Gilbertson, who has skipped a few NHRA races already this year, regrets having to miss the race but was forced to make that decision due to budget restraints, availability of parts and the cost of having to travel to the Midwest for a single event.

Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has elected to skip the next race on the NHRA schedule, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan.  

 

Gilbertson, who has skipped a few NHRA races already this year, regrets having to miss the race but was forced to make that decision due to budget restraints, availability of parts and the cost of having to travel to the Midwest for a single event.

 

"Once again this was a tough decision to make," Gilbertson said.  "The same factors that caused us to miss Las Vegas and St. Louis figured into the equation.  The new diesel engine emissions law that was implemented January 1, 2007 has had a direct impact on our racing budget.  Freightliner, the largest truck manufacturer in the world, is one of my company's biggest customers, we supply them with air tanks and they've seen their sales drop off 40% and they've laid off over 6,000 people so far and with that, the demand for air tanks has dropped like a rock. They don't expect sales to improve until the fourth quarter and look to increase production then and into 2008.

 

"With the ever increasing cost of diesel fuel the huge expense of traveling to Kansas for this race would be outrageous.  I regret having to do this as competing on the NHRA circuit is what the team and I want to do but it's decision I'm forced to make.  We will re-join the NHRA tour at Chicago and we'll also compete at the following race at Englishtown.  I want to apologize to all my sponsors and fans who support this team and wanted to see us in Topeka but it's something I'm forced to do to keep this team alive for the rest of the season.   just had to do."