NHRA: Martino answers the question 'How stock is Pro Stock?'
1 April 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Parsippany, New Jersey- If you were to park a 2000 Pontiac Ram Air Trans Am Firebird next to Tom Martino's CENTURY 21 Pro Stock Firebird, the lineage would be evident. Naturally, the towering hood scoop, rear wing and custom graphics would be clear signs that Martino's machine was designed for more than trips to the store or weekend getaways. But beyond that, the striking similarities make it easy to see why Pro Stock is a perennial fan favorite - the car on the track is a dead ringer for the one on the street. This resemblance is due to the NHRA's strict guidelines on the racecar's exterior, which must conform to templates created from the manufacturer's specifications.
However, a look underneath these two vehicles' sleek skins reveals that appearances can be deceiving. As they prepared for next weekend's inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the CENTURY 21 Racing Team took time to go over some of the differences.
"Whether on the racetrack or the interstate, the Firebird is a great car," stated Martino. "And I'm fortunate enough to be able to drive one in both cases. I know the fans really identify with the Pro Stock class, because our cars look so much like their own pride and joy. In some ways, they're pretty similar. But to get the type of performance out of our CENTURY 21 Firebird that we need to race, there have to be some significant differences."
Starting the comparison with the "rolling" chassis, one finds the "everyday" Firebird's outer shell is made from steel and composite materials to prevent dents or rust, while Martino's mount is covered in carbon fiber and other lightweight materials. Removing the skin reveals even more disparity. Able to safely transport its driver and three passengers in comfort, the street variant is based on a unibody, or frameless design. With a top speed exceeding 200 mph, sole occupant Tom Martino is well protected inside a Don Ness-built chassis made from over 400 feet of chromoly tubing. Although the racers ride on a suspension styled after a production automobile's, it offers almost infinite adjustability to best adapt to track conditions, with none of the settings giving what could be called a comfortable ride, as offered by the production car. Finally, a standard Trans Am rides on 17-inch wheels, with tires featuring an expected tread life of 40,000 miles. In stark contrast, the massive rear slicks on Martino's machine are mounted on 25-inch rims, and are effective for a total of eight runs, which is just over two miles.
Moving on to the drive train, both are powered by a V-8 engine, which provides power to the rear wheels through a manual transmission. But while the average consumer has a 350 cubic-inch powerplant under the hood generating 320 horsepower, Tom Martino has 500 cubic inches and over 1,200 horsepower at his disposal. With gas prices on the rise, fuel economy is important, and the Trans Am uses state-of-the-art, fuel-injected technology to deliver 28 miles per gallon on the highway, which combined with its 16.8-gallon tank gives it a range of 470 miles on unleaded fuel. Mileage is not a concern in a quarter-mile drag race, although the three-gallon tank in Martino's racer is only enough for one run, using synthetic racing fuel at $25.00 a gallon.
Safety is a top priority in both arenas, and each boasts the very latest technology, with air bags, anti-lock brakes and seat belts among the features on the showroom model, while a full roll-cage, five-point harness, on-board fire extinguishers and twin parachutes headline a long list of items designed to protect Tom Martino.. However, creature comforts are a different story. A standard Trans Am comes with air conditioning, cruise control, leather seats and a CD player, while Martino's cockpit is a model of simplicity, incorporating only what is necessary to race, such as a computer monitoring system, which provides the crew with vital information after every run. To summarize, these two Firebirds may be more like cousins than identical twins, but each is a winner in its respective field - something Tom Martino hopes to demonstrate this weekend.
"Our factory hot rods are the closest thing to a production car in the professional classes," said Martino. "So this weekend, I'm going to do something the race fans can really relate to - a nice Sunday cruise on The Strip. The only difference will be the CENTURY 21 Firebird's destination - instead of a drive-thru, we're looking to park in the Las Vegas winner's circle."
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MARTINO MOMENTS: This will be the NHRA's first visit to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway...At the last inaugural event in Chicago in 1998, Martino qualified seventh and advanced to the second round by defeating current points leader Jeg Coughlin Jr. ...Martino currently sits 10th in the Winston Points Standings...Martino is one of only three Pro Stock drivers to have made an official run over 200 mph this season (the others are Warren & Kurt Johnson) ...Co-crew chief Bob Cave is looking to score his first NHRA professional win as a member of the CENTURY 21 Racing Team at this event
Text provided by Jon G. Knapp
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