The Frontstretch: First-round woes continue for Toliver in Bristol posted by Kim DeHaven -- Sunday May 18, 2008

November 17th - November 21st, 2008

Monday: In the wake of Jimmie Johnson's third straight title, Tom Bowles takes a look at how a different points system might have made things just a little more dramatic heading down to the wire at Homestead in Bowles-Eye View.

Tuesday: With the season over, did your favorites finish the season red hot -- or barely lukewarm? Mike Lovecchio breaks it all down in the final edition of Who's Hot / Who's Not in Sprint Cup for 2008.

Wednesday: The Frontstretch staff looks back on the positives of the season finale at Homestead, along with the negatives of the dreaded Black Monday that went along with it in the latest edition of Mirror Driving.

Thursday: Editor's Note: This column has been postponed until Monday due to technical issues for Matt McLaughlin. NASCAR's testing ban for 2009 has race teams and fans up in arms. Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off and puts the ban under the microscope, dissecting the pros and cons of cutting costs in this way.

Friday: Jimmie Johnson has officially joined NASCAR's elite in the history books; but how will his chapter be written? Amy Henderson gives her take on Johnson's place in history in Holding a Pretty Wheel.

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First-round woes continue for Toliver in Bristol

Sunday May 18, 2008

BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 18, 2008) – Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Jerry Toliver is still seeking his first round win of the season after his second wheelstand of the weekend slowed him to a loss during the opening round of eliminations at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Toliver entered race day from the No. 15 qualifying position and faced Jim Head in the opening round. After a short delay for light rain, the pair finally fired up their cars and prepared to race. The Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge left the starting line hard, besting Head’s .103 reaction time by .015 of a second (.088), but after experiencing tire shake Toliver pedaled the throttle early and at 400 feet the car lifted the front end, forcing him to shut off. Head took the win with an elapsed time of 4.834 seconds at 319.29 mph to Toliver’s losing 6.482/128.57.

“The Rockstar Energy Drink car went out there and shook the tires and I pedaled it and it pulled the front wheels up,” Toliver explained. “Once again we just can’t get by first round. I’m totally frustrated right now. I feel bad for all these guys on the crew and for Rockstar. I apologize to Rockstar Energy Drink. They deserve better than this and we’re going to work hard and try and make it better.

“The bottom line right now is that we’re struggling with this new car and we just can’t seem to get it right. It throws us a bone here and there and we think we’re on to something and then things happen like this weekend. We’ve got to qualify better. If we can qualify better then we’ll have a better first-round draw and then we’ll start winning rounds. The more rounds we go the more we learn. We just have to get back on track with this thing. We’re not giving up; we’re just extremely frustrated because we’re better than this.

“My hats off to these guys for keeping their heads high and for the Rockstar Energy Drink people for hanging with us,” added Toliver.

Toliver is currently 16th in the Funny Car point standings. This event has been halted due to rain after the semifinals match-ups were set. If Melanie Troxel, who is waiting to wage her semifinal battle against Jim Head, wins the event, she will move ahead of Toliver.

The next race for Toliver and the Rockstar Energy Drink team will be at the NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kans., May 30-June 1.

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.