|
Bateman/Friesen Debut New Mustang
Jeffrey Porth - May 26, 2008
Manitoba's Friesen Motorsports debuted their all new Ford Mustang TAFC last weekend.
 Brainerd Minnesota's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (presented by the Grand Casino Resort) last weekend, saw the Friesen Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car Team debut their all new Ford Mustang. After much work was done to get it ready over the winter including a all new engine combination, and with only limited testing, the crew at Friesen Motorsports handled all of those tasks like seasoned professionals.
The weather conditions changed daily with humidity and high winds throwing Crew Chief Ken Murray fits. The team moved from second place on Friday’s session with 5.765 seconds at 251.95 mph to fourth on Saturday’s first session. In the final session on Saturday though the team dug deep and ran a 5.696 seconds 250.46 mph pass to stay in the third spot and have lane choice over Hank Coolidge for Sunday’s eliminations.
Rain interrupted Sunday’s eliminations with a two-hour delay in the action. When the rain stopped the humidity and sun made the track tough to tame and Roger was victim of tire shake losing to Coolidge’s 5.844 seconds 242.89 mph with a 5.985 seconds 246.12 mph pass. The team got a lot of the bugs worked out and now know what the new combination for the car can and cannot handle.
Car owner Dr. Brian Friesen was quoted as saying, “We learned a great deal this weekend and should be ready for the next time out” remarking that they can’t just give up because of something the team had little control of."
Now the team gets ready to compete in Topeka, Kansas for next weekends O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Summer Nationals Presented by Castrol GTX May 30th to June 1st, 2008.
| 
