Pr - Marty Thacker - Preview - Topeka National Event

Submitted by: Shanna Snyder-Bell

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

Thacker Ready to Rebound in Topeka​

After a successful weekend at the Thunder Nationals, Marty Thacker and the Rapid Transit Race Team are hoping to improve on their season at the O’Reilly Summer Nationals in Topeka. The 2005 Division 3 championship team is hoping luck is finally on their side as they look to step it up this Memorial Day weekend.

In Martin, Michigan last weekend Thacker qualified #1 and ran 5.50 in the semi-finals to earn lane choice in the final round. Just moments before they were about to fire the engines, the clouds moved in and cancelled the remainder of the event.

"Our main goal going into US-131 was to make sure the two TORCO Top Alcohol dragsters made it to the final round. We accomplished that, but I wish the rain would have held off long enough for Dave and I to pull the triggers and see who would take the win light,” Thacker said. “The fans were great to us all weekend. It would have been nice to give them the final they were waiting to see. All in all, it was a great weekend hanging around with Evan and the whole TORCO Racing Fuels gang."

"This weekend at Heartland Park is supposed to be a hot one. If the weatherman is correct, and it gets above 90 degrees, we should even have a shot at the A-Fuel cars. If they give us an opening we plan to take advantage. These hot conditions only happen at a few races a year, so we have to be ready when the opportunities come to us."

Qualifying will begin on Friday at 3 PM and continue at 6 PM that evening. Saturday, the Top Alcohol classes will get one more attempt at 11 AM and final eliminations will begin at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Eliminations will continue following the first round of the Pro categories on Sunday morning. For up-to-date coverage, please log onto www.dragracecentral.com.

Quick Facts

• The defending Division 3 Champions currently sit in the Top 10 in the points standings following the first event of the series.
• The Team, based out of Robinson, Illinois, has won 5 UDRA National Championships and 2 NHRA Divisional championships.
• In their last 3 trips to Topeka, the team has accumulated 2 quarter-final finishes and 1 semi-final finish.
• Four of the Rapid Transit Race Team crew members race in the NHRA Super Comp class.

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:

Atlantic Industrial – www.atscaf.com

Valvoline - www.valvoline.com/pages/racing

Hoosier Racing Tire – www.hoosiertire.com

Fatheadz – www.fatheadz.com