Alund Getting Comfortable in Summit Racing Camaro in Pomona
POMONA, Calif., February 8, 2014 – Jimmy Alund knows he has some fairly large shoes to fill as the stand-in driver for Summit Racing’s four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, who is recovering successfully from surgery last week. However, the native of Sweden is more than willing to do everything within his power to rise to the challenge.
Alund, who runs KB Racing engines in the heart of his own Pro Stock car that he competes with on the FIA European tour, drove the second blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a best time of 6.546 at 211.86 mph in qualifying to start from the No. 10 spot at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals and will race Shane Gray in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
“Yes, I have big shoes to fill,” said Alund. “Greg is one of the best drivers and tuners in Pro Stock, ever. I’m driving his car, I even have his racing suit on, so hopefully that will help me a little bit, too. I’m going to do my best, stay focused, and if I do that, we will put it to the test. So far, it’s been fantastic. It’s an honor to be together with all of these people, and I think we are making progress. It’s been fun.”
Alund says that driving the swift Summit Racing Camaro isn’t too terribly different than the KB Racing-powered Pro Stocker he drives in Europe.
“When it comes to getting down the track, a lot is the same,” said Alund, who opened qualifying with a 6.580-second pass at 210.31 mph and improved to a 6.574, 211.39. On the second day of the event, Alund raced to a 6.546, 211.86 and closed out the four rounds of qualifying with a 6.550, 211.76.
“It’s starting to get comfortable,” said Alund, who has made numerous passes in NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in past years. “I think we had seven runs in the test session [in Phoenix earlier this week] and we made four runs so far here. I think we’re starting to find a routine within the team and between me, the crew chief, and all the other guys. I think I’m going to fit in really good here.”
As for Sunday, Alund is prepared to go all the way – even if it means getting the best of Summit Racing teammate Jason Line if they should meet in the semifinals.
“You know, I had a long trip coming over here,” he said. “I want to try to win this thing.”