Hernandez and B1 Racing team ready for Maple Grove

Courtesy of B1 Racing

READING, Pa. (May 6, 2011) – It’s been a long month for B1 Racing Pro Extreme driver Josh Hernandez.  His team owner, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has been temporarily and understandably pulled away from drag racing to focus on the urgent issue of supporting his father, the King of Bahrain, as they deal with the political issues facing the small island country off the coast of Saudi Arabia.  Hernandez and the entire B1 Racing team have expressed their full support of Sheikh Abdulla and his family. The change in focus had, however, caused some initial concern for Hernandez.

“I can’t even begin to relate to what Sheikh Abdulla and the King are going through in Bahrain right now, and I completely understand why they are focusing on maintaining peace in their homeland. That just makes sense,” Hernandez said.

“When I began to hear news stories about the country, I was of course concerned, first for their safety and that of the country. It did make me wonder what the future held for us as a team, but we have been reassured that we have the Sheikh’s full support. Right now, we just don’t have his time. Things have definitely calmed down according to what I’ve heard, and now it’s just rebuilding a level of confidence and stability for the people of Bahrain.

“I’m looking forward to the time when Sheikh Abdulla can join us again at the track, and I hope that time comes soon. In the interim, we are going to the races with the goal of winning and sending the trophy overseas as encouragement and support from us,” he said.

After their first outing of the year in Houston, the team took delivery of a new car and tested it before the last ADRL event in West Palm Beach. Unfortunately, it broke several parts on the first lap and the team had to sit out that event. After working through issues, the team felt Hernandez’ best opportunity for success at this weekend’s event in Reading, Pa. would be to use the trusted, world championship-winning ’57 Chevy Bel Air. After some quick alterations like adding a new automatic transmission, they loaded up and hit the road for the Penske Truck Leasing Inaugural Northeast Drags At Maple Grove.

“It’ll be a change, for sure, to drive an automatic, but I’m up for the challenge. It’ll just be good to be back at the track, in the car, burnin’ rubber and flying down the track. I can’t wait,” Hernandez said.