Photo courtesy of Synoil Racing
SHERIDAN, Wyo. (December 21)
– Experienced Top Alcohol driver Greg Hunter announced today he
will be taking over driving duties of the Geoff Goodwin-owned Synoil
Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car. Hunter will fill the seat previously
occupied by three-time NHRA Heritage Series Funny Car champion Jason
Rupert, who will compete in IHRA's Prostalgia Funny Car class in
2014.
“I'm very excited to join
the Synoil Racing team and get back in a supercharged,
methanol-burning Funny Car. Jason did a great job driving the car for
the past few seasons, so I have some big shoes to fill. I'm looking
forward to the challenge,” said Hunter, who drove Kenny Gilmour's
ExactAir Top Alcohol Dragster for the past two seasons.
Greg's new relationship with
Synoil Racing came at a perfect time, as both parties were looking
for new options for the 2014 season.
“We damaged a lot of parts
during the last few races. Kenny and his team decided to take some
time away to rebuild their program, so I was left looking at other
driving opportunities. I received a call from Geoff Goodwin asking me
about driving the Synoil Energy Services car in 2014. Jason had a few
major conflicting race dates with his IHRA schedule, so they needed
someone else to drive the car. It all came together at the right
time,” Greg said.
It will be a return to
Hunter's roots, as the Wyoming driver previously campaigned his own
Top Alcohol Funny Car before piloting Gilmour's blown alcohol
dragster.
“I'm sure it will take
some time for me to readjust to the driving style that it requires to
drive an alcohol Funny Car. You need to yank on the wheel a little
more than the dragster allows. We plan on testing before the
Winternationals to give me the chance to get a few runs in before we
start the season,” Hunter claimed.
Greg Hunter drove Kenny
Gilmour's Top Alcohol Dragster for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with
primary support from ExactAir Compliance Systems. He debuted with a
first round win at the spring Vegas national event. Hunter's best
finish came at the Denver regional event earlier this year, where he
reached the final round, losing to eventual national champion Jim
Whiteley. His career-best performance was a 5.373 at 268 MPH.
“With Jason Rupert's
departure to run his own car, we are very fortunate to have a great
driver of Greg's caliber join our team. We wish Jason continued
success in his endeavor and welcome Greg and his family to Synoil
Racing,” said Geoff Goodwin, owner of the Synoil Racing Top Alcohol
Funny Car team.
Greg Hunter and the Synoil
Energy Services Top Alcohol Funny Car team will run a full schedule
of west coast NHRA LODRS national and regional events in 2014. To
keep up with the team during the season, like Synoil Racing on
Facebook (www.facebook.com/synoilracing).
No comments:
Post a Comment