NHRA: Pro Stock promises to produce pulsating racing action

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (May 14) -- Always a huge favorite in the Northeast
United States, the NHRA’s Pro Stock class features the closest racing in
all of motorsports. These naturally-aspirated cars powered by
500-cubic-inch big block motors produce over 1,300 horsepower and the
entire field of racers from top to bottom are rarely separated by more
than three hundredths of a second.

As one might expect, Matco Tools – the title sponsor of this weekend’s
33rd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions at
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park -- has teamed with five of the top
talents in the class – Mark “Cowboy” Pawuk, George Marnell, V. Gaines,
Darrell Alderman, and Gene Wilson – all of whom have their eye on the
title of the 33rd annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing
Champions.

"This is by far the most competitive class in drag racing,” Pawuk said.
“For people that aren't competing in the class, I don't think they have
any concept of how tough this eliminator is every race. When you have a
field separated by three hundredths of a second, everything has to play
in your favor just to get in the show.

“I definitely feel that Pro Stock is one of the best forms of racing in
motorsports. We have side-by-side racing at over 200 mph and it’s rare
for both cars not make it to the finish line within a heartbeat of one
another. Hopefully, this will be a weekend where our Summit Racing/Matco
Tools Pontiac really shines. Matco Tools means a lot to this program.
I’d love to win their race for them here in Englishtown.”

Pawuk nearly won twice here one year ago. After setting low elapsed time
of the meet during qualifying, Pawuk raced to the finals of both the
SuperNationals and the Pro Stock Challenge, a special event for the top
eight qualifiers from the previous year. Certainly, this 44-year-old
from Cleveland has what it takes to find glory at historic Old Bridge
Township Raceway Park.

Sporting full Matco Tools regalia at this event as he uses his sleek
Grand Am as a full-sized model for a special-edition die-cast Matco
Tools collectable, Las Vegan George Marnell is arguably the hottest
driver in the Pro Stock class this season. The always-smiling
51-year-old opened his 2002 campaign with a win in Pomona, Calif., and
led the POWERade championship points standings for three of the first
four events of the year. Aside from the race itself, Marnell will search
for Matco Tools glory this weekend in the prestigious Pro Stock
Challenge.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show Matco Tools and the fans of
New York and New Jersey what we’re capable of,” Marnell said. “We’re
very proud to have the Matco Tools car at a Matco Tools race and the
fact we’ll be participating in the Pro Stock Challenge gives us twice as
many chances to bring home a win for the company and all of its
supporters.”

Three-time series champion Darrell Alderman, one of drag racing’s true
legends, returns to Englishtown looking for his fourth win here.
Alderman, 52, claimed glory for Team Mopar and Matco Tools on
consecutive seasons in 1990-’91 and again just five races ago in 1997.
Like Marnell, Alderman already has visited the winner’s circle this
season, taking home the hardware from the Gainesville, Fla., event. The
third winningest Pro Stock driver in NHRA history looks to add to his
legacy this Sunday.

Alderman’s Mopar Parts teammate Gene Wilson is still learning the
nuances of his Hemi-powered Dodge Neon R/T. Wilson, the 2001
International Hot Rod Association Pro Stock champion, joined David
Nickens’ two-car operation just five races ago. The son of fishing great
Orlando Wilson, Gene would love to prove his mettle at this event in
front of one of his team’s biggest backers. After winning eight of the
11 events on the IHRA schedule last season, the 29-year-old Atlanta
resident has shown time and again he knows the quickest route down the
quarter-mile.

“When you’re trying to win races and championships you have to be able
to rely on your team and your equipment at all times,” said Nickens.
“Without question, we know Matco Tools can handle the extreme workload
we put them through and at the same time we know the people at Matco
Tools are always behind us 100 percent to support us with our racing
program. They always have been. Darrell, Gene, and everyone at Nickens
Racing owe a big part of our success to Matco Tools.”

V. Gaines may be soft-spoken off the race track but when he gets in the
cockpit of his Western Motorsports/Matco Tools Chevrolet Cavalier he
becomes an animal. A two-time winner on the NHRA tour, Gaines is a
threat at every race. The 54-year-old trucking magnate from Denver has
big plans to haul home the hardware from this weekend’s event.

“It’s time for us to win a race,” Gaines said. “It would be great to do
it here with all of the 1,400-plus independent Matco Tools franchise
owners on hand to share in the celebration. It’s impossible to predict
the outcome of this race but I can tell you the action will keep
everybody on the edge of their seats all weekend.”