Simonton Enters Route 66 Nationals with Confidence and Consistent Car

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

JOLIET, Ill. -- Popular Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Cassie Simonton enters this weekend's Route 66 NHRA Nationals with the intentions of building on the success she experienced in qualifying at the Lucas Oil Series event held here just a few weeks ago. She earned the first #1 qualifying position for both herself and team owner Spiro Kontos. Now competing against twice the drivers she out-qualified last time, Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing team are eager to prove that they are a consistent threat in the competitive class.

"Obviously that was a big confidence booster for us, as a team. We're going to try to push for that again. We've always had good luck at Route 66 Raceway. We have good data for this track and the car runs well in the heat, so we should be able to build from that to have a good car throughout qualifying and eliminations," Simonton says.

2012 has been a breakout year for Simonton and the Kon Rodz team. The successes were met with struggles, though.

"I think we've struggled a little bit until now, but things are starting to turn around. We're making consistent passes. We've done a lot this year, breaking our personal records on ET and MPH. Bad luck bit us a few times; things breaking at the worst time, but I think we can get that off our backs and start winning rounds," Cassie says.

Veteran crew chief and former world champion Randy Anderson will be working his magic, putting a tune-up in the Kon Rodz Racing Monte Carlo that will take it from A to B in the shortest time possible. Crew members Cory, Patrick, Londos, Graham, and Steve are back in the Windy City to go to work, turning wrenches and preparing the 3,000 horsepower car for another 260 mph blast down the quarter mile.

Though the team didn't qualify for it this year, the effect of the Jegs Allstars competition within this race will still be felt. Competing against all of the top cars from around the country during regular eliminations will allow the team to prove to themselves, their competitors, and the fans that Kon Rodz Racing is able to do what it takes to take the prize, whether that prize is a #1 qualifier award, a little golden man named Wally, or a championship trophy at the end of the year.