WINNER WINNER
Photo by: Kristen Zahorsky
WOW! What a weekend! After their first race being quite a challenge, Gutierrez Brothers Racing (GBR) was hoping to do good at the Cavalcade of Stars at Summit Motorsports Park but to win the race, that was even better!
With rain in the forecast for Sunday the race officials revised the event schedule for only 2 qualifying passes, one Friday and one Saturday. Friday evening’s qualifying run showed little promise when the GBR / Maxima Racing Oils dragster shook early in the run. The team went back and got to work reviewing the data to determine what changes needed to be made in preparation for qualifying round two.
Saturday morning held qualifying round two and with the changes the crew made the night before the car took off and made a solid pass with a 5.30 at 267 mph! This was able to put them in the 3rd qualifying position for the race. As things would turn out Mike Kosky, the 6th qualifier who JP was up against in elimination round one, wasn’t able to go up so GBR got a bye run. They were able to make another good pass with a 5.34 and move on to the semi-finals against Joe Maynard and the Samsel team. During service JP noticed something was wrong with the way a spark plug looked and the team started taking the engine apart. “I always look at the spark plugs after a pass. They can tell you everything. This time we had hurt a piston and sleeve so we had to get to work getting the supercharger off the car so we could take the head off and get those parts changed,” said JP.
With a highly coordinated service the GBR team was able to get the engine back together in time for a tough 2nd round match up with Joe Maynard. “Going up against the Samsel dragster and Joe Maynard is always difficult, that team knows how to run fast. All we could do was give it our best shot and see what happens” said Phil. JP got Maynard on the tree with a .031 to his .214
and was able to get a hole shot win with a 5.31 to his 5.28!!
In the finals GBR got the chance to take on Rich McPhillips and team. The McPhillips team was the number one qualifier with the fastest mph car on track. While the other classes were also sending down their final pairs of the night, the pair in front of top alcohol dragsters put transmission oil all down the right lane, it was going to be a long clean up. “Sitting in the car never bothers me but waiting in the water box at the end of a long day can really get to you but I just tried to stay focus,” said JP. While the cleanup happened the fans and teams were able to watch the signature Bader Family fire work show!
After cleaning up the teams got ready for their last pass of the night. GBR wrapped up the win with a 5.32 when McPhillips had to lift during the run. “We always want to put our best foot forward and thankfully that meant winning this time. We won at the Cavalcade of Stars 7 years ago and we are thrilled to do it again. But most of all winning with my family there, especially when my daughter was still awake means a lot to me,” said JP.
Their next race is the NHRA National event at Summit Motorsports Park June 28-30. The schedule shows qualifying rounds one and two on Friday. Saturday will be qualifying round three and elimination round one with Sunday having eliminations round two to the finals. If you don’t have your TICKETS you better get them now! And make sure you are following all GBRs social media(FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM) for updates and results!!
