Parkertech 2008 wrap up

ParkerTech Racing Services/Lane Automotive 2008 Season Summary
Testing, tweaking and team effort pays off

Milford, Michigan – ParkerTech Racing Services, Bobby Martin and the ParkerTech crew are celebrating their best season ever. Martin drove the ParkerTech/Lane Automotive Dodge Charger to three number one qualifying positions, three wins and one runner-up. Their total points earned them the North Central Division Top Alcohol Funny Car Championship, the eighth spot in NHRA’s National TAFC point standings and the North Central Division Top Alcohol Spitzer Cup. To really ice the cake, Martin was voted the Division’s Pro/Sportsman Driver of the Year.

Over the winter of 2007, Martin and long-time friends Frank and Dan Parker finalized a plan to put Martin in the ParkerTech hot rod. Martin had fielded his own alcohol funny car for many years, representing Chrysler’s College Automotive Program. The Parkers also fielded their own car and, thanks to outstanding crew members, built an organized, capable program.
The Parker/Martin match, according to Martin, was meant to be. “In 2007, I had the worst season in motorsports history. Things were wrong with the car that I couldn’t pin down. I finished sixty-first in the country and twelfth in the division... not even in the National Top Fifty or Divisional Top Ten. So naturally Frank and Dan Parker said, ‘There’s our driver.’ That says volumes about their insight to this sport.”

That insight gave Martin his first-ever number one qualifier spot, his first-ever national win - both at the same event – and his first-ever National Dragster full cover appearance. He also maintained ParkerTech’s 8-year, 100+ race record of qualifying for every event entered. Martin gained further respect from the Parkers and fellow racers when he drove through a parachute malfunction and avoided the sand trap by deliberately broad sliding the car to a stop.

In spite of their best season, Martin and his wife, Lori, remain low-key, as always. At the Division 3 Awards Banquet, Martin thanked all those who helped and supported him and the Parkers. Then, after accepting the Spitzer Cup, he immediately presented it to Frank and Dan Parker, as a “small way of thanking them for their tuning skills and faith in my driving.” Later, both families and the crew were observed enjoying champagne from the cup. Low key, of course.

Announcements about 2009 will soon be released. In the meantime, the Parkers are already preparing the Dodge Charger for next year. Bobby Martin is working out on his practice tree. The “whatever it takes” crew, Larry Radke, Kyle Pelfrey, Kevin Wilhelms, Mike Meeks, Tom and Nancy McVey, the Krebaum brothers and Tom Cunningham, are reviewing their pit strategies.
On the family side of the team, Frank’s wife, Jennifer, makes sure he eats all his vegetables and gets to bed on time. Lori Martin and Frank’s daughter Rachel – the designated den mothers, cheerleaders and chefs extraordinaire – are planning menus and selecting lace curtains for the transporter. 2009 should be another good season.

NHRA's Division 3 Awards Banquet article and photos can be seen at http://www.nhradiv3.com/apcm/templates/divnews.asp?articleid=34635&zoneid=18 See ParkerTech Racing Services at http://www.parkertechracing.com/

ParkerTech Racing Services thanks the following exceptional companies for their support throughout 2008: Lane Automotive, All-Star Performance, Mopar, Aeroquip Hoses, Total Flow Products, Red Line Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, McCormack Motorsports, Crane Cams, Trick Titanium, Mr. Gasket, Mancini Racing, Casebolt Financial, Cantrell Performance Products, Chrysler’s College Automotive Program (CAP), Permatex, VP Racing Fuels and Challenger Consulting for marketing and media services.

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