DSR heads south to join top nitro teams for testing, racing at Palm Beach International Raceway
NHRA teams for several days of extensive testing at Palm Beach International Raceway in preparation for the Feb. 7-9 Winternationals season-opener at Pomona, Calif., in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.The biggest changes at DSR since the 2013 season is the addition of popular veteran Tommy Johnson Jr. to the cockpit of the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in which Johnny Gray had driven the past three seasons.
The only crew chief change at DSR, which last year won 23 NHRA event titles, is at Jack Beckman’s Valvoline Dodge where veteran tuner Rob Flynn joined DSR at the end of last year to lead the team.
Matt Hagan’s Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots team is looking to pick up where they left off from last season. Hagan won a category best five titles including the season finale in Pomona, Calif.
“We have a few new things in the works and a brand new chassis to try out so we’re really looking forward to getting some laps under our belt this week,” said Matt Hagan, driver of the Mopar Express Lane Funny Car. “The guys are working really hard and I’m just really excited to be back in a racecar.”
Three days of testing, which is closed to the public, will lead to Friday and Saturday nights’ annual PRO Winter Warm-up in South Florida. The Warm-up will offer live streaming on BangShift.com of side-by-side runs involving an expected 26 teams in Top Fuel and Funny Car.
The event is a partnership between PBIR and PRO (Professional Racers Owners Organization).
“They draw a huge crowd out here. The weather is supposed to cool down a little bit so we should have some really fast numbers and put a show on for these guys. I’m looking forward to it,” Hagan added.
Racing is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
