Baca to salute the American worker in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 27) -- Top Fuel driver David Baca won't let the pomp and circumstance surrounding this weekend's prestigious 52nd annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals overshadow the real meaning of this extended holiday weekend and he's using his 8,000-horsepower Mach 1 Air Services dragster to prove his point.

Throughout the extended race weekend, which leads into Monday's eliminations on Labor Day, Baca and his team will salute the American worker with a large decal on each side of his red, white, and blue racecar. It's his way of paying homage to the men and women that have made the United States of America the best country on Earth.

"In drag racing, we think about Labor Day and we think about Indy and the U.S. Nationals," said Baca, who was the No. 1 qualifier here in 2003. "We're programmed that way and that's cool. But I don't want people to lose sight of the fact this is Labor Day weekend. It's not just an extra day off, or even Indy weekend, it's the way we thank the American worker for all they have done to make this country great.

"For all its faults, this country is the envy of the world. We're have the most technologically advanced, the best trained, and the most sophisticated workers anywhere. This weekend was designed to let the average Joe who goes to work every day and turns in a hard shift to feed his family know that what he does is appreciated. We just wanted to do something to keep that at the front of everyone's minds."

Throughout the summer, Baca and Mach 1 Air Services have helped numerous charitable causes gain national recognition by utilizing their racecar as a 330-mph billboard. They've supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association on two different occasions, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Alex's Lemonade Stands for pediatric cancer research, the Mark Hindy Charitable Foundation for the children of the 9/11 disaster, and DonateLife.net, which raises awareness for organ donations.

"We're always trying to do what we can to help," Baca said. "Whenever we've asked NHRA fans to chip in, they have big time. Now we're tipping our hats to all of them by saluting the American worker on our racecar. I hope everybody enjoys the message."

ESPN2 will carry 10 hours of U.S. Nationals coverage. Qualifying highlights will run from 11 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, and 11 p.m.-1 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 3. There will be two separate shows of race day coverage including a 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. broadcast, Monday, Sept. 4, and a later 4 p.m.-7 p.m. show, also on Monday, Sept. 4. All times listed are Eastern.

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For more information, contact Don Armstrong at 713-202-4849.