Championship Drag Racing

Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals
Richmond, VA
(October 13-15)

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Driver Profile

Phil Burkart N/A

Richmond, Friday: After overpowering the track during Friday's first qualifying session, Phil Burkart's Havoline/CSK Monte Carlo was on the other side of the power curve during Friday's late session. Under the lights, Burkart's mount shook the tires violently, and he had no choice but to abort the run, leaving him outside the field heading into Saturday's action.

"It shook so hard it felt like the tires were absolutely square," Burkart said. "When the conditions are like they were tonight, with the track cold and tight, it's not that easy to get the tires to slip early, and if they don't they can't get out of their own way and you get serious tire shake. Inside the car, it feels like your head is in a paint shaker, and you can't see where you're going. It never shook them loose, so I was hoping it would drive through the shake, but it just kept rattling and there wasn't anything I could do. It was either lift or have my brain bounced around in a circle inside my head.

"The best part of the cool weather here, is that we should be able to avoid the 'all or nothing' Friday night thing this time. The daytime runs on Saturday should still allow some very good times, so our only goal is to get out there and make it go from A to B. If we do that, we'll be fine."

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