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NHRA: Alba L. Colon Named GM Drag Racing Program Manager

15 November 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

WARREN, Mich.-- Alba L. Colon has been named Program Manager for the Chevrolet and Pontiac drag racing programs by Harry Turner, Group Manager of Drag and Off-Road Racing for GM Racing.

Colon, born Alba Lynnette Colon Rodriguez in 1968 in Salamanca, Spain, was the GM Racing Program Manager for the Pro Stock Truck program from 1998-99. Her responsibilities for 2000 include managing the technical resources required to win races and championships for Pontiac and Chevrolet in various National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing classes, as well as working with top teams using GM products to develop the necessary parts, set-ups and strategies to win those races and championships.

She joins Larry Kubes, engine specialist, on the GM Racing drag race team.

"Miss Colon already has a great record of helping produce race wins and championships for our GM customers through her excellent management of the Pro Stock Truck program," said Turner. "Her outstanding engineering and administrative skills fit well in the drag racing community, where we expect to see many more wins and championships for Pontiac and Chevrolet."

Colon began her career with GM in 1994 after graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, where she studied mechanical engineering. Prior to moving to the United States, Colon was a project engineer for Sterling Pharmaceuticals in Puerto Rico.

Her first assignment for GM was data acquisition engineer for the Oval Track Group (NASCAR Winston Cup, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, ASA and Busch Grand National). A stint as the engineer responsible for the maintenance and testing of the GM Racing Pi data acquisition systems in NHRA followed before she was named Pro Stock Truck program manager in 98.

Colon led the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup brand to a drivers championship that year, as well as Chevrolet to the first manufacturers championship for the category in 99. Chevy S-10 Pickups have dominated the class since it debuted in 98, winning a total of 22 event titles in two years. The 1999 drivers championship among three Chevy S-10 drivers is being contested this weekend at the AAA Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

"Im excited about taking on this huge responsibility," said Colon. "After two seasons of handling the strategies in the Pro Stock Truck division, it will be a unique challenge to balance the Funny Car, Pro Stock and Sportsman categories as well."

Colon is single and lives in Sterling Heights, Mich.

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