IHRA Pre-Race: Harold Martin Sets Sights High
for Rockingham
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Team ACDelco
IHRA Pre-Race Fact Sheet
Harold Martin
Owner/Driver
ACDelco Pro Modified Pontiac Grand Am
Event: 34th Annual IHRA Spring Nationals, the second event of the 12-race,
2004 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series.
Location: Rockingham Dragway
Rockingham, NC
Dates: April 23-25, 2004
Harold Martin Sets Sights High for Rockingham
After a four-week layoff, the 2004 IHRA championship chase resumes this weekend with the IHRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, and Harold Martin is ready to get back on the track. With final-round appearances in each of his last two races, the ACDelco Pro Modified Grand Am pilot is one of the hottest drivers in the popular Pro Modified category, and is poised to capture that elusive first national event win.
"The entire ACDelco crew is pleased with our continued progress and our goals are set high as we enter this weekend's race at "The Rock"," said Martin. "Racing at Rockingham Dragway is always special. It will provide the largest turnout and the best Pro Modified racers in the world. Although the blown pro mod race teams share the performance advantage, our team is pumped and ready for this event."
Located in the Sandhills of North Carolina, Rockingham Dragway has a long and rich drag racing history. Although it has been the scene of many outstanding performances, "The Rock" has also given teams many sleepless nights, as the combination of a tricky racing surface and varying weather conditions make the proper tune-up an ever-moving target.
However, coming off their runner-up performance at last October's World Finals, Martin and Team ACDelco believe they have the right combination to take home the trophy from the North Carolina quarter-mile.
"We have worked extensive hours preparing our race program, and have a very good notebook for this racetrack," detailed Martin. "Hopefully the conditions will be comparable to what we have encountered in the past and we will be able to capitalize on previous setups."
Should Martin succeed in reaching the winner's circle this weekend, the victory will have added significance, as it was on this track two years ago that he experienced a potentially devastating fire. The team's current status among the elite in their division is a testament to Martin's indefatigable spirit, which was further demonstrated two weeks ago in San Antonio, when the ACDelco crew rebounded from a potentially disastrous encounter with the wall to qualify second and advance to the final round.
"Racing at Rockingham has been very exciting and humbling for our race program," said Martin. "We have clearly realized our worst times within a devastating fire as well as the best times, demonstrating career best performances in the quickest field in pro modified history, and advancing to the final round. I believe success is failure inside out; therefore we will never tire and will always get back up no matter where the chips fall. This weekend will certainly be a challenge, but as we have shown in the past, the ACDelco Grand Am Racing team stands prepared to handle whatever is thrown at us."
Harold Martin Fast Facts:
* Career best elapsed time: 6.190 seconds, Rockingham, NC 10/03
* Career best top speed: 226.01 mph, Cayuga, Ontario, Canada, 7/03
* Currently second in the 2004 IHRA Championship points.
* Harold finished fifth in the 2003 IHRA Championship Standings, his first career Top Five finish
* Harold has reached the final round at each of the last two IHRA national events, including last year's IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway, and last month's Amalie Oil Texas Nationals in San Antonio, TX.
* Nicknamed the "EFI Wizard" for his expertise in with electronic fuel injection, including the revolutionary system in his ACDelco Pro Mod Grand Am, which he designed.
* Former GM engineer and holder of 10 worldwide patents
Event Schedule:
Qualifying - Friday, April 23 - One session at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 24 - Two sessions at 1:00 & 6:00 p.m.
Final Eliminations - Sunday, April 25 - First Round at 11:00 a.m.
TV Schedule:
Saturday, May 15 - 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Speed Channel
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