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News
Releases Arend uses last ditch
effort to qualify for the Pontiac Excitement Nationals COLUMBUS, qualifying: Jeff Arend, driver of the CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car, qualified for his fifth race of the season at the 40th annual Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway. Arend used his final qualify attempt to make the show in dramatic fashion after the team changed motors just prior to the final qualifying session. The weekend began on a high note for the CMKXtreme Racing team with an exciting announcement. CMKM Diamonds Inc. released the news that the "Carolyn Pipe" is confirmed to be diamondiferous. The Saskatchewan Research Council, an independent lab located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan reported to the company earlier in the week that the core samples from the "Carolyn Pipe" has come back positive for diamond content. The "Carolyn Pipe" is located on the jointly owned Smeaton property in Saskatchewan, Canada held by CMKM Diamonds Inc., being primary operator of the claims. "With this exciting news we plan to be racing on the NHRA POWERade tour with Jeff Arend for a long time to come," said CMKM founder and current Chairman of the Board, Urban Casavant. Arend took time out from his busy schedule to visit the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital in Columbus early Friday. The Canadian native spent time with over 20 patients at the facility, signing autographs, posing for photographs and handing out CMKX souvenirs. After a massive downpour of rain on Friday, the first round of Funny Car qualifying at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals began just over an hour an a half behind schedule. The CMKXtreme Machine was the first fuel car to make a run down the newly resurfaced National Trail Raceway quarter-mile. The world's fastest Corvette shook the tires just off the starting line and Arend wisely shut it off, coasting to a 10.452 at 74.15 mph to finish the first session in the No. 17 position. The CMKX team returned to the track for Friday's evening session but the results were nearly the same. Arend launched hard and pedaled the throttle near the 200-foot mark, but tire shake forced him to abort the run and he finished the first day of qualifying with a 10.889 at 71.59 mph, remaining in the 17th spot. The weather was a factor again on Saturday, as rain delayed professional qualifying for the second day. Once the skies cleared, the track was quickly dried and qualifying began. On Arend's third attempt the CMKXtreme Machine roared off the starting line but tossed the blower belt just before half track. The 5.767 at 174.35 mph left Arend in the No. 17 position with one shot remaining to make the 16-car field for Sunday's eliminations. Crew chief Paul Smith had the hard working CMKX crew swap motors before the final qualifying run and the team performed a mad thrash in the pits to get ready in time for their last attempt. Smith's decision paid off for Arend. The 41-year-old driver thundered down the National Trail quarter-mile to a 4.967 at 309.70 mph to qualify in the No. 15 position. Arend will face current POWERade Funny Car points leader Whit Bazemore during the first round of eliminations. "We started the weekend off a little too aggressive and smoked the tires on our first two runs on Friday," said a relived Arend after qualifying ended. "We were on a strong run during the first session today but the motor tossed the blower belt, leaving us with just one shot to make the show. We thrashed to put a fresh motor in for the last session and the crew really worked hard to get everything ready. Before the run Paul and I talked and he asked me if I thought a 4.95 would get us in the show and I said I thought it would make it. The CMKX car went right down the track and put up a 4.96 and it felt great. We haven't had the greatest of luck this year but it's not for a lack of effort. We've all been trying real hard and its about time a little luck came our way." CONTACT | |
