Annie Whiteley looking for national event success in Houston

Annie Whiteley looking for national event success in Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas – Over the past few years, the Whiteley name has become synonymous with success in the alcohol categories. While NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car rookie Annie Whiteley certainly has her sights set on living up to the success her husband Jim has enjoyed in Top Alcohol Dragster, she has an incremental outlook on attaining that success. While her husband, who is the defending event champion for this weekend’s O’Reilly Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway just outside of Houston, has his eyes set on nothing short of victory, she has her focus on collecting her first national event round win.

While she hasn’t turned the win light on at a national event yet, the Grand Junction, Colo., native has already scored a regional event win in Las Vegas last month, in only her fourth start. She ran good numbers in the YNot Racing Mustang at the national event held there the following week, only to lose a close race in round one.

“When we won the regional race in Vegas, we kind of had the same approach; we just wanted to get our first round win,” said Whiteley. “Everything just kind of fell into place and went our way and we ended up winning the race. That was a pretty amazing day.

“Don’t get me wrong, we race to win,” Whiteley continued. “We just want to get that first round win at a national under our belts. Once we do that, we can focus on winning the second round, eventually up to winning.”

It doesn’t hurt her chances that she is piloting the car that former YNot Racing team driver turned Crew Chief slash driving mentor Roger Bateman finished fourth nationally last year.

“After a few weeks off I’m ready to get back in the car,” stated Whiteley. “As I get more runs, my nerves are getting better and things are slowing down for me in the car. I have a really great team behind me, and that really helps my confidence as much as anything. They have really busted their tails to get us to the point we are at now. I want to win as much for them as I do for myself.”

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions, followed by one final session Saturday morning. Eliminations begin with round one Saturday evening and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

To find out more about YNot Racing’s promotional partners, visit the websites below:

RaceGoodyear.com - Goodyear's position as the leading tire maker in drag racing is unquestioned. The quickest, fastest and most powerful earth-bound machines in the world look to Goodyear for tires that generate enough traction to take advantage of their stunning ability to go fast in a straight line.

NGKSparkPlugs.com - When performance counts, the fastest teams on two wheels or four, on land or on water choose NGK Spark Plugs.

The team would also like to thank the continued support of J&A Services and Advanced Oilfield Services.

Contact: Pro Race Communications 979.415.4959
Attached photo courtesy of James Drew Photography