Harker Cleans-Up The Competition In Texas

Baytown, TX., March 31, 2009: It has been two short weeks since Steve Harker started his 2009 NHRA Drag Racing season. A twenty year veteran of the Top Alcohol Funny Car class, Harker drove his I40, Inc Chevy Monte Carlo to his second final round appearance and his first win for the year!

Wet weather plagued the start of qualifying for the Top Alcohol category and the class was only able to get two of the three scheduled sessions. Harker and team came out strong to lead the eighteen car field with an impressive 5.553 seconds pass at 240 mph.

In round one, Harker lined up against Texan driver, Ro Yale. Harker had the starting line advantage and ran his career best elapse time and speed for the win. This run was also the quickest and fastest pass of the event, a 5.526 seconds at 260 mph.

Harker lined up against fellow South Central Division Four racer, Kebin Kinsley in round two. Kinsley made his quickest pass of the weekend but it was not strong enough to hold off Steve Harker's Monte Carlo who put-down another impressive 5.580 seconds at 258 mph pass.

The semi-finals saw a classic match-up between Harker and Jay Payne who finished 3rd behind Harker in the World Championship points in 2008. This was a close race with Harker taking the win by 0.0154 seconds (approximately 6 feet) and Steve kept the consistency coming with a 5.565 seconds pass at 260mph run.

Marty Nothstein was Harker's final round opponent but would be no match as he fouled out giving Harker the win and his third National event "Wally". Harker ran on through with a 5.638 seconds at 227 mph pass.

"We would like to thank our sponsors and the fans that support our team" said an excited Harker "The car was running great all weekend, we got lucky in the finals and could have got beaten. My team did a flawless job servicing the car between rounds and I would like to personally thank them, Joseph, Max, Dan, Kate and Diana and my wife Jenelle, great effort by all!"

Harker was excited to win this weekend as his son; Scott celebrated his 28th birthday on the Thursday before the event. The family will be sending the trophy to homeland Australia for a belated but awesome birthday present!