| Archived News |
| GILBERTSON RE-JOINS NHRA TOUR IN JOLIET Chicago, prerace: After skipping a few races on the NHRA tour due to financial concerns, Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson will return to competition at this weekend's Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Gilbertson is really looking forward to getting back to racing at the track where he's recorded career best elapsed times and speeds. "Route 66 has always been good to me," Gilbertson said. "Traditionally Route 66 has been the quickest and fastest track that we run on all year and every Funny Car team out there will be swinging for the fences so we've got our work cut out for us. Just to qualify will be a major accomplishment and hopefully we'll be able to get in the show and race on Sunday." Gilbertson's crew chief, Tommy Delago, is optimistically confident about the team's chances this weekend. "We're making a lot of power but we've had some problems applying it to the track but I really think we've got a handle on the combination and there's no better track than Chicago to prove it," Delago added. "With any luck we'll be able to get down the track and make some noise at Route 66." TELEVISION SCHEDULE: Qualifying Saturday, June 9, 2007 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET (ESPN2) Eliminations Sunday, June 10, 2007 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| GILBERTSON TO SKIP NHRA EVENT IN TOPEKA Cites increasing costs and decrease in sales CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has elected to skip the next race on the NHRA schedule, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Gilbertson, who has skipped a few NHRA races already this year, regrets having to miss the race but was forced to make that decision due to budget restraints, availability of parts and the cost of having to travel to the Midwest for a single event. "Once again this was a tough decision to make," Gilbertson said. "The same factors that caused us to miss Las Vegas and St. Louis figured into the equation. The new diesel engine emissions law that was implemented January 1, 2007 has had a direct impact on our racing budget. Freightliner, the largest truck manufacturer in the world, is one of my company's biggest customers, we supply them with air tanks and they've seen their sales drop off 40% and they've laid off over 6,000 people so far and with that, the demand for air tanks has dropped like a rock. They don't expect sales to improve until the fourth quarter and look to increase production then and into 2008. "With the ever increasing cost of diesel fuel the huge expense of traveling to Kansas for this race would be outrageous. I regret having to do this as competing on the NHRA circuit is what the team and I want to do but it's decision I'm forced to make. We will re-join the NHRA tour at Chicago and we'll also compete at the following race at Englishtown. I want to apologize to all my sponsors and fans who support this team and wanted to see us in Topeka but it's something I'm forced to do to keep this team alive for the rest of the season. just had to do." |
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| GILBERTSON LOOKING TO GAIN GROUND IN OKLAHOMA Bob Gilbertson, driver of the Autolite Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze/Trick Tank nitro Funny Car, is a man on a mission going into the Inaugural Skull Shine Sooner Nationals at Tulsa Raceway Park. After what he considers to be a poor start at the first two races of the 11-race IHRA Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels series, Gilbertson is looking to climb his way back to the top and he's optimistically confident at his chances. Gilbertson and his Terminator Motorsports team will have an extra week to prepare for Tulsa due to the postponement of the NHRA Bristol event and they're all anticipating a great weekend of racing in the Sooner state. "This is going to be cool racing at a track that I've never been to," Gilbertson said. "I'd really like to leave Tulsa with the Iron Man trophy in my hand, winning the inaugural national event at a new track is something that people will remember for a long, long time and I want them to remember Gilby as being the first nitro Funny Car champion there." Gilbertson and his crew chief Tommy Delago are also looking to re-set the IHRA World Record which they currently hold at 4.841 seconds at 318.09 mph. Gilbertson has run a best of 4.762 seconds so that goal is not out of reach. "The extra 20 bonus points we get for setting the E.T. record will really help us out in the points and since we're only 62 points out of first every run is going to count in Tulsa," Delago added. "If we can set the record, win the last man standing points on Friday and Saturday and go some rounds on Sunday we should be able to take over the top spot. We've just got to see what the track holds in store for us when we get there and which ever team figures it out first will have the advantage. Hopefully it will be us." |
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| Gilbertson Ready To Do The Bristol Stomp
Bristol, prerace: Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson is a big fan of oldies music and one of his favorite songs is the 1961 hit The Bristol Stomp by the Dovells. You can bet that song will be loaded into Gilbertson's I-Pod that he listens to get him into the 'zone' before he climbs into his Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze Dodge Stratus for this weekend's NHRA O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Bristol is a 'home town' race for Gilbertson who is based in nearby Charlotte, NC and he'll have a lot of fans on hand to cheer him on. "Bristol is just an couple of hour's drive from Charlotte and I'll have a bunch of family, friends and employees there to support me and my team," Gilbertson said. "It's a great track, I've had some success there in the past and hopefully we'll be able to do well for my cheering section and maybe be able to do the Bristol Stomp in the winner's circle." TELEVISION SCHEDULE: Saturday, May 19, 2007 Qualifying 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, May 20, 2007 Eliminations 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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GILBERTSON TO SKIP NHRA EVENT IN ST. LOUIS CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson
has elected to skip the next race on the NHRA schedule, this weekend's
O'Reilly Auto Parts Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. |
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| Gilbertson looking to gain ground in Atlanta Atlanta, prerace: Bob Gilbertson is a man on a mission going into this weekend's NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. He's looking to rebound and climb his way back into the NHRA POWERade Top Ten after he fell from ninth to 13th in the points standings after missing the last race in Las Vegas. "Not going to Vegas cost me some points but I'm confident that the way my Autolite/Prestone Dodge Stratus is running we'll be making some noise in Atlanta," Gilbertson said. "We've got a newly front-halved chassis, my crew chief Tommy Delago has been working on some ideas he has to make the car faster and we made some laps last weekend that proved to us that we're going in the right direction. I've had some luck go my way at Atlanta and I'm really looking forward to getting back in the seat." Another incentive for Gilbertson to run well is that his company, Truck Equipment Manufacturing and his raceshop are less than 200 miles from the Atlanta Dragway and a lot of family, friends and employees will be coming down there to cheer him on. "With all the people that we've got coming I've got to do well," Gilbertson added. "Having all those folks and my fans there gets both me and the team pumped up and we want to go some rounds and maybe even win this deal." TELEVISION SCHEDULE: Saturday, April 28, 2007 Qualifying 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, April 29, 2007 Eliminations 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| GILBERTSON LOOKING FOR VICTORY AT THE "ROCK" Torco Race Fuels Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson is a man on a mission. His goal is to win this weekend's International Hot Rod Association's Spring Nationals at the famed Rockingham Dragway, his home-town track. Rockingham is only an hour away from Gilbertson's Charlotte based operation and he has extra incentive to succeed as he'll have family, friends and employees on hand all weekend to cheer him on. "I want to have the same kind of weekend we had last year at Epping," Gilbertson said. "Last year up there we won the race, were number 1 qualifier, set low e.t. and top speed and set both ends of the IHRA world record at 4.841 seconds at 318.09 mph. The only problem was that none of my posse were there to enjoy it with me so I guess we'll have to try to do it again at the Rock." Gilbertson's Trick Tank Monte Carlo was a fan favorite when it debuted in San Antonio and its wild graphics will make it a candidate for the prestigious Best Appearing award. Being that the car runs as good as it looks, Gilbertson is confident about his chances at the Spring Nationals. "Rockingham is always a great track to race on," Gilbertson added. "Steve Earwood and his staff really know how to prepare the racing surface and if we have our act together I'm sure you're going to see record numbers from this team. I know there's a lot of competition out there but we're up to the challenge." Another reason Gilbertson wants to re-set the world record - that he currently holds - is the fact that this year it's worth an extra 20 bonus points and will allow Gilbertson to re-gain some of the points he lost with a first round loss at San Antonio. "We're currently 59 points out of first and the 20 points for the record will definitely help shrink that deficit. Our car has been very consistent, we've qualified for every race we've been to this year and my team and I are jacked up for this." TELEVISION SCHEDULE Saturday, May 5th. Eliminations 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET (SPEED TV) Wednesday, May 9th. Eliminations/Replay 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET (SPEED TV) |
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| GILBERTSON TO SKIP NHRA EVENT IN LAS VEGAS Cites increasing costs and decrease in sales CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson has elected to skip the next race on the NHRA schedule, this weekend's Summitracing.com Nationals in Las Vegas. Gilbertson, who is currently ninth in the NHRA POWERade points standings, regrets having to miss the race but was forced to make that decision due to budget restraints, availability of parts and the cost of having to travel to the west coast for a single event. "This was the toughest decision I've ever had to make in my racing career," Gilbertson said. "There are a few factors that figured into the equation. First off the new diesel engine emissions law that was implemented January 1, 2007 has had a direct impact on our racing budget. Freightliner, the largest truck manufacturer in the world, is one of my company's biggest customers, we supply them with air tanks and they've seen their sales drop off 40% and they've laid off over 6,000 people so far and with that, the demand for air tanks has dropped like a rock. They don't expect sales to improve until the fourth quarter and look to increase production then and into 2008." "Secondly availability of parts is an issue," Gilbertson added. "Essential parts such as cranks, rods and blocks are on back order due to the buying power of the multi-car teams. Last but not least is the huge expense of traveling 2,500 miles for just one race then have to travel back to the east coast for the next race at Atlanta. With the ever increasing cost of diesel fuel and lodging in Las Vegas the costs of getting the team out there would be outrageous." "I regret having to do this as being in the top ten is a big deal to me and my team but it's decision I had to make. We will re-join the NHRA tour at Atlanta and I want to apologize to all my sponsors and fans who support this team and wanted to see us in Vegas but it's something I just had to do." |
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| GILBERTSON ADVANCES TO QUARTER-FINALS IN HOUSTON,
CLIMBS TO NINTH IN NHRA POWERADE POINTS Houston, postrace: Considering the circumstances, nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson had a pretty good weekend at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. With torrential downpours playing havoc with the qualifying schedule, racers only got two chances to qualify and Friday's second session was do or die for Gilbertson and his Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze team. They were up for the challenge and Gilbertson cranked out a stellar 4.854 - 302.82 mph that put him the ninth spot in the field, his best start since St. Louis last year when he qualified sixth. Gilbertson met and defeated Jeff Arend driving the Worsham's blue team entry in the first round with a holeshot of .024 and ran a 4.907 at 304.94 to get the win light over Arends close 4.908, a margin of victory of only 0.0252 seconds, the closest race of the round. Gilbertson then raced Cruz Pedregon in the quarter final round and smoked the tires immediately giving the win to Pedregon who also had traction problems and ran a sub-par 5.36 to advance to the semi-finals. "All-in all it was a decent weekend for us," Gilbertson said after his second round loss. "Eric Medlin was inside all of our hearts and besides thinking about him we had to deal with the rain which really put a damper on the racing. At least we got a round win and advanced to ninth in the points which keeps the weekend from being a total bummer." |
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| Bob Gilbertson Houston Prerace Release Houston, prerace: Bob Gilbertson heads into this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals with a heavy heart and mixed emotions. You'd think that he'd be excited to return to a track where he won his first NHRA victory in 2000 and was in the final round last year. Instead Gilbertson and all the other Funny Car racers will be thinking about their fellow driver, Eric Medlin, who passed away last Friday after suffering a horrific accident during testing in Florida. "I just don't know what to say or think," Gilbertson said. "I talked to Eric in the staging lanes in Gainesville on Sunday and now he's gone, all of us feel sad but I can't even imagine what his family is going through. Eric was such a cool guy, everyone loved him and he'll be missed." Gilbertson, who is one of the only independent teams to qualify for all three NHRA events this year, is hoping to keep the momentum going by qualifying well, going rounds and hopefully ending up in the winner's circle. "I don't know why but Houston has always good to me," Gilbertson added. "We've always run well at Houston Raceway Park, I have many great memories from there and I'd like to be able to go one more round than we did last year and dedicate the win to Eric. It's going to be a tough weekend on all of us but I'm positive that Eric would want us to keep on racing and we'll all do that in his memory." TELEVISION SCHEDULE Saturday, March 31st. Qualifying 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, April 1st. Eliminations 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| GILBERTSON HEADS TO SAN ANTONIO WITH WINNING ON HIS
MIND Bob Gilbertson has just one thing he's thinking about right now and that's winning the International Hot Rod Association's Knoll Gas - Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car Championship in 2007 and he's looking to jump-start that quest at this weekend's Amalie Oil Texas Nationals at San Antonio Raceway.  Gilbertson
will be debuting his wild new Trick Tank sponsored Monte Carlo that he'll
be running at all of the IHRA Nitro Jam series this year. Painted by Brian's
Kustom Paint in Easly S.C., the body was put into action at this past
weekend's Gatornationals where it ran a 4.819 second elapsed time at 318.69
mph which both numbers are quicker and faster than the current IHRA Nitro
Funny Car World Records that Gilbertson currently holds."I just can't wait to get to Texas," Gilbertson said. "We're making a concerted effort this year to capture the IHRA title and we're going into San Antonio with momentum on our side. I know that a lot of the Funny Car "hitters" will be there like my buddy's Del (Worsham) and Gary (Densham) but we're ready for the fight. We've qualified for every race so far this year and we know that we have a fast car and we're looking forward to making some noise in Texas. Seriously, I know that the competition will be tough this year but I think we're up to the challenge and I just can't wait to kick off the 2007 IHRA season with a win." |
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| GILBERTSON LOOKING FOR SUCCESS AT GAINESVILLE Gainesville, prerace: Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson is cautiously optimistic about his chances at this weekend's AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals at the legendary Gainesville Raceway and for good reasons. He was runner-up there in 2005 and he's always had lady luck on his side there in the past. "I really like racing at Gainesville," Gilbertson said. "We were runner-up there in 2005 and one of the most memorable moments in my career occurred in the semi-final round when I beat John Force while I was on fire. My car was all burnt up and when we towed it back to our pit to get it fixed for the final round there were literally dozens of crew guys from other teams waiting to help us. That really made me feel good to know that my extended family out there at the track had my back. That's the kind of thing that makes doing this worthwhile." "We're tied for ninth in the NHRA POWERade points standings and our goal this weekend is to qualify well, go some rounds and climb our way up the ladder," Gilbertson added. "The way Tommy (Delago, crew chief) and the guys have this car running I'm pretty sure that we can achieve that goal, maybe if the breaks go our way we might even be able to win this race, who knows? Stranger things have happened." TELEVISION SCHEDULE Sunday, March 18th Qualifying 1:30 AM - 3:30 AM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, March 18th Eliminations 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| Gilbertson advances to quarter finals, moves into
tie for ninth in NHRA POWERade points Phoenix, postrace: -- Bob Gilbertson drove his Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze Dodge Stratus to a first round win over Ashley Force at the Checker Schucks Kragen Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Firebird Int'l Raceway Sunday and in the process moved into a tie for ninth place in the NHRA POWERade points standings. Gilbertson was the underdog against the daughter of 14 time champion John Force, who was competing in only her second race as a professional, but took the win when Force crossed the centerline resulting in an automatic disqualification handing the win to Gilbertson. "I knew she was in trouble when I saw timing blocks flying all over the place," Gilbertson said. "It was a very tricky track with a very narrow grove and it created problems for not only Ashley but all the other Funny Car drivers. I was on a good run but had to back pedal so she wouldn't hit me and when the timers got knocked out I didn't get a time slip so all I ended up with was a win light." Gilbertson faced good friend Gary Densham in the second round and went into severe tire shake right off the line forcing him to shut off allowing Densham to take the victory. "I left on Densham off the starting line and was out in front when it started shaking so bad that I had to click it," Gilbertson added. "The good news is that we have a pretty good car that can get down the track and qualify and during the next few weeks that we have off, Tommy (Delago, crew chief) and the team will have the opportunity to go over the car with a fine tooth comb and we'll be ready to rumble in Gainesville." |
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| Gilbertson ready to race in the desert. Phoenix, prerace: -- After qualifying for the quickest nitro Funny Car field ever and despite a disappointing first round loss at the season-opening Winternationals, Bob Gilbertson is really stoked about this weekend's CSK NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. "Our performance at Pomona proved that we're on the right track," Gilbertson said. "Even though we stumbled against Capps in the first round we ran a 4.78 during qualifying with the chutes out early and backed that up with a 4.82 on seven cylinders so we've now got a base line tune-up to work with. Gilberston's crew chief Tommy Delago echoed Gilbertson's comments. "Being a single-car team and despite not having the big budgets most of our competitors have, we feel pretty good about our chances in Phoenix," Delago added. "We've got different parts, new crew guys and qualifying for the quickest Funny Car field ever gives us the confidence and momentum we need to go and make some noise at Firebird Raceway. If the weather cooperates I'm sure we'll be able to put down some big numbers." TELEVISION SCHEDULE Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 Qualifying 12 AM - 2 AM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 Eliminations 7 PM - 10 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| Gilbertson ready to kick-off 2007 season at Pomona Pomona, prerace: Bob Gilbertson is optimistically confident going into this weekend's CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at the historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Calif. Since 1961 the Winternationals has been the kickoff race of the NHRA drag racing season and Gilbertson, buoyed by his team's performance at the recent Las Vegas test session, is looking forward to getting back on track and competing with all the new cars and teams that will be racing nitro Funny Car this year. "This is going to be a big year for the nitro Funny Car category," Gilbertson said. "With Kenny Bernstein coming out of retirement and (John) Force's daughter Ashley racing in the class along with all the other teams it's going to be a war. Being a single-car team it's going to be tough to even qualify but with the way my car ran in Vegas last weekend I'm sure we'll be able to compete at the top level. We went to the semi-final round at this race last year and I'd like nothing better than to improve on that finish this Sunday afternoon." Although Gilbertson didn't make a full quarter-mile pass in testing, his incremental numbers were some of the best of all the nitro Funny Cars who tested. "Tommy D (Delago, crew chief) made some wholesale changes to the car and the tune-up and it seems to me that we've got a lot more power than we did last year and if I do my job as a driver, I'm sure we'll definitely be a spoiler. Who knows. with a little luck maybe we could even win the Winternationals." TELEVISION SCHEDULE: Saturday, February 10, 2207 Qualifying 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM ET (ESPN2) Sunday, February 11, 2007 Eliminations 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET (ESPN2) |
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| Radio Head 2Way/Nitro Radios to back Gilbertson in
2007 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nitro Radios, a division of RadioHead 2Way who is an authorized Racing Radios dealer, announced that they will join forces with Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson and supply him with two-way communications for both the NHRA and IHRA racing series' in 2007. Nitro Radios is the fastest growing supplier of two-way radios to the racing industry and is the official radio supplier to the International Hot Rod Association, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, the United Auto Racing Association and many other sanctioning bodies, racetracks and race teams in many different racing series. Gilbertson and Nitro Radios president Brad Smith are both excited about this alliance. "To be associated with one of the top Nitro Funny Car teams is a great opportunity for Nitro Radios," Smith said. "Not only will be able to showcase our products to the hundreds of thousands of fans and racers out there who go to the NHRA and IHRA races, but we'll also have a great test bed for our line of radios. Nothing is tougher on radios than the extreme conditions that a Nitro Funny Car produces and this partnership with Gilbertson's team will help us improve our line of drag racing radios." "Hooking up with Brad and Nitro Radios is going to be a big help to this team," Gilbertson added. "We've had a lot of problems with our radios in the past but after seeing the new Motorola radios Brad hooked us with I know that our radio issues are a thing of the past. Having clear, audible communication between the driver and crew chief is a big part of getting the car down the track and I look forward to being able to hear the radio over the noise produced by my 8,000 horsepower engine." RH2 and Nitro Radios provide quality new and re-conditioned Motorola radios to both the professional and Saturday night racer. They also offer superior quality cables, headsets and components that are engineered to be durable, affordable and work every time. For more information on Nitro Radios go to: www.nitroradios.com |
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| GILBERTSON ANXIOUS FOR 2007 DRAG RACING SEASON TO
START Testing in Las Vegas to kick-off a busy year CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson can't wait until this Friday when he'll hop into the drivers seat of his Autolite Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze Funny Car for the first time this year at the "Last Chance" test session at The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This event is the final testing opportunity for the teams competing on the 23-race NHRA POWERade series before the season-opening Winternationals Feb. 8-11 and Gilbertson and his Terminator Motorsports team are chomping at the bit to get back on track after a winter layoff. "I'm really looking forward to making some laps and getting back into the racing mode," Gilbertson said. "We've got a lot of new parts we want to try and a few new crewmembers that need to get acclimated to working on the car while under the gun and this test will allow us to prepare for next weekend's Winternationals. Hopefully all will go well and we'll roll into Pomona with a tune-up that will be competitive and if I do my job driving maybe we'll be able to go rounds and with a little luck maybe even win the race." Gilbertson's crew chief, Tommy Delago, is equally as excited about testing and starting off the 2007 season with a bang. "This is a major undertaking for both me and the team," Delago added. "It's my job to make sure we give Bob a safe, fast car that he can drive and win with and it's going to be a lot of hard work but I'm up to the challenge. My goal is to take this team to the next level and be able to compete with the bigger teams and make some noise in the Funny Car class." |
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| GILBERTSON FEATURED IN DRAG RACING ACTION MAGAZINE Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson received an early Christmas present this past weekend at the 19th Annual Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando. When he arrived, he was greeted with a just released copy of the March, 2007 issue of Drag Racing Action that features his orange "Jungle Jim" Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze tribute car on the cover along with a seven page story on him, his career, his team that made public the fact that he was once a clown. "I kind of knew this was coming but I was blown-away when I saw it," Gilbertson said. "This is big for not only me, but my team, sponsors and friends who have helped me all through my career. I know Susan Wade (writer) has been working on this for quite a while and Ron Lewis (photographer) had been hanging around a lot taking shots but the whole deal gave me Goosebumps when I first saw it. The coolest part is when my family first saw it, their reaction after over 25 years of dealing with me while I did this crazy thing called Nitro Funny Car racing and to get this kind of recognition being a small single-car team racing with the big boys made it all worth while." Drag Racing Action is available on the newsstands right now and for more information or to subscribe go to : http://www.dragracingaction.com/about.htm |
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Gilbertson To Appear At Stock For Tots
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| GILBERTSON NAMES DELAGO AS CREW CHIEF FOR 2007 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bob Gilbertson, owner/driver of the Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze nitro Funny Car announced that Tommy Delago, who has been with Terminator Motorsports since 2005, has been named as his crew chief for the 2007 season. Delago, along with Nick Boninfante Jr., had been sharing the crew chief duties for the past two years but Boninfante has decided to take time off from racing to tend to his family business, Boninfante Performance Clutch Parts and spend more time with his wife Sara and their young son Blake. "I can relate to Nicky needing to tend to his family business as I'm in the same situation," Gilbertson said. "With him racing every weekend and being on the road so much he didn't have enough time to devote to the business to help it grow and he can also spend more time with his wife and son. I'm confident that Tommy can do the job as he and Nicky have been working together for two years and Tommy can take up where they both left off." This was a tough decision for me to make," Boninfante said. "I've been with Bob since 2003 and he's more than just a boss, he's a friend and I'm going to miss going to the races. We ran a full schedule and a half this year and it took away from the time I needed to devote to the clutch business. I have to be there full-time and my wife and son need me on the weekends." Delago is excited about his new position. "I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to continue on where Nicky and I left off and taking this team to the next level," Delago added. "Nicky started the re-building of Bob's team in 2003 and I was chosen to be part of that equation, now my job is to make this team better and I relish the prospect of the challenge and I can't wait for the 2007 season to begin. We've got a lot of work to do over the winter and I'm sure that we'll be up to the task." |
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| 1320TV.COM FEATURES GILBERTSON AT TRACK AND AT WORK CHARLOTTE, N.C. Nitro Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson is the subject of two feature videos on www.1320tv.com drag racing's newest and most interactive website. 1320TV.COM visited Gilbertson at his race shop in Blacksburg, S.C.for Motocross action, Truck Equipment Manufacturing Company in Charlotte, N.C. to see how they build air tanks for the trucking industry and the military, and also visited the drag race team at the recent IHRA Motor City Nationals at Milan, Michigan to put together these two videos. Please click the links below to view them, you might need to download Active X (available at www.downloads.com) to view them. http://www.1320tv.com/racevideos/motorcitynationals.asp?vid=7-7-06/gilby_limo&title=Gilby%27s%20New%20Ride&des=Bob%20Gilbertson%20finds%20a%20treasure%20in%20a%20cow%20pasture http://www.1320tv.com/crossovers.asp?vid=crossovers/crossovers_gilbertson_july_10&title=Gilby%27s%20World&des=July%2010,%202006 |
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| Bob & Jake Gilbertson Press Release BOTH GILBERTSONS RACING IN JOLIET THIS WEEKEND JOLIET, ILLINOIS - Most weekends you'll find Bob Gilbertson racing his Autolite XP Spark Plugs/Prestone Antifreeze nitro Funny Car somewhere in the U.S. while his 12 year-old son Jake is across the country racing Motocross with the rest of the Trick Tank team. But not this weekend as the senior Gilbertson will be competing at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois and Jake will be racing in the SuperCross events in Rusty Ott's Pro Source Arsenal Run at the nearby Joliet Motocross Park on Friday and Saturday nights. "This is going to be an exciting weekend for both me and Jake," Gilbertson said. "I'll be busy racing the Funny Car at the fastest track on the circuit where I've had some success and ran my fastest speed ever. Jake will be right around the corner racing SuperCross with some of the best riders in the country and I'm going to be making a lot of hot-laps back and forth to support him when the drag racing schedule permits." Gilbertson will probably miss Jake's Friday night race due to the fact that he'll be in the seat of the Funny Car for night qualifying but he'll leave Route 66 right after Saturday's afternoon session and be at the SuperCross for the main event Saturday night. "I always race better when my Dad is there but most of the time during the Summer he's at the drag races," Jake added. "It's going to be cool to have my Dad at the MX track to work on my bikes and watch me race and I'll get to watch him race the Funny Car on Sunday. It would be great if we could both win the same weekend, that's been a dream I've had for a long time." |
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| Just another quick note to point you to a story on Bob at: http://competitionplus.com/ | |||||||||
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| Father & Son Racing There's a great interview with Bob & Jake at: http://www.ihra.com/news/2006/may/5gilbertsonqa.html |
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| Bob Gilbertson/Charlotte Observer Here's a direct link to the story about Bob in the Charlotte Observer: http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/rss/14353847.htm |
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