GARDELLA SETS PRO FWD RECORDS

It was an outstanding weekend for Team Chevy at the NOPI New Jersey Nationals at Atco Raceway, an event highlighted by Gary Gardella's double-up performance in the Pro FWD category and Bryan Jimenez' victory and final-round appearance in HOT ROD.

Gardella made it to the winner's podium twice in consecutive days. First on Saturday by winning the make-up NOPI Georgia Nationals in an all-Chevy Cobalt final-round victory over Marty Ladwig, and again on Sunday for the New Jersey Nationals, by defeating Ladwig in another razor-thin Ecotec Chevy Cobalt final round.

Gardella's Red Bull Chevrolet was qualified No. 1 for Sunday's New Jersey Nationals and squeezed by the Lucas Oil Cobalt at the finish line with a 7.29 e.t. at 206 mph to Ladwig's 7.32 second run at 199 mph. Both drivers have now advanced to all three NOPI final rounds this season with Gardella winning twice (Atlanta, Atco) and Ladwig once (West Palm Beach).

In addition, Gardella was the No. 1 qualifier for both weekend eliminators, and he established both ends of the national record with a run on Saturday of 7.25 seconds at 214 mph. During qualifying, the New Jersey native posted a second top-speed above the 210-mph barrier with run of 212 mph, and he's confident that there still may be more left in his Ecotec-powered Chevrolet.

"During every run this weekend, the car didn't want to stop accelerating," Gardella said. "We tested here earlier in the week and ran 206 mph and kept adding weight to the clutch. We felt like there might be another two mph left in the car, but to go another eight mph more than we did in testing just shows you the potential of this Ecotec-powered Cobalt - the engine has held up phenomenally. If you include West Palm Beach, we've made 25 passes on this one engine, and with some routine maintenance it's held together remarkably well. We ran 201 mph in round one - got out of it early. Then in round two we went 206 mph and that was after we blew threw the clutch.” 

In the Hot Rod class, Team Chevy's Bryan Jimenez claimed the victory trophy for the make-up NOPI Georgia Nationals contest by defeating Sandra Thomas in the finals. He then qualified No. 1 for Sunday's New Jersey Nationals and advanced to his third final-round appearance of the season.

In the All Motor category, Grace Howell, driving an Ecotec-powered Chevy Cobalt advanced to her second straight final-round appearance at the make-up NOPI Georgia Nationals, and Brian Ballard scored a Turbo Street runner-up in the Mobil 1 Chevrolet Cobalt.  (photos courtesy GM) [05/02/08]