Photo: Rick Jackson Motorsports
After qualifying number 2, Shane Westerfield used a string of consistent 5.50’s to grab the win at the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Regional Race in Topeka, KS.
The experienced Rick Jackson Motorsports Team would have to come together in a united effort to bring home the win though. With Rick Jackson at home and chief tuner Jimmy Rector recently leaving the RJM Team for the tuning position at Bob McCosh Motorsports the RJM team entered the weekend with many unknowns.
“Yeah, we were all a little nervous as a team coming here without Rick Jackson and Jimmy Rector. With Jimmy going over to McCosh we knew it was up to us to figure it out. Luckily Rick Jackson has been taking really good notes his last couple of years and we were basically able to plug into a tune-up to get a baseline and then we went from there”, said Westerfield.
In qualifying session 1 Westerfield slowed to a 5.830 @ 203.58 when the car shut off early. The RJM Team recovered in Q2 with a smooth and straight 5.566 second 265.53 mph pass which placed them in the #3 spot in the short 5 car field. They came back in the night session to land in the Number 2 spot with a stout 5.546 second 264.91 mph pass.
Throughout qualifying Westerfield was leaving the starting line early with consistent red-lights. For an experienced driver like Westerfield this was a troubling situation. Drivers in qualifying are known to stage as shallow as possible to gain as much roll-out advantage as possible for better qualifying times, which should make red-lighting difficult.
Westerfield commented, “Yeah, I was screwed up as a driver the first couple of runs. I was so excited to see if the tune-up was going to work each run I wasn’t 100% focused on cutting a light. So as a driver I was pretty nervous for eliminations but I was able to gather it up and focus on doing my job.”
In round 1 of eliminations Westerfield faced recently TAFC licensed Christine Chambles-Foster. A good reaction to the green light gave Westerfield a clear starting line advantage and he ran straight down the groove for the win, posting 5.602 seconds @ 262.28 mph to Chambles-Foster’s early shut-off 8.714 second pass. With the odd number of cars, Westerfield earned the laddered bye into the final and would not face an opponent in the semi-finals.
The other side of the ladder had Chirs Foster advancing to the final round to meet Westerfield.
[As a side note: Yes, Chris Foster is Christine’s husband – hence the “Family Feud” branding on Christine’s car.]
Foster’s journey to the final started with a first-round win against Bob McCosh. Foster ran 5.628 @ 262.33 mph to defeat McCosh’s off-pace 5.787 at only 250.09 mph. This advanced Foster to the semi-finals to face Kyle Smith. Smith was unable to make the call for the semi-final matchup handing Foster a trip to the final against Westerfield.
Much Cooler air and track conditions would greet both teams in the final round. But a lengthy oil-down in their preferred lane had the RJM Team make a quick lane swap for the final round.
In the final Westerfield would get away first with a .040 light to Fosters .064., then turned the score boards on with another 5.567 second 263.41 mph pass for the win. Foster made a straight pass but was off from his earlier quicker times, clocking 5.628 seconds and slowing to 250.09 mph.
Foster would comment later that ignition problems caused his car to slow in the final.
It was a great weekend for Westerfield and the Rick Jackson Motorsports Team: Chris Perl, Mike Pavia, and Andre Monarque – One of the most experienced teams in all of Alcohol Racing.
“The team did an outstanding job with preparing the car and reading the race track. That makes the tuners job much easier. I had a blast getting to call the shots again. We kind of did it as a team collectively. That way if it didn’t work, we were ALL to blame…Lol”, added Westerfield.
This win along with other early season success puts Westerfield and the RJM Team within striking distance of class leading Doug Gordon who is presently number one in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol Funny Car Championship points.
Next up: Westfield and the RJM Team will be back in 2 weeks at the same Heartland Motorsports Park for the Menards NHRA Nationals, August 12 -14
PADR Media