Tough field of cars for Team Co-Line/Goalsetter

The Co-Line/Goalsetter sponsored alcohol funny car drag racing team was back in action last weekend at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 17th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Joliet, IL. The team qualified for the JEGS All-Star race and competed in that as qualifying rounds for Sunday's race as well. Dale Brand and crew went to the semi-finals in the JEGS race, but lost to Dan Pomponio. Brand overpowered the track and lost traction about 200 feet giving the win to Pomponio who recorded a 5.741 second pass at 253.85 mph. Brand qualified fourth out of 21 cars vying for a 16-car field, with a 5.656 pass at 256.55 mph. In round one of race day on Sunday, Brand had the quicker reaction time and went right down the grove for his quickest pass of the weekend, a 5.604 second quarter mile pass at 257.97 mph to Andy Bohl's 5.740 second pass at 252.71 mph. Brand faced Doug Gordon of Paso Robles, CA in the second round. Gordon was first off the line and that was just enough to send Team Co-Line/Goalsetter home in a hole shot win. Brand clocked a 5.608 second pass at 258.37 mph to Gordon's winning 5.622 at 258.02. The margin of victory was .003 thousandths, a very close drag race! Event coverage from Joliet will be on ESPN2 on Saturday, July 5 at 12 noon. Brand now sits in the number 1 spot of the points chase. Team Co-Line/Goalsetter will be traveling to Norwalk, OH and will be competing in the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals July 3-6.