Kon Rodz Overpowers the Track at Norwalk Regional

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio – Cassie Simonton and the Canada-based Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team headed to Summit Motorsports Park confident in their hot rod. Simonton experienced career-best runs in Charlotte, and then earned a first round win at the previous regional event in Indy. As Sunday eliminations rolled around, their hot rod just had too much power for the hot racetrack, falling to Brian Harvanek.

“We tried some new things in qualifying and switched back for eliminations. The conditions for first round were unlike those we had on the good qualifying run. We just overpowered the track,” said Simonton.

The tire-smoking-hot weekend started with qualifying on Friday afternoon, when the car started to go into tire shake before half-track. The Chevy Monte Carlo funny car smoked the tires early in the run on Saturday, leaving Cassie and crew chief Randy Anderson with one shot to get into a tough field.

“That third qualifying pass was probably one of the most stressful runs yet. I knew that I had to go up there and do everything perfectly to get the car into the field. I sat there and got focused, taking it as an elimination round,” Cassie said.

Simonton was successful in her attempt to break into the 8-car field, clocking a 5.657 at 257 mph run. The crowd of over 40,000 fans erupted into cheer, congratulating Cassie and the team from Canada.

“There was a great turnout. I was involved with the autograph sessions on Friday and Saturday, signing hero cards for fans. It was nice to talk to everybody and get the support. The coolest thing was going up for that final qualifying pass and seeing packed stands with people lined up all along the fence. The crew said the crowd really cheered when they went down the return road to pick me up. It’s a great feeling to know you have that support,” claimed “Sassy” Cassie.

Veteran tuner Randy Anderson and the crew will make the best of what they learned in Norwalk and prepare for the next race in Chicago. The Burndown at Sundown at Route 66 Raceway is the next in a line of NHRA Lucas Oil Series events for Simonton and Kon Rodz Racing, June 8-10 in Joliet, Illinois.

Kon Rodz Racing is a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team owned by Spiro Kontos, competing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 25-year old Cassie Simonton drives the team’s 3,000 horsepower Chevy Monte Carlo funny car. Spiro, Cassie, and the whole Kon Rodz Racing team would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support: Lucas Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Goodson, BAE, Goodyear Tire, Clevite, Mac Tools, Artist ButchM, and ithreesixty Music Infused Apparel.

For more information on Kon Rodz Racing, please visit www.konrodzracing.com. Keep up with Cassie and the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/konrodzracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cassiesimonton).