Positive Momentum has Hunter Primed for NHRA Northwest Nationals

KENT, WA – Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Greg Hunter is beaming with his usual pre-race optimism as he and the Synoil Energy Services team prepare for the NHRA Northwest Nationals. A recent test session in the team’s native Canada has the Geoff Goodwin-owned team re-energized after a sizable break since their last event, a race they won as back-to-back champions.

“We had a pretty good test session in Edmonton after winning the Mission regional race. Testing was successful and gave us a lot of optimism. We’re feeling good about Seattle,” said Hunter, a Northwest native.

The test session, held during the IHRA Nitro Jam Rocky Mountain Nationals, couldn’t have happened at a better time, as it turned out. While the Synoil team was using the opportunity to gain more experience with Goodyear slicks, they also caught an unfortunate parts failure.

“We actually broke some parts at the test session, which is never good, but we were glad it happened then instead of during Seattle. We were so happy that we came out and had that happen then, because it would’ve been a real downer to suffer a parts failure at the Northwest Nationals. We broke the rear-end and the crew did just an amazing job. They changed it out in less than an hour. Everybody worked spectacularly together and I feel like we have some momentum. We had some issues but we got better with each run,” added the driver of the Synoil Energy Services/Exact Air Compliance Systems entry.

NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competitors will begin qualifying at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, August 7-9, on Friday with sessions at 1:30 and 4:30 PM. Last chance qualifying is set for 12:30 PM on Saturday, followed up by first round of eliminations at 3:30 PM. Eliminations continue after first round of Professional competition, which begins at 11 AM Sunday morning.