BAYTOWN, Texas - The stakes are high for Josh Hernandez, driver of the Tommy Lipar Racing/Dr. Moon's Rage Pro Modified '68 Camaro. After setting a world ET record en route to a win in Gainesville, Fla. at the Gatornationals, Hernandez is hoping to keep his focus at his hometown race. He's also anxious to return to the site of his first-ever AMS Pro Mod win and improve his record at Houston Raceway Park to 3-0.
 
"I am absolutely pumped up about racing again in Houston. It's my hometown race, so all of my friends, family and sponsors will be there, and we're looking forward to putting on a good show."
 
Trying to follow up his record-setting performance in Gainesville may be difficult, however. In addition to winning the race, Hernandez was the second driver to join the exclusive AMS Five Second Club, and also set the national record with a blistering 5.912-second pass during eliminations.
 
"It was a pretty good weekend,” Hernandez joked. “Right now, we're just working to keep things consistent, though, and Howard [Moon, crew chief] has everything dialed in," he said.
 
"Coming into Houston, the weather is hopefully going to be just as good as it was Gainesville," Hernandez said. "We're looking for basically sea-level conditions, so the performances could possibly be as good as or even better than last race."
 
Although racing in Houston will be full of memories and challenges, the loss of Funny Car driver Eric Medlen is high on his mind.
 
"No matter who you are, you can't come into this race without a deep sense of loss. Although we're in different classes, we are still fellow racers and brothers. My heart goes out to John Medlen and his family and the entire John Force team," Hernandez said.
 
The Pro Mod racing will kick off with qualifying at Houston raceway Park in Baytown, Texas on Friday, April 8, with sessions at 2:45 PM and 5:45 PM, and then again on Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 AM. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations is scheduled for 4:00 PM that same day. Eliminations continue Sunday, April 10, with Pre-Race Ceremonies beginning at 10:00 AM and Final Eliminations to follow. call 1-800-COMP-PLUS