Perkins Winternationals Experience a Battle
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Pomona, CA – Cody Perkins and the 801 Racing Top Alcohol Dragster Team did quite a bit of fighting at the Winternationals. Not fisticuffs mind you, but there were battles a plenty.
Trouble started brewing Monday night before the race, just as the team was set to depart. Perkins found one of their rocker assemblies had broken. The crack wasn’t noticeable until the motor was completely assembled and the valve spring pressure was applied to the push rod cup. The first punch had been thrown. Perkins recovered, and with a right hook, replaced the faulty parts with their last remaining spare stand. So the crew jumped in the truck and headed to Pomona. Once they arrived, parts were awaiting that needed to be installed to get the car race ready. A flurry of rabbit punches followed, which were taken in stride and the work continued.
“We knew it was going to be a short field,” said Perkins. “We had a few new things on the car and didn’t need any carnage as we plan to attend quite a few races this season.”
Qualifying was treated like a test session to feel out the car and track. They did not want to run the risk of hurting the limited supply of parts. Perkins dodged a few wild punches with the weather and tricky track conditions to qualify in the number eleven position. That meant a match up with number two qualifier Megan McKernan. That contest turned out to be the main event.
“Our 5.377 and my .017 light would’ve beat 9 out of the 11 other cars that round, including race winner Chris Demke and defending National champion Duane Shields, added Perkins.” Unfortunately, neither of those competitors were in the other lane. It was Megan Mckernan who produced the low ET and the top speed of the race up to that point against us. (5.306 @ 271.02)
Not a knockout punch, but Perkins was out of the game for the weekend. Cody and the 801 Racing Team is back in training for their next fight. With 801 Racing’s Revvolution Oil with CleanBoost Technology in their corner, the team is ready for a prize winning fight.
