TOLIVER ON THE BIG STAGE
Funny Car
veteran learning to be a player on a multi-car team …
Last year, Jerry Toliver
spent much of the season playing drag racing’s version of the opening act as a
single-car nitro team. The benefits of multiple sources of information just
weren’t available.
Toliver has become part of
the headlining act by joining up with the traveling Don Schumacher Racing tour
and instead of showing off on a solo basis; he’s playing alongside teammates
such as Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi and Jack Beckman.
A larger stage doesn’t guarantee one instant success, but the resources available sure don’t hurt. Optimism is one of the great by-products of being on a multi-car team.
Funny Car
veteran learning to be a player on a multi-car team …
Last year, Jerry Toliver
spent much of the season playing drag racing’s version of the opening act as a
single-car nitro team. The benefits of multiple sources of information just
weren’t available.
Toliver has become part of
the headlining act by joining up with the traveling Don Schumacher Racing tour
and instead of showing off on a solo basis; he’s playing alongside teammates
such as Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi and Jack Beckman.
A larger stage doesn’t
guarantee one instant success, but the resources available sure don’t hurt.
Optimism is one of the great by-products of being on a multi-car team.
"One good race and
we're right back in the middle of it, so I'm looking for good things in
“Phil Shuler (crew chief)
will get this car figured out and we'll start winning some rounds. I'm very
comfortable in the car now and I'm anticipating good things to come.”
Toliver has taken
advantage of shared resources to develop a winning combination with his Murf
McKinney chassis and the added complexity of the 100-pound weight increase for
2008. He stayed over on the Monday following the
"This is a very
difficult sport and there are a lot of teams in the same situation,” Toliver
said. “We're all trying to get our tune-up figured out. The new cars are
heavier and it's harder to make them move quickly and everyone is
learning."
On top of the complexity
being levied by the off-season weight adjustment, many racers are faced with
inconsistently prepared racing surfaces.
Toliver was one of a
handful of racers bit by a fickle left lane in
“We stayed over in
Toliver admitted he
compared notes with his teammates also testing.
“We learned everything we
needed to know,” Toliver added. “We wanted to know why we spun the tires at the
hit.”
The competitive nature of
Toliver makes this adjustment period a frustrating affair.
"I was really
frustrated after losing the opening round in