NHRA Press Release: Record Performances Becoming A Tradition at Houston

03/13/96

[Editors note: this piece courtesy of Crest Motorsports.]

FROM NHRA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

RECORD PERFORMANCES BECOMING A TRADITION AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Ask most NHRA competitors about the ideal spot for
early-season performance, and the word rolls out of their mouths
almost like a mantra.

Houston ... Houston ... Houston.

Houston Raceway Park has become synonymous with early-season
performance in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series, as at least one
NHRA national record has fallen every year since 1992 at the track
during the Slick 50 Nationals. That's a record unmatched by any other
early race on the NHRA schedule.

That legacy of performance should be extended for another season at
the ninth annual, $1,461,350 Slick 50 Nationals presented by Western
Auto, March 28-31. The race is the fourth of 19 events this season in
the $27-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

The best chance for record-setting performance probably will come in
the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. Those machines use
normally-aspirated engines, which thrive on the dense, oxygen-rich air
of the sea-level conditions at Houston.

Defending Winston champion Warren Johnson set the NHRA elapsed-time
and speed national records in Pro Stock last year during the Slick 50
Nationals with a stunning pass of 6.948 seconds, 199.15 mph in his GM
Performance Parts entry. Both records still stand as a testimony to
the performance potential at Houston.

Five-time Winston champion Dave Schultz also set the NHRA elapsed-time
and speed national records in Pro Stock Motorcycle last year at
Houston with a run of 7.503, 181.19 on the Sunoco Suzuki. Both records
were broken later in 1995.

The appetite for performance by the normally-aspirated set at this
year's event was whetted by outstanding times at the Pro Stock Super
Bowl preseason event in January at Houston Raceway Park. Seven drivers
produced runs in the six-second range -- an unprecedented feat.  NHRA
Winston point leader Jim Yates qualified No. 1 at 6.949 and won the
event in his McDonald's Pontiac Firebird.

While the Pro Stock categories have produced stunning numbers at
Houston in the past, the nitro-powered categories of Top Fuel and
Funny Car also have made Houston a performance playground.

Four NHRA records have been broken in the fuel categories since 1992
at this event, with a quartet of Winston champions accomplishing the
feat: Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Scott Kalitta and Cruz Pedregon.

All racers will benefit from the new concrete launching pad finished
earlier this month. The first 200 feet of the concrete pad was
replaced, and the smooth, rigid new surface will ensure superb
traction for all racers, a crucial part of any record run.

Schedule: Pro qualifying starts with sessions at 3 p.m. and 7
p.m. March 29. Qualifying ends with sessions at 11 a.m. and 3
p.m. March 30. Final eliminations start at 11 a.m. March 31.
Sportsman competition starts at 10 a.m. March 28.

Tickets: Tickets are available for the Slick 50 Nationals. Call
Houston Raceway Park at (713) 383-2666 for ticket information. Tickets
can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Texas.

On TV: ABC will televise a one-hour show of highlights from the Slick
50 Nationals at 2 p.m.  (CDT) April 14. Two broadcasts of the popular
racing program "Pat Patterson's Raceweek Specials" also will originate
March 28 and 29 from the event. The program is shown on Prime Network
affiliates throughout the country.