Alund Right at Home as Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pilot

This weekend, eight-time FIA European Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund continue his six-race venture with Summit Racing this weekend at the 45th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, the third of 24 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour.

Alund, a native of Sweden, appreciates the opportunity to race alongside Jason Line while KB Racing's Greg Anderson is getting back in shape following surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. A longtime Chevrolet enthusiast, Alund feels right at home behind the wheel of the second Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro.

"I'm a Chevy guy, I can tell you that,” said Alund. “When I was 18, I bought a 1970 Chevelle with a big block and a four-speed. I had it for two weeks before I took it to the race track. I made 13 runs with no problem but on the 14th run, I broke the rear end. That was the start of my drag racing days. I've probably raced 15-20 different race cars through the years, moving up from 14-second bracket cars to where I’m at today."

Alund is equally passionate about racing in the exceptionally competitive Pro Stock category.

"I was running outlaw racing in Sweden with a big nitrous motor and Lenco [transmission], and competed against people with blowers,” Alund explained. “We didn't have any weight breaks, and you went up to the starting line knowing the guy next to you had a lighter car and 500 more horsepower. I was successful for a couple of years, but Pro Stock always interested me because I like engines, and Pro Stock has the most sophisticated engines of anything. I said to my guys, ‘let's try that.’ You have equal equipment when you go up there, and if you're smart and you do a good job, then you have a chance to win."

Alund won his first European Pro Stock championship in 2004, his second year running in the class.

"We pretty much dominated the whole season," Alund recalled. "We were the first Pro Stocker to run 200 miles per hour; on that same run we were the first into the 6.80s. We won six races out of seven that season and set records. We had a very similar year in 2013."

Gainesville is a track the Alund is comfortable with. He has raced there twice before, and will have a strong group of supporters on hand to cheer for him and for Team Summit.

"I know my way around there; Gainesville has a long shutdown area and a very smooth track surface," said Alund. "It's a nice facility, and I have a lot of friends in Florida. I think we will have a lot of people from Scandinavia there on vacation, and I look forward to it. Maybe this is the place I will get that first round win."

45th Annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals Schedule
Friday, March 14:  Qualifying sessions at noon & 2:15 pm
Saturday, March 15: Qualifying sessions at noon & 2:15 pm
Sunday, March 16: Final eliminations starting at 11:00 am

Television Coverage on ESPN2 (All Times Eastern)
Qualifying: Sunday, March 16 from 1:00 – 3:00 am, re-air at 7:30 – 9:00 am
Eliminations: Sunday, March 16 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm