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Harold Martin Rockingham preview

Harold Martin Ready to Wrap Up 2005 with Rockingham Win ACDelco Pro Mod Pontiac pilot Harold Martin has had his share of successes throughout the 2005 Hooters Drag Racing season. In July, he recorded the first No. 1 qualifying position f his ...

Published: Oct 7, 2005, 11:17 PM

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Harold Martin Ready to Wrap Up 2005 with Rockingham Win

ACDelco Pro Mod Pontiac pilot Harold Martin has had his share of successes throughout the 2005 Hooters Drag Racing season. In July, he recorded the first No. 1 qualifying position f his IHRA Pro Mod career with a track-record 6.197-second pass at the Motor City Nationals in Milan, MI. Martin used that stellar starting point at Milan Dragway to power to the sixth final round of his career, just missing his second career Pro Mod national event win. In addition, he is poised to score his fourth consecutive Top Ten finish in the championship standings.

However, as the "EFI Wizard" is quick to point out as he arrives in the Tar Heel state for this weekend's IHRA World Finals, there are still opportunities to be maximized and work to be done. Therefore, any discussion of prior accomplishments will have to wait, for just as it has been for the prior eleven races, the team's focus will remain squarely on the task ahead, as they look to put an exclamation point on their season with a win.

"The ACDelco Pontiac Racing team will take a lot of highlights out of 2005," stated Martin. "We've run our career best time in the IHRA, as well as winning our first Hooters Drag Racing Series pole. In addition, we've developed some new technology that, even though it took us a little time to really capture its direction on how to optimize it, we sit well positioned and experienced for the future.

"We may not have had the season that we had set our goals towards having, but we've learned a lot, and are really looking forward to capitalizing on it. It has always been an integral part of our management strategy that, in order to advance, we need to take risks and work on new technology, which is what we have done throughout the season. We have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, which has us ready to go forward and have great things happen.

"On that note, we can accomplish a tremendous amount with this last race, and there would be nothing more special than to realizing a little of that potential for the future with a win in Rockingham this weekend."

Armed with prior successes, Martin stands ready to tame The Rock

Located in the Sand Hills region of North Carolina, Rockingham Dragway is one of the stalwarts of the Hooters Drag Racing Series. The only facility to host two national events during the IHRA season, this venerable speedplant has witnessed its share of drag racing history over the years, making it a favorite among competitors and fans alike. In addition, a win at "The Rock" has the added benefit of giving the team momentum heading into the 2006 season.

Having scored a runner-up finish at this event in 2003, Martin has had a North Carolina "Ironman" trophy in his sights on several occasions. This year, he looks to complete the picture and take it home to the team's Michigan headquarters.

"The off-season can be an extremely long time, and momentum is a large variable that you want to carry in to it with both you and your team," said Martin. "We know the Rockingham racing surface well, including how the weather influences it, and have been able to run extremely well there. We have run as low as 6.15, as well as making numerous passes in the 6.18 -- 6.19 range, so we know we can perform well on that track.

"Therefore, the entire ACDelco Pontiac Racing team is really pumped and looking forward to getting to 'The Rock.' Hopefully, we will have a little racing luck on our side, and we can fully capitalize on our performance potential with a win."

-jck-

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