Joey Bridge DR5 Columbus, Ohio

After qualifying #1 and breaking the National Record at New Jersey then to have it rained out was very sad. What kept us going was knowing that Columbus was only about 3 weeks later. We came in to the Columbus event with a mathematical chance at the Championship. If Kolivas had 2 poor showings and we went rounds there was a chance. During test & toast we posted the quickest and fastest pass with an 8.23 @ 175mph. Something happened during the TCI Shootout against Pete Johnson. She went about 2 feet then she bogged down. Being the air was bad and changing up and down I figured that somehow I missed on the tune up. She kept acting strange through out qualifying and it seems to get better the more I tuned on it. Last qualify session she ran straight & smooth getting us #1 with a 8.28 @ 175mph.

That night and the next morning after going over everything we decided that I should not have to be tuning this thing to the degree I was, there had to be something else at play. After talking to a few folks the consensus was perhaps the stator support tube had moved/letting go (on the BTE trans it is only pinned). A decision was made that if we made it through first round eliminations the trans would come out and the Front pump would be replaced with a TCI piece. First round we had Bell which every race he has been getting quicker and more consistent so we still had to lean on the old girl to even try for the win. Release the trans-brake then pop, basically 1:1 and even though I was flat to the floor she putted for about 300 feet. Once she had enough wheel speed, rpm & boost she started hauling ass.

We lost 10.1 @ 168 mph to Bell’s 9.33.

I have been pissed before about losing but after that pass and knowing that we just lost any hope of a Championship made me feel flat out sick. To end this season on a high we hope to have a good positive race in Bowling Green. A huge congrats to John Kolivas. To win the Championship 3 straight years is just plain amazing and you truely deserve it. Your lucky your not coming back next year

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