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Another Canadian First for Jeff Arend!
Bruce Biegler - September 6, 2007
 The pride of Canada within NHRA POWERade drag racing, Jeff Arend, achieved another significant career accomplishment during last weekend’s NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
Now racing for California-based Worsham Racing and sponsor Checker-Schucks-Kragen, Jeff became the first Canadian to ever qualify number one in Funny Car eliminator during the marquee annual event attraction. Arend recorded a superb 4.754 secs at 327.51 mph during Friday’s first qualifying session. Amazingly and despite all the ferocious competition in the class, that run held up the entire weekend as both low ET and top speed of the event.
“After all the rain at Reading we stayed and tested,” Jeff revealed. “We made some good runs there and we found something. So going into Indy we put what we had learned into our tune-up and went out there Friday night. Later in the weekend (especially on Saturday) we really tried to go fast. We were targeting a high four-sixty – but the atmospheric conditions were just not there. After that it became apparent that only a truly remarkable run would knock us off the pole – and luckily for us that just didn’t happen.”
The accomplishment for Arend is just the latest notch within his impressive and ongoing drag racing career.
 “When it (pole qualifier) became official that was a special moment for me to be sure,” added Jeff. “Indy has been going on for over 50 years and there are only just so many drivers that have qualified number one. If someone told me that I could choose between qualifying #1 at Indy or going to the semifinals somewhere else – I would definitely pick #1. John Force even came over and told me -- Nobody remembers who went to the semis – but everyone remembers who won the pole.”
Unfortunately for Jeff and his team they could not turn that qualifying advantage into an event victory – this time. Arend was upset in round one by rookie driver Jon Capps who was driving a car that was ironically formally driven by Arend and tuned by Paul Smith – his former crew chief. In that match Jeff had a slight lead out of the gate however Capps edged him at the stripe; 4.896 secs 316.15 mph to 4.927 secs 317.79 mph.
 “That was disappointing for us for sure,” Arend added. “We had it tuned to run a 4.88 or so – nothing too greedy. But for some reason it wore out 2X the clutch it normally would. We are still not sure of exactly the reason why.”
With his 2007 season now winding down – Jeff did reveal that there is still some unfinished business for him and his team.
“We are focused on getting some more round wins and I want to run my first “four-sixty” and over 330 mph,” he affirmed.
To date Jeff’s career best math is 4.712 secs at 327.66 mph – which came in Atlanta last April.
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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