Summit Racing–Alund Sails to Career Best at Gatornationals

Alund sails to career best numbers on first day at Gatornationals
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – The first day of qualifying at the 45th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals included spectacular and powerful runs for the Pro Stock category, and Summit Racing drivers Jason Line and Jimmy Alund both made fast passes down the quarter-mile dragstrip at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Alund, an eight-time FIA Pro Stock champion, made the best run of his Pro Stock career when he clocked a 6.527 at 212.79 mph. He will head into the second day of the event with a provisional hold on the No. 8 position in the qualifying line-up.
 
The air was fantastic for the naturally aspirated Pro Stockers, and the first session of Pro Stock in Gainesville was incredible with the top 12 passes ranging from 6.476 to 6.586.  Alund’s quick and fast blast was eighth quickest in the early session and held the position through round two.
 
“The first round, we had the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro set up to be a little bit conservative to get down the track, which it did,” said Alund, who ran early in the session. “We actually went pretty fast to be up front, and I was happy with the first round. I wish it could have been a little bit faster, but you always want that.
 
“The second run, though, we tuned it up a little bit. We changed a couple of things, and I had a little problem with the clutch up there when I took it up on the limiter. Basically, we didn’t do good the first 60 feet of the racetrack. After that, the car ran faster than the run before, so if that wouldn’t have happened, I would say that we would be a couple hundredths faster.”
 
For Alund, a top-half effort on the first day of the event is a very strong start. The race in Gainesville is the third of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, and Alund qualified 10th and 11th, respectively, at the first two races of the year.
 
“This is a step forward, that’s for sure,” said Alund. “The fast guys right now are awful fast. I mean, they are way faster than most everybody, but if we can work on things for tomorrow, I think we’ll be in good shape. We know what we need to do, and if the weather is close to what it was the first run today, I think we can improve and run in the 6.40s as well.
 
“I’m having a good weekend so far. There are a lot of people from Sweden and Europe here cheering for me, and that’s nice. I see a lot of familiar faces – it’s like racing at home a little bit. Today was a good day.”