NHRA Pre Race: Harold Martin will make his NHRA Debut in Pro Modified in Las Vegas

Harold Martin will make his NHRA Debut in Pro Modified during sponsor's event in Las Vegas

New Hudson, MI., October 20, 2003 - Throughout his drag racing career, Harold Martin has never been one to back away from a challenge.  For example, Martin, an accomplished former GM engineer with ten patents to his credit, eschewed the conventional set-ups when building his ACDelco Pro Mod Grand Am, preferring instead to design a revolutionary electronic fuel injection system.  Today Martin has one of the world's quickest nitrous-oxide race cars.

Martin should therefore be well prepared for this weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, as a series of challenges await him in his NHRA debut in the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge. 

"We are excited about the opportunity to race our ACDelco Pro Modified racecar on an NHRA race track," said Martin.  "This will present an exciting challenge. There are a number of variables that we will have to plan for including the eight-car field, track preparation, and the higher altitude.  Ideally, we would have tested at an NHRA track and optimized our setup prior to the event."

"An eight-car field is very tough for any category and even more so for a Pro Modified car that rarely does the same thing twice. Clearly our performance has shown that we have the capability to qualify and win at any event, however we will have to avoid any mistakes and/or misfortunes. I think the single biggest variable will be adjusting to the altitude change and the track prep variations.  Our engine program sounds like no other pro mod and accelerates unlike most, so managing acceleration will be critical." 

The location of this weekend's event further complicates Martin's assignment.   Not only will this be Martin's first competitive venture at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but the race also comes only five days after the completion of his regular series in Rockingham, NC.  Therefore, the ACDelco team will have little time in which to complete their between race maintenance and the 2300-mile drive to the Nevada quarter-mile.

"After being surrounded by 58 awesome pro modified racecars in Rockingham, you feel like you have just completed a 15-round heavyweight world championship fight," stated Martin.  "We are proud of our consistent 6.19 runs in Rockingham and final round finish and look forward to blending this set-up in to very different conditions."

Finally, as if the pressures of competition were not enough, Martin's first experience in an NHRA Pro Mod race will also come in front of over 3,500 ACDelco employees and customers at an event bearing his sponsor's name.   However, this is one aspect of the weekend that Martin is truly looking forward to.

 "The ACDelco employees and customers are extended family to me," said Martin.  "Over the years I have met many of them personally, and I look forward to using one hand to drive the race car and the other to sign autographs."
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