CAROLINA MATCH RACING

It's been quite a few years since Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has run a match-race but Gilbertson will face off against South Carolina's Andy Kelly in a two-round battle on Saturday night, September 15th at Carolina Dragway in Jackson, S.C. at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Thunder Jam presented by Torco Racing Fuels.
 
Gilbertson, who cut his teeth in in the sport match racing all over the west coast where he started his career, is looking forward to making some laps at the track nicknamed "The House of Hook."
 
"Being that Carolina Dragway is just a few hours from our raceshop this is a home town race for us and the team and I are ready to show the fans what we've got in a no-holds barred match race," Gilbertson said.  This will be fun and we're looking to setting the track record deep into the three second range at over 250 mph and give the fans their money's worth.  Plus we'll be able to determine who's got the quickest and fastest Nitro Funny Car in the Carolinas."
 
Gilbertson will be racing his very popular "Jungle Jim" tribute car body that won the prestigious "Best Appearing" awards last year at both the IHRA Nationals in Epping, N.H. and the NHRA Nationals in Indy last year. gilbertson.jpgIt's been quite a few years since Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has run a match-race but Gilbertson will face off against South Carolina's Andy Kelly in a two-round battle on Saturday night, September 15th at Carolina Dragway in Jackson, S.C. at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Thunder Jam presented by Torco Racing Fuels.
 
Gilbertson, who cut his teeth in in the sport match racing all over the west coast where he started his career, is looking forward to making some laps at the track nicknamed "The House of Hook."
 
kelley.jpg"Being that Carolina Dragway is just a few hours from our raceshop this is a home town race for us and the team and I are ready to show the fans what we've got in a no-holds barred match race," Gilbertson said.  This will be fun and we're looking to setting the track record deep into the three second range at over 250 mph and give the fans their money's worth.  Plus we'll be able to determine who's got the quickest and fastest Nitro Funny Car in the Carolinas."
 
Gilbertson will be racing his very popular "Jungle Jim" tribute car body that won the prestigious "Best Appearing" awards last year at both the IHRA Nationals in Epping, N.H. and the NHRA Nationals in Indy last year.
 
"Everywhere we run this Jungle body the fans go nuts and I'm happy to be able to bring back some memories for the older fans who remember him from the 70s."
 
The Thunder Jam will also feature jet powered Dragsters and Funny cars and one of Gilbertson's favorite acts, Benny "Boom-Boom" Koske, the "Human Bomb."  Koske, who places himself in a coffin loaded with dynamite and blows himself up, is a cult hero in the drag racing world and Gilbertson, who likes to blow up stuff himself, is a big fan of Koske.
 
"Our shop is right across the street from a giant fireworks store and we blow up stuff all the time but Benny's explosion beats out anything we've ever done," Gilbertson added.  All of us are really looking forward to this race, having a good time and sending Andy Kelly home with his tail between his legs."
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