Marty Thacker - Brainerd National Preview

Thacker Ready for Brainerd​

The Rapid Transit Race Team sponsored by Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels has been to 2 straight final rounds and they are hoping the momentum will carry over to the Brainerd National event this weekend as they look for their 3rd win of the season. Driver Marty Thacker and the Team had a busy week off and they are ready to get back out on the track with their blown alcohol Top Alcohol Dragster.

“This week we have a brand new motor in the car. We tried a few things when we were building it and we aren’t sure if they will work, but we are excited to test it out. We have been trying to get more out of our combination all year and typically Brainerd is one of the faster tracks we go to during the season, so this should be the perfect place to see how well this car can perform,” said Thacker.

The two time divisional championship Team is currently sitting in third in the National points standings and they are looking to move up this weekend. After back-to-back final rounds in the Indy and Columbus divisional events the Team feels like they have turned a corner on their season and they are ready to put on a show for the Brainerd fans.

“This race is unlike any we go to all year. The track is good and the fans unlike any on the NHRA circuit. Hopefully, we can go out there and make some good runs during qualifying so that we can go out to the zoo and enjoy ourselves and spend some time with the fans that come out to watch us every year.”

Qualifying will begin at 1:30 PM on Friday and they will have another shot at 4:30 PM. On Saturday, the Team will get their final attempt at making the 16 car field at 1 PM. Eliminations will begin later that afternoon at 4 PM and continue on Sunday.

Quick Facts

• Thacker has been to 5 final rounds this season and earned two wins. He is currently sitting in third in the National points standings.
• Thacker currently sits in second place in the Divisional points standings.
• The Team went to three final rounds last year and earned one win at the prestigious Jeg’s All-Star event in Joliet, Illinois. This year, Thacker went to the final round of the Jeg’s event, but missed out on a second straight victory by just inches. He currently leads the Division 3 points chase to represent Division 3 in the race in 2008.
• The Team set a personal best ET of 5.26 at the TORCO Racing Fuels National event in Richmond, Virginia the end of last season.
• The 2005 Division 3 Champions finished 3rd in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points standings and finished in 16th place nationally in 2006.
• The Team, based out of Robinson, Illinois, has won 5 UDRA National Championships and 2 NHRA Divisional championships.

Please visit the official team website www.rapidtransitracing.com.

You can access the full line of innovative products offered by our major sponsor TORCO Racing Fuels including racing gasoline, additives, and Skull Gear at www.torcoracefuels.com.

Visit the websites of our current associate and product sponsors at the following websites:

Hoosier Racing Tire – www.hoosiertire.com

Lucas Oil – www.lucasoil.com

Fatheadz – www.fatheadz.com

Submitted by: Shanna Snyder-Bell

Contact Person: Marty Thacker
Contact email address: mlthacker@marathonpetroleum.com