Alund Adapts to Four-Wide, Qualifies in Top Half in Charlotte
 
Mooresville, N.C., April 12, 2014 – Rather than feeling the pressure of an unfamiliar format, Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jimmy Alund is rather enjoying racing at the 5th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Alund qualified in the top half of the field for the second consecutive event at the fifth NHRA national race of the 2014 season of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
 
The four-wide format lined drivers up four across to race down the track all at once through four rounds of qualifying, and the four sessions were a refresher course for Alund, who will start from the No. 8 position on Sunday.
 
“When everyone does what they’re supposed to do, it goes really smooth,” said Alund, who raced the inaugural Four-Wide Nationals in 2010 driving his own Pro Stock car. “When we are all on the chip at the same time and leave at the same time, it makes a big difference. It’s been a lot different than the first time I raced this event. I like doing something different, and since it’s going smooth so far, it’s fun.”
 
Three of Alund’s four passes during qualifying were strong, including a 6.555 at 212.39 in the opening act followed by a 6.550 at 211.96 and a final pass of 6.558 at 211.60 that was fourth-quickest of the round. The only trouble Alund truly ran into was in a round that was a challenge for most on a warming racetrack. His clocked a 6.833 at 159 mph in the third session.
 
“We had three good runs in our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro,” said Alund. “All the [good] passes we made were within .008-second and they were all in three different lanes, so I feel like Rob [Downing, crew chief] has the car set up really good.”
 
Raceday will include three rounds of eliminations, and in the first round Alund will race low qualifier Chris McGaha, Larry Morgan, and V. Gaines.
 
“This is something that everyone only does once a year and most of the other guys have done it a few more times than I have, but I think we are all in the same boat. Anyone could win tomorrow,” said Alund.