NHRA: Martino ready for another memorable weekend at the Motorplex
20 October 2000
CENTURY 21 Racing Team hopes to set new standards at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals Parsippany, N.J., October 19, 2000 - One year ago at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals, Tom Martino had a most remarkable weekend. On his third qualifying attempt, he made his first official 200-mph pass, and the resulting 200.75 mph blast earned the Century 21 Firebird driver membership into the exclusive Speed-Pro 200-mph Club, which recognized the first sixteen Pro Stock pilots to eclipse the magical double century mark. (When the roster was completed a few months later, Martino's effort proved to be the fastest of those inducted.) But Martino's accomplishments did not stop there. His 6.843-second elapsed time placed him 3rd on Sunday's final eliminations ladder, from which he easily dispatched rival Mark Pawuk in the first round. Although Martino's drive to a fourth national event win stalled in the quarter-finals, it served notice that the team was be a force to be reckoned with. "Even though we didn't accomplish our ultimate goal of winning the race, we were pretty satisfied leaving the Motorplex last October," said Martino. "Getting into the Speed-Pro 200 mph Club was pretty special, especially since we build our own motors. I had missed making it into the 6-second club by the luck of the draw and certainly didn't want that to happen again. (Note: Larry Morgan grabbed the 16th and final spot in Richmond last year with Martino, who was scheduled to run two pair afterwards, watching in the staging lanes.) "What made it even more rewarding was that we followed that up with another 200-mph run and qualified higher than I had all season. We thought we had as good a chance to win as anyone on Sunday, but got knocked out in the second round. This year, we're looking to complete the picture." However, the Martino crew knows that winning will be an even tougher assignment this year. The 2000 NHRA Pro Stock field has been one of the most competitive in the category's history. The pressure is on from the very first qualifying session, as teams battle for one of the sixteen spots available. Throughout the season, some of the very best in the division have found themselves on the sidelines on raceday. Adding to the challenge is the site of this weekend's race. Located just outside of Dallas, the Texas Motorplex is acknowledged as one of the NHRA's "supertracks", featuring a lightning-fast concrete racing surface that is unlike any other on the circuit. Although it offers unparalleled traction throughout the entire quarter-mile, it comes with a cost of a very narrow racing "groove", which is the name the racers give to that section of the track where the accumulation of rubber maximizes the speed-producing potential. Those venturing outside this area will soon find themselves fighting for control and consequently waiting for their next attempt to make the field. Should the weather cooperate, performance records could be in jeopardy. Therefore, every competitor knows they must be in top form from the very start. "At the race in Memphis, the cooler temperatures made for some incredible numbers, and I expect we'll see more of the same in Dallas," explained Martino. "I wouldn't be surprised to see qualifying produce the quickest Pro Stock field ever. Therefore, every run will be crucial for the information it provides. We have all of our notes from last year to use as a guide, and we'll be looking to build on that performance. If we do that, there's a good chance the CENTURY 21 Firebird could make its way back to the winner's circle." Century 21 Real Estate Corporation (www.century21.com) is the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. The System is comprised of more than 6,300 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in more than 28 countries and territories worldwide. CENTURY 21 Real Estate Corporation is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD) and is part of the move.com family of relocation, real estate and home-related service companies. MARTINO MOMENTS: This will be Tom Martino's ninth Pro Stock appearance at the Texas Motorplex…. Martino's best qualifying performance to date in Ennis came at this event a year ago, when he slotted 3rd for final eliminations…. One year ago, Martino advanced to the quarter-finals of the O'Reilly Fall Nationals … Martino is looking to move up from his current 11th spot in the Winston Points Standings. Fast Facts WHAT: 15th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals, the twenty-first event on the 23-race 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: October 19-22, 2000 WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with two sessions on Friday, October 20 at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and concludes with two rounds on Saturday, October 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 22. TV: ESPN2 will have two shows from the O'Reilly Fall Nationals on Sunday, October 22, starting with two hours of first round coverage from 5 - 6:30 p.m., and followed by an additional two hours of semi-final and final eliminations highlights from 6 - 8:00 p.m. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please consult your local listings)