NHRA POWERade Funny Car Driver Preps for Las Vegas

Jeff Arend is headed to Las Vegas, Nevada for this weekend’s NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals. The blue Checker, Schuck’s Kragen Funny Car driver is hoping for a pair of pocket aces.
CSK Funny Car Driver Jeff Arend
CSK Funny Car Driver Jeff Arend

In the NHRA POWERade tour, Arend advanced to the semi-final at the season opening race. He was in the No. 11 qualifying position before bowing out to Robert Hight. At Phoenix he was in the 16th and final spot before bowing out quickly in the first round. He was stronger with a No.4 qualifying spot in the K&N Filters car at Gainesville and a No. 8 position in Houston, but Arend has been unable to capitalize in the form of round wins.

Team Worsham and Jeff Arend use K&N products
Team Worsham and Jeff Arend use K&N products
The Team Worsham CSK driver aims to reverse his situation this weekend, in what will most likely be his final race with a Monte Carlo body on his car. “It looked like it was going to come right down to the last minute, as to whether we have the new Impala on the car or not, but it’s just a little behind at the paint shop and we’d have to pull some all-nighters to get it ready,” said Arend. “We’ve been running well in the Monte Carlo, so I’m confident we’re in for a very good weekend. We’ve been in the top half of the field at two straight races, and these days that’s pretty hard to do. Drag racing is a tough business and we got edged out by inches in Houston.”

Arend will be going to Las Vegas ranked in the top eight. “We’ve been above the cut line since we started in Pomona, and the main focus for everyone on this team is to stay there,” he said. “If we keep running well, and I keep doing my job, we should be able to qualify high and win some rounds. Winning the first round is the toughest, and probably the most critical, so that’s the first order of business this weekend and every weekend.”

We know, with our K&N Engineering Oil Filters on our cars, that we can have confidence in our lubrication system, and that’s critical to success in this high-performance sport, said Team Manager Bob Wilber.

Follow Jeff Arend's progress throughout the racing season at the K&N news site. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.