never saw him,” he said. Hernandez left the line earlier than Halsey – recording a .036 reaction time to Halsey’s .050 – and never looked back.

“Our success this weekend – this year, really – is a total testament to the guys who put this thing together for every run down the track. Mac Burnett, Bryan Perkins, Terry Hope, Mitch Stott and, of course, our chief, Howard Moon – these guys give everything they have, every day, to get us to the finish line first,” Hernandez said.

“I’ve never met a more determined bunch of guys, and I think their determination leads to a laser focus on the target of getting to the finish line first – every time,” he said.

Hernandez faces off with Thomas Patterson in the second round of eliminations in a battle of the series sponsors. Patterson drives the AMS Staff Leasing-backed ’41 Willys and Hernandez is sponsored by Tommy Lipar Racing – the TLR and AMS in the “TLR/AMS Pro Modified Challenge.” Hernandez will have lane choice against Patterson.

The final rounds of eliminations begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and run throughout the day at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

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