Main & Martinets team up to field TAD in Div. 4

Main & Martinets to team up to field TAD in Div. 4

HOUSTON - Veteran NHRA Sportsman competitors Howard Main and Darvin Martinets have teamed up to field a Top Alcohol Dragster in the NHRA's South-Central Division 4. Rather than starting with a complete new operation, Main has purchased the two-time Division 2 Championship winning TAD of Guy Kelly. Martinets, a veteran of the TAD ranks from the 1980's will handle the driving chores, while former Division 4 Tuner of the Year Chris Russell will handle the tuning duties.

The team will receive primary backing from Reaction Delivery, a Houston based short and long haul hot shot trucking company and associate backing from Pipe Tools, Inc., a Houston based rental company specializing in field machining equipment for the petrochemical industry.

No stranger to the seat, Martinets, of Lake Jackson, Texas, experience stems back to the former Pro Comp class in the late 70's, then through the class' transition to what it is now known as Top Alcohol Dragster through the 80's and early '90's. Due to rising expenses, Martinets settled into the local bracket racing scene where he has been a fixture ever since. Car Owner Main is also a veteran of the bracket ranks and is excited to team with his good friend Martinets for this venture.

"You cannot believe how excited I am to return to my roots in Top Alcohol Dragster," said Martinets. "It is a dream come true to come back with a proven car, the best equipment, and the funding to do it properly. Last time I drove my old alcohol car a 6.20 was fast, and most people did not even know who Mike Spitzer of Spitzer Race Cars was. That tells you it has been a while."

"Darvin and I pondered this idea a bunch, we went to Reading and Dallas, we talked to Mike Kosky, Marty Thacker, the Cantrells, the O'Bannons and everyone that would give an opinion," Main added. "The consensus was, we were not crazy, the blown cars were not "dead" and Kelly had "the" car for sale."

"We need to get our parts and spares together, get our ex-Don Garlits transporter rig tooled out and get testing by the end on the month," continued Main. "I cannot believe the support we have had in this endeavor I would like to thank Will Hanna for putting us in touch with the right people to make this happen. Even Big Daddy says he may show up a time or two to show us how it is done."

The team is working vigorously to make their debut at their home track in Houston for the Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener there Feb. 16-18.

Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com