Jim Daniels, of Bristol, Pa., claimed his second career Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series victory
today after all class eliminations were cancelled due to persistent rain showers at the JEGS
Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway.
NHRA cancelled all Saturday racing activities, including final class runoffs, due to the inclement
weather. Class winners were determined by the lowest ET of the qualified runs. Daniels earned the
win in the SS/AH Mopar HEMI Challenge class based on his 8.511 elapsed time (ET) in his Ray Barton
Racing 1968 Dodge Dart during yesterday's second qualifying session.
"It feels really good, for no lack of trying and hard work," said Daniels, who took home the $5,000
winner's purse with the victory. "It was a lot of hard work by everybody and it worked out really
well. I wish we could have run the race. We had the car to beat, but there are a lot of other good
drivers, and as I learned at Indy, it's not only the car, but the driver is a big component as
well."
Daniels' first career Mopar HEMI Challenge win came last year in the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove
Raceway. He'll look to defend his event crown and claim his second-straight Mopar HEMI Challenge
triumph next month.
"We'll take the win; we'll enjoy it, and then come back at the Dutch Classic in October and run the
race, and see what we can do."
Next up is the final 2009 Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series event, the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove
Raceway in Reading, Pa., Oct. 22-25.
