Event No. 5 / CARQUEST Auto Parts  NHRA Nationals / June, 09 -12 / Chicago, Illinois

At the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, Mike Berry came out of the trailer strong, only to later find himself in a position that for the MB Precision Machining Pro Stock Suzuki team, had to look more like an event from last season than this one.

 “It’s a good thing we know how to piece a few bad motors together to get a good one, because that’s what we were back too working with in Chicago,” said Berry.

 As qualifying opened, the MB Precision Machining Suzuki hustled to a 7.246/184.60, good enough to grab the No. 11 spot at the time. A second Friday attempt would be where it all went bad, and from that point on the race turned into one to survive instead of one to win.

 “We had great early numbers on our second run on Friday, but on the crankshaft went away, killing the run, and our best engine.”

 In a repeat of a few too many 2004 races, the MB Precision Machining team used a good head from one power plant, and a bottom end from a spare to try to qualify.

 A 7.344/181.74 Saturday morning, followed by a 7.306/184.12 Saturday afternoon settled the MB Precision Machining Suzuki into the No. 13 spot on the Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations ladder.

 “We really never came back to the level of performance we had with the first engine,” said Berry. “I know we can run 7.30’s with what we have put together using our spare’s, but that won’t be enough go rounds like we need too.”

 Sunday morning eliminations at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Route 66 Raceway would be as berry predicted, with most every rider winning the round running 7.10’s or 7’20’s.

 Berry’s opponent Matt Smith was the best of the field, laying down a stout 7.115 186.87, good for low elapsed time of the weekend, and the round one win.

 “We had a problem on the bike in the first round against Matt, but with his 7.115 pass it would have been pretty hard to hang with him on that run anyway. We have a lot of work to do before next weekend’s race in Englishtown, but hopefully we can get our good stuff back together by then.”