Englishtown - Baca - post qualifying - June 17

Baca running strong, raising money for 9/11 fund
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 17) -- Mach 1 Air Services Top Fuel driver David Baca is having a big weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. For starters, he's qualified his car in the top half of the field of this weekend's 37th annual K&N Filters NHRA Supernationals. At the same time, he's helping raise money for the Mark Hindy Charitable Foundation, which funds area children's hospitals and charitable entities in the name of Hindy, who lost his life in the Sept. 11th attacks.
 
On the racetrack, Baca's 4.582-second lap at 325.69 mph earned him his fourth consecutive top-half elimination start in a quick field of 16 dragsters. 
 
"We've had a great hot rod over the last month and a half and we're excited about racing again," Baca said. "The guys at Mach 1 have given us awesome support and I really want to win a Wally and take it to corporate headquarters so everyone there can enjoy it.
 
"These guys on this team have been workhorses and it's time for their hard work to pay off. I think we're all ready for a big weekend."
 
In the pits, Baca has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Mark Hindy Charitable Foundation by helping the group sell raffle tickets for a 9/11 tribute helmet, which will be given away locally over this year's anniversary of the Sept. 11th tragedy.
 
Baca started the fundraising by giving $500 of his own money to the cause. Mach 1 Air Services CEO Mike Entzminger quickly matched the donation, as did Top Fuel team owner and Baca friend Bill Miller. At that point, the funds came pouring in with race fans and fellow racers lining up to help the cause.
 
"The response has been phenomenal so far," Baca said. "I challenged my fellow drivers to open their wallets and a lot of them have jumped in to help. Plus, the fans here are being very generous. The 9/11 deal hit these people hard and they know what we're trying to do with this deal. It has been a big success and we want to keep it going."
 
Fans can buy a raffle ticket at Baca's pit throughout Sunday's eliminations, which begin at 11 a.m. ET.
 
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MEDIA NOTE: For more information, contact Mach 1's Steve Walsh at 650-269-0928.
 
 
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