High Altitude Turbulence

After a great time at Mopar’s Big Block Party on Thursday evening — it was unfortunate times for the Jim Dunn Racing team and driver Todd Lesenko the rest of the weekend during the 33rd Mopar Mile-High Nationals held at Denver. 

The race car was very finicky at the high altitude facility.  Issues first with fuel delivery were then followed by problems with clutch management.  

In all honesty, Todd’s final qualifying effort looked more like he was riding a Colorado “Bucking Bronco” in a rodeo then driving a fuel FC.  He did manhandle the car to a very violent looking 5.088 secs at 176.53 mph.   But that ET was ultimately only good for #17 on the list — the end result was that the team did not qualify for the very prestigous event which is the first stop for the gruelling 3-race annual NHRA Western Swing.

“We did our best but that wasn’t nearly good enough and I think we really embarrassed ourselves,”  Todd said post race. 

The team did have a follow-up 3 hour meeting on Sunday night and the end result of all that was that a new blower program, clutch assembly and clutch discs have been purchased to help to try to get things back on track at Sonoma this weekend and then Seattle.  

Due to the sponsorship schedule — the team will run the “Tap It” Chevrolet body at Sonoma and then the “Grime Boss” Dodge at Seattle……..(BB)