JB’s Power Centre Racing – Atlanta Post Race

Still getting used to his new car – “Edmonton-ian” Jim Bell failed to qualify at the recent NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Atlanta…

The first race back after five weeks away did not have the results Jim Bell and his JB’s Power Centre race team hoped for, but they were to be expected.

After his hard crash, five weeks of recovery and getting acclimated to a brand new, entirely different race car, instant success does not come without a lot of testing. Having a business to run and being 2500 miles away from testing does not lend itself that success. Despite the hurdles, Jim is confident he will be solidly back in the saddle in just a few weeks. Jim shook and rattled the tires on the first two qualifiers Friday and with the field in attendance he knew it would be a 5 second field again. In the final session he was on a decent run, Likely a 6.0, but he lifted early and ran 6.21 at only 202 mph. The bump spot was a 5.985 secs.

Jim Bell’s first NHRA race back since his crash was a promising but DNQ effort

“It was not the weekend we were hoping for, stated Jim after qualifying was complete, but we were looking for making laps and getting used to the new car”. We are making progress and by the next NHRA event (Englishtown) we should have a handle on the car. We will be running this weekend at Memphis at the PDRA event, and hope to test early and make as many runs as possible. Then they head to Englishtown for race four in the NHRA schedule the following weekend (May 28-June 1).

Jim wants to thank his crew for having his new Bickel race car prepped and ready to compete, and thanks Proline Racing Engines, Rossler Transmission, Big Stuff EFI , Precision Pro Mod Gen II 88 MM turbos and all related engine and driveline companies for supplying JB’s race team with great equipment.

Posted by: Dean Murdoch, SpeedZone Magazine

Photo by:  Bruce Biegler