Gray says he'll be a factor on race day

April 16

The Service Central Racing team fought through a difficult two days of qualifying before Johnny Gray drove the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car into the top half of the field in today’s final session for the 2^nd annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA 4-Wide Nationals here at zMAX Dragway.

“We struggled with the car a bit in the first two rounds Friday,” said the 58-year-old Artesia, N.M. native. “Then Lee (Beard, crew chief) and the guys had to regroup after the third round was a loss when the tree didn’t activate. They did a great job, keeping the tune up for the last round and we made the jump from 15^th to seventh place.”

Gray ran a 4.115-second/304.74-mile-per-hour lap to gain the top-half position which put him into a first-round group with Robert Hight (2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points leader and second starting spot), Paul Lee (15^th) and Bob Tasca III (10^th).

“We should be able to step it up tomorrow and get into the 4.0s,” Gray said. “The weather should be better and the track conditions should be good. We will definitely be a factor in the race.”

Today’s two rounds were in jeopardy due to thunderstorms which delayed action more than three hours.

“The NHRA and zMAX folks did a great job prepping the track and getting in these two rounds,” he added. “And, considering where we were on Friday night and where we ended up, I’m really glad they did!”

Gray heads into tomorrow’s race, fourth of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season, fifth in the championship points. He was runner up two weeks ago in Las Vegas, another weekend of ups and downs for the Service Central Funny Car 

“I can’t say enough for our team and how they always seem to rise to the occasion and overcome adversity,” said the Don Schumacher Racing driver. “In Vegas, we had issues during qualifying and throughout race day, but the guys really got the job done.”

Eliminations begin at noon EDT, with television coverage beginning at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2/ESPN2HD.