Bobby Martin Norwalk wrap up

Three In A Row And Almost A Fourth For The Lane Automotive/CAP Team
And on the cover of National Dragster, too!

Milford, Michigan – NHRA’s Norwalk race, rained out earlier in the season, was made up during the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. And Bobby Martin made it up in style. The man from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, driver of the Lane Automotive/CAP Dodge Charger Top Alcohol Funny Car, was the number two qualifier and race winner. The next day, in the scheduled race, he sat in the number one qualifying spot, but just missed the race win.

At Norwalk, Frank Manzo had nipped Martin for number one with a 5.573 second, 262.54 mph pass. But Martin tapped on Manzo’s window with a qualifying run only .002 of a second behind - 5.575 at 258.27 mph. Both made it through the first round, before rain ended the weekend. Their Norwalk qualifying times would carry over to Columbus, where the race would be completed during qualifying. Manzo and Martin picked up right where they left off. Both had strong runs that earned them a final round face-off. In a rare instance, Manzo got into tire shake and had to back off. Martin’s run was clean and he posted a 5.830 second, 252.80 mph win. It seemed as though Martin’s recent first national win and the full cover of NHRA’s July 18 issue of National Dragster acted as an adrenaline booster shot for the team.

To complete two divisional races in one weekend, NHRA treats Saturday qualifying as the postponed race. The Norwalk teams would be eliminating and qualifying in the same run. Martin’s semifinal lap of 5.725 seconds and 253.18 miles per hour put the Lane Automotive/CAP Dodge Charger on Sunday’s pole, .030 ahead of Mick Snyder. From there, the Parkers thrashed the Mopar Hemi and Martin caressed it into the finals. With their hot rod running just right, the Parkers staged Martin against friend and rival Snyder. The number one and two qualifiers were evenly matched. The race was close, right from the green. In the end, Martin crossed the line about two feet behind Snyder. The winning pass was 5.755 seconds and 252.28 miles per hour, versus Martin’s 5.780 at 254.18.

Why wasn’t Frank Manzo in the field, on Sunday? His schedule called for running only the Norwalk event. He was at National Trail just to finish that race. He could have saved tow expenses by entering the Columbus Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Rather than possibly upsetting the Division 3 points race, he packed up and went home. As Frank Parker said of him, “He is the sportsman in NHRA Sportsman Racing.”

Bobby Martin is now seventh in the Top Alcohol Funny Car national points race. He has a solid hold on first place in Division 3 – a very familiar place for Frank and Dan Parker-tuned cars. The ParkerTech Racing Services team is working to close the .025 gap that cost them the Columbus race. Their Lane Automotive/CAP Dodge Charger will be primed and ready for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race at Beech Bend Raceway Park, August 22-24.

Lane Automotive specializes in distributing accessory and performance parts world wide. The latest and best parts are stocked in their stunning new Watervliet, Michigan complex. The facility is specially designed, computerized and automated to process customer orders. Motorsports enthusiasts – racer, hot rodder, truck and off-road, sport compact, street machine and more – will find what they need or want. Visit Lane Automotive, Motor State Distributing, Allstar Performance, Lane Collectables, Exact Detail and the Lane Showroom at http://www.laneautomotive.com/Index.php

Chrysler’s College Automotive Program (CAP) focuses on training novice and experienced automotive technicians. Students are launched on rewarding careers within a nationwide network of nearly 4000 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep Dealers. For College Automotive Program and Bobby Martin information, see http://www.chryslercap.com/data/public/capdb/capwebsite.nsf/index.htm?OpenForm

ParkerTech Racing is supported by Lane Automotive, All-Star Performance, Mopar, Aeroquip Hoses, Red Line Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Crane Cams, Total Flow Heads, Trick Titanium, Mr. Gasket, Valco Cincinnati, Mancini Racing and Casebolt Financial. The team is also partners with Chrysler’s College Automotive Program (CAP), Permatex and VP Racing Fuels. Marketing and media tasks are performed by Challenger Consulting.

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Contact:
Charlie Henry
Challenger Consulting
248-477-1970
248-476-0191 fax
charlie@challengerconsultingllc.com