IHRA Pre Race: Harold Martin Aims to Add A Norwalk Win to His
List of 2004 Successes
ContactTeam ACDelco
IHRA Pre-Race Fact Sheet
Harold Martin, Owner/Driver
ACDelco Pro Modified Pontiac Grand Am
Event: 27th Annual IHRA Sunoco World Nationals, the ninth event of the 12-race,
2004 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series.
Location: Norwalk Raceway Park
Norwalk, Ohio
Dates: August 25-28, 2004
Harold Martin Aims to Add A Norwalk Win to His List of 2004 Successes
The 2004 Hooters Drag Racing season has been one of tremendous achievement for ACDelco Pontiac Grand Am pilot Harold Martin. Starting with a runner-up performance at the season-opening event in San Antonio, TX, Martin and his talented team have consistently been among the leaders in the popular and highly competitive Pro Modified division. Through the first eight races, they have systematically reached goals set prior to the season, including multiple final round appearances, a national event win and a five-race stint atop the championship standings, with this year's title firmly in their sights.
This weekend, Martin and his ACDelco crew will look to add yet another entry to their list of successes, as they aim to score their second win of the season at the crown jewel on the IHRA circuit, the Sunoco World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
"This is clearly a big race for every professional racer that attends it," stated Martin. "Norwalk Raceway Park is a world-class facility, with a great racing surface, so naturally, you want to go there and do well. We feel good about our ability to do just that.
"Clearly, we know we have a good race program, and we've worked very hard since the last race to make sure that every component has been freshened and optimized in preparation for this weekend. In addition, Norwalk is a track that we have tested on numerous times. We have always run well there, so the entire ACDelco Racing team is excited and pumped heading to Ohio."
As if the challenge of winning the season's biggest race was not enough, Martin is also in the thick of a championship battle. With only four races left in the season, every pass down the track grows in importance. Even so, Martin prefers to keep things in perspective, a wise strategy when considering the unusual atmospheric conditions and challenging schedule of this weekend's race with the last qualifying session in Norwalk set to start at 1:00 p.m on Saturday. and the first round of eliminations just three hours later, highlighting the importance of Martin's team efficiency and his ACDelco hardware's durability.
"Naturally, we enter this weekend aware of the significance of this race as well as the championship implications," said Martin. "But we start with a very humble outlook, namely to qualify in the top half of the field and run consistently to get round by round lane choice, controlling our destiny.
"I've looked at the weather forecast for this weekend, and it is supposed to be warm and humid, which are not the most favorable conditions for any race car or driver. One of the biggest questions will be whether the temperature will hold during the night sessions due to the humidity and not fall off as it would if there was no moisture in the air. If so, the conditions will not get as good as they potentially could.
"Therefore, there is not a team in the pits who can rely on a previous set-up to be the optimal one for this weekend, and the strategists have to think hard about what is going to happen and make the right decisions through the weekend. Basically we will have to get there and race the environment, being smart about it, adapting to the requirements. I believe this works in our favor, as we have done an outstanding job of racing the race track throughout the year..
"Adjusting to the schedule element speaks volumes to the attrition aspect of your race strategy. It's challenging in itself to run your last qualifying pass on Saturday and be able to service your program overnight in preparation for eliminations on Sunday, but this weekend's schedule will allow very little time to get ready for the first round. We will be called to the lanes within a maximum of two hours between qualifying and the first round of eliminations.
"This compressed time frame changes how you approach that last qualifying run. For example, we have been working on a new engine program, and we were considering getting some opportunities to evaluate it. Some of our competitors have reached a new level of performance by swinging for the fences in this manner, and we respect that.
"However, that doesn't seem feasible based on what we're dealing with in Norwalk. Certainly, this ACDelco Racing team has worked very hard to develop new technology of our own, which we will incorporate before the end of the season. But, for now, we are very proud of the package we have assembled throughout the year, and feel very confident about our chances for continued success using a more conservative approach."
Despite the increased pressure and challenging conditions, Martin is still able to appreciate the spectacle and special nature of this race, which is held in the shadows of the sanctioning body's headquarters.
"There are two elements of excitement that you share at Norwalk Raceway Park," said Martin. "You know from simply being at the race track that the World Nationals has tremendous racer participation, with the biggest car counts of any IHRA event, with both sides of the race track lined with race cars. It is quite impressive to be there with so many fellow contestants.
"Secondly, when you roll out from the staging lanes to begin your burnout, you can glance up in to the stands and see this awesome arena filled with race fans. It makes you feel good as a professional that you have the opportunity to race at a world-class facility in front of great fans, making the entire experience even more special, giving you added motivation to do well. We've had a great year so far, and the ACDelco Racing team looks to make it even more memorable this weekend with a win at our biggest race."
Harold Martin Fast Facts:
* Career best elapsed time: 6.190 seconds, Rockingham, NC 10/03
* Career best top speed: 228.54 mph, Cayuga, Ontario, Canada, 8/04
* Won his first IHRA Pro Modified national event on July 4, 2004 at the Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
* Is currently second in the Hooters Drag Racing Series Pro Modified Championship Standings
* Harold finished fifth in the 2003 IHRA Championship Standings, his first career Top Five finish
* 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, August 27 - Two sessions at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 28 - A single qualifying session at 1:00 p.m., followed by the first round of final eliminations at 4:00 p.m.
TV Schedule:
Saturday, October 2 - 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - pee Channel # # #
