Tue, 16 Sep 2008, 05:04 PM Aaron Brooks to Join Alan Johnson's New Team

Courtesy of Joe Sherk

Aaron Brooks, crew chief of R2B2 Racing's Funny Car driven by Frank Hawley is leaving the team at the end of this month for a similar position with renowned Top Fuel tuner Alan Johnson's new two-car team that will debut in 2009.

The Brooks-Hawley combination has been very impressive this season despite competing in just six of the first 19 races. They earned a No. 1 qualifying position at last weekend's Carolinas Nationals in Charlotte with one of the quickest 1000-foot elapsed times of the season, 4.072 seconds. They also had a final-round appearance at Reading, Pa., last month.

Brooks is acknowledged as one of the sport's most prominent young tuners of nitromethane-fuel Funny Cars. Rob Centorbi, Brooks' assistant, will join him on Johnson's team.

"While this is a fantastic opportunity for Aaron and Rob to learn under a legend, we are saddened to see them leave." said Roger Burgess, R2B2 Racing team owner. "I wish them both the best of luck."