Hernandez
Scores First
Career NHRA
US Nationals
Pro Modified
Title
INDIANAPOLIS
– Josh
Hernandez
left a few
cards
sitting on
the table
last year in
Indianapolis.
This year he
returned to
collect
them.
Still
stinging
from last
year’s final
round loss
after
qualifying
on the pole;
Hernandez
chose a
different
route to the
O’Reilly
Auto Parts
Raceway Park
winner’s
circle.
Hernandez
reversed the
roles of
fate by
qualifying
third and
defeating
the top
qualifier
Raymond
Commisso in
the final
round. Not
only did he
stop the
quickest car
on the
property,
Hernandez
conjured up
a .07
holeshot and
his best
elapsed time
of the
weekend – a
6.041,
238.09.
“This has
been an
incredible
weekend for
the AMS RAGE
team,”
Hernandez
said. “I
felt
fortunate to
enjoy the
kind of
weekend we
did last
year, but
missing out
on that win
was just
something I
couldn’t
seem to
shake from
my mind.
Howard Moon
and the crew
provided me
with a new
memory maker
this year.”
Hernandez
was amongst
the 24 AMS
NHRA Pro
Modifieds
who took
notice of
the two-car
assault at
Indy by the
Al Billes-tuned
entries of
Commisso and
Tony
Pontieri.
Round for
round the
duo set the
pace and
Hernandez
stayed
within
striking
distance.
Hernandez
gained his
shot in the
semi-finals
against
Pontieri,
who had
established
the quickest
winning time
of the
second
round. In
drag racing,
there are
two ways to
win – luck
or skill.
Hernandez
drew upon
his skill to
nail
Pontieri on
the tree
with a
nearly .03
holeshot and
that made
all the
difference
as he lit up
the
scoreboard
with a
6.075,
237.30.
Pontieri
lost with a
6.055,
236.22.
That
impressive
driving job
set up an
even tougher
final
against
Commisso.
Hernandez
wondered if
he could
tempt fate
twice by
nailing
Commisso on
the tree
or rely on
his finely
prepared
Camaro to
just flat
outrun him.
Hernandez
would have
done either,
but it was
crewchief
Howard Moon
who chose
the latter.
Not only did
Hernandez
snag almost
.06 out of
the gate, he
blistered
Commisso at
the finish
line with a
career-best
6.041,
238.09.
Commisso
lost with a
6.109,
232.51.
Hernandez
added,"To be
handed a
trophy in
the winners
circle at
Indy is more
than just
winning a
race, its
like a
full-color
page in
history. I
couldn't be
more proud
to be here
representing
Howard Moon
and all the
members of
my team who
worked so
hard to get
us here.
This was
truly a
great team
effort!"
###
About
our
sponsor
–
AMS
Staff
Leasing
is
one
of
the
nation's
largest
Professional
Employer
Organization
(PEO)
serving
the
construction
industry.
AMS
specializes
in
providing
integrated
and
cost
effective
services
by
contractually
assuming
substantial
employer
rights,
responsibilities,
and
risks
with
employees
assigned
to
our
clients.
Founded
in
1991
in
Dallas,
Texas,
AMS
currently
assists
thousands
of
clients
and
more
than
40,000
employees
through
our
specialized
PEO
program.
AMS
helps
contractors
outsource
non-revenue-producing
tasks,
saving
their
clients
time
and
money.
For
more
information,
call
1-800-COMP-PLUS
|
