Mon, 5 May 2008, 10:58 AM Hernandez Defends St. Louis Title with Big Win Over New Points Leader Pontieri

Courtesy of Scott "Woody" Woodruff

MADISON, Ill. --

Hernandez vs. Pontieri

Reigning JEGS ProMod Challenge champion Josh Hernandez had a strong return to St. Louis, winning the race for the second year in a row and qualifying No. 1 to regain solid footing in the 2008 title chase.

In a repeat of last year's final, Hernandez's AMS Staff Leasing Camaro blew the doors off Tony Pontieri's Quality Plus Compressors '57 Chevy to win with a 5.934 at 242.36 mph to Pontieri's 6.318 at 193.88 mph.

"It was exactly the same because those poor guys were over there swapping motors again before the final round, just like last year," Hernandez said. "This time they managed to get up there and give us a race and I was happy to see that. I told them we'd wait as long as we could because we all know what an engine swap is like when you're under the gun. Last year I had a single run, which is never as much fun.

"We had a little conflict last week and didn't get to race in Atlanta so we really felt a lot of pressure to come in here and earn as many points as possible. We did everything but set a national record and we managed to move back to where we were before Atlanta so we're very happy."

Josh Hernandez

Hernandez got quicker in each elimination round, opening with a 6.006 against Brad Personett Saturday night before dismissing Jay Payne with a 5.994 and Danny Rowe with a 5.980 before crushing Pontieri in the final.

"The guys worked their tails off today," Hernandez said. "You have to push it to run those kinds of numbers and it was hard work to get to this winner's circle.

"We've got a great car here and we look at the computer after each round and see how we can tweak it. We never make big moves but we always try for more. Most teams have to back it down when the sun comes up but this car reacts well even in the heat. To run a 5.93 in the final pretty much says it all."

Pontieri's second runner-up finish of the year helped him move into first place in the JEGS ProMod Challenge standings. He is now 26 points ahead of Joe Baker, whom he defeated in Round 2. Eddie Ware is one back of Baker, while Hernandez jumped from 11th to fifth place on the day and now trails Pontieri by 81 markers.

Semifinalist Danny Rowe stole away the New York Motorsports Top Speed Award of the event with a 242.52-mph clocking. He'll pocket $500 for the achievement.

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