The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been the site of some of Annie Whiteley’s best days in drag racing, but not this time. Whiteley, who earned her first Top Alcohol Funny Car win here in her 2012 rookie season, was eliminated on a frustrating holeshot, victimized by a “double-bulb” by opponent Ray Martin.
Whiteley, who’s cut some of her best lights ever this season, was caught off guard when, after pre-staging, Martin rolled right into both beams. When the Tree flashed, he was ready and she wasn’t, wasting her best of four great runs in a 5.52 to 5.46 loss. “As soon as you pre-stage, he’ll roll right in, and that time he rolled into both beams,” she said.
The weekend got off to a promising start when Whiteley wheeled the J&A Service/YNot Racing “Shattered Glass” Camaro to an outstanding 5.471 at 266.79 right off the trailer for the early qualifying lead. A subsequent 5.49 at 265.85 had her positioned well for eliminations – until the ladder came out and she was slated to race husband Jim in the first round.
Mechanical gremlins kept Jim’s car on the sidelines, and alternate Hunter Jones, who had the best day of his career here in the spring, took his place on the ladder. Annie drilled him on the Tree and drove away to an easy 5.500/265.90 win while Jones, who mustered a best of 5.97 in qualifying, rattled the tires, pedaled, and briefly tried to chase her down before throwing in the towel and slowing to a 7.46 at 142 mph.
Whiteley picked up to a 5.46 at more than 266 mph in the semifinals but couldn’t run down Martin’s engine-damaging 5.52 at just 252 mph. “I knew I was late,” she said. “I just said, ‘Damn…’ when I let go. The whole way down the track I was hoping his blower belt would break or something. Ray bracket races all the time now, so he’s got this whole deal figured out and just cuts .020 or .030 lights every time.”