Weather is No Problem for Hernandez, Grabs Provisional No. 1

Belle Rose, Louisiana – (July 8, 2005) – The rain definitely didn’t fall on Joshua Hernandez’ parade at the TORCO Gear Summer Drags Presented by Ambrose Printing at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana. After a day of thunderstorms, Hernandez shot straight down the quarter mile with a  6.252 second,  226.81 mile per hour pass,  earning the provisional No. 1 spot and posting the fastest speed of the session.
 
“That run is really a testament to Howard [Moon, crew chief], Tommy [Lipar, Team owner] and the rest of the guys. They took a look at the weather conditions and put a tune-up in the car that put us on top,” Hernandez said.
 
“The launch was a little soft, and it got a little loose out there towards the middle, but I muscled my way through it and held on for a good pass.
 
“It was really a rewarding run for all of us,” he said.
 
With half of the field having difficulty getting down the track and the No. 2 qualifier Thomas Patterson more than six hundredths behind him at 6.315 seconds, the Conroe, Texas driver refuses to let off his game.
 
“I’m really focused on doing my job, and I know the guys are too. Tomorrow will be a completely different race – two more qualifying runs in the heat of the day and then eliminations at night,” Hernandez said.
 
“This is far from over and we’re going to have to work hard to finish on top,” he said.
 
Racing finishes Saturday with qualifying runs scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., and eliminations slated to kick off at 5:00 p.m.