(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)
Johnny Gray plans to return to NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series action right where he and the Service Central Racing team left last season when they had the hottest Funny Car on the circuit.
The veteran NHRA drag racer earned his first nitro win in August at Brainerd, Minn., before beginning a hot streak during the "Countdown to 1" playoffs.
The Service Central Racing Dodge Charger R/T advanced to five semifinals and accumulated more points than any other team during the last six races of 2011.
"We were definitely on a roll at the end of last season," said Gray. "The team really jelled together last year and that will just make us stronger this year."
For crew chief Rob Wendland, there was a noticeable difference this winter.
"This off-season has been a lot different than a year ago," Wendland said. "For one thing, we know where to find all of our Matco tools in the trailer."
In December of 2010, the team was being built. In December of 2011, the team was planning on how to be better once the season starts with the NHRA Winternationals.
They will continue to build their 2012 notebook with data from a test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway today.
"We're just looking to get more data before we go to Pomona," he said. "We had a pretty successful test with new parts and pieces and even a new Service Central body on the car in Florida.
"We just want to improve on the 60-foot times on the car and see if we can get it to have a better reaction time."
Gray noted during pre-season testing that it is easy to get behind as a driver when not in the car after a few weeks.
"You come out and make a few runs and you get your brain back up to speed and get everything back in focus.
"Your brain starts keeping up with your car."
The 2012 season kicks off Thursday with one qualifying session followed by one more on Friday before the last two sessions are held Saturday leading to Sunday's championship eliminations at the Winternationals.
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