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Pomona: Mark Whisnant preview

PiranaZ Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier Mark Whisnant -- Driver Reid Whisnant -- Owner Whisnant Reunites with PiranaZ STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- This weekend Mark Whisnant returns to the Pomona, Calif. for the running of the 44th annual K & N WinterNationals.

Published: Feb 20, 2004, 8:18 PM

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PiranaZ Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier
Mark Whisnant -- Driver
Reid Whisnant -- Owner

Whisnant Reunites with PiranaZ

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- This weekend Mark Whisnant returns to the Pomona, Calif. for the running of the 44th annual K & N WinterNationals. Whisnant comes to California in the company of old friends. This weekend Whisnant and the RW Performance team will reunite with the sponsor that served him so well in the Pro Stock Truck division: PiranaZ.

Whisnant and PiranaZ have formed an alliance that will make PiranaZ the primary sponsor on Whisnant's Pro Stock entry for 2004 and beyond. Throughout the season Whisnant and Team RW will showcase PiranaZ race wear and apparel with Whisnant making daily appearances at the PiranaZ T-shirt trailer. Whisnant and the RW Performance will continue their association with Snap-On Tools, Chevrolet, G-Force Transmissions, Fram, and Royal Purple

"In 2001 PiranaZ was the sponsor of our Pro Stock Truck. It was a good relationship. That was PiranaZ' first endeavor in the drag racing market. By the end of the year, Jeff (PiranaZ owner Jeff Sommers) realized that to make sponsorship of a racecar work for his company he needed to learn more about drag racing as a business. My team needed to move ahead with our plans to go Pro Stock racing. So, at the end of 2001 we mutually agreed to go our separate ways.

"At the end of last season Jeff and I started talking about putting something together. The result is PiranaZ returning as our primary sponsor of the RW Performance Cavalier.

"In 2004 our association with PiranaZ is completely different, just like their new line of apparel and race wear.

"PiranaZ has a new image. They wanted to get away from the run of the mill T-shirts and apparel you see at the racetrack. Their new look is raw, and edgy. It is hard-core race wear for the hard-core drag race fan. The new look speaks for its self, and is more my style. It is a product I can feel good about endorsing.

Last season Whisnant and the RW Performance team went through a rebuilding phase. They sacrificed races in the later part of 2003 season, in an effort to raise their performance level in 2004. After a successful winter of testing Team RW is back with confidence, horsepower and a renewed determination to put Mark Whisnant and the PiranaZ Chevrolet Cavalier in the winner circle.

"This year I feel like we are the most prepared we have ever been coming into the WinterNationals. We did not waste any time over the winter. My team was together for three full months working on every aspect of this car. Our horsepower will be coming from Reher/Morrison this season, and doing extensive testing.

"We went to Bradenton, Fla. a couple times to test, and raced the Super Bowl Warm up in Houston. At each test we matched up pretty well against what the other cars where running. We spent quite a bit of time working with the new bead lock tires, and feel like we are adapting well to the new rule. Our test numbers looked good, and I ran the best ET and Speed of my career in Houston. Those are all positive indicators coming into Pomona.

"Our goal this season is to place this PiranaZ Chevrolet in the winner's circle. We know we have a lot more work to do, but are confident that we have a good base to work from. We feel strong coming into this race, but will are not be content until we win a race."

Qualifying at the 44th annual K & N WinterNationals will begin on Thursday February 19th and continue through Saturday February 21. Eliminations will take place on Sunday February 22 at 11:00 AM PST.

-wr-

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