Reading Paul Romine Friday Report

CARQUEST TEAM LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY

READING, PA (Sept. 17, 1998) -- Consistency is the key to drag racing and at last few races, the CARQUEST Top Fuel dragster has lacked it.

"We just haven't been able to make back-to-back passes since July," Romine said. "We'll go out and run a good number, then it will smoke the tires. It ’s been frustrating for Clayton and the guys because we know we have a car that can win in NHRA and IHRA."

At the last NHRA national event, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Romine qualified 16th in the quickest Top Fuel field in NHRA history. With 5 qualifying shots, Romine recorded a best elapsed time of 4.73-seconds, then smoked the tires in round one against Larry Dixon. Last weekend, Romine and the CARQUEST team qualified third at the IHRA North American Nationals in Epping, N.H. with a 1000-foot blower belt pitching 4.88 elapsed time. Practically tied in the IHRA point standing with Tommy Johnson, Jr., Romine smoked the tires in round one, only to watch Johnson, Jr. earn a runner-up finish and take the points lead away.

"Last weekend was very frustrating because we couldn't get down the track," Romine said. "Saturday afternoon we ran 258 to the 1/8-mile and were on a heck of a pass, then the blower belt came off. We ran a 4.92 in the night session, only to smoke the tires in round one, which cost us the (IHRA) points lead."

"This weekend we enter Maple Grove with the objective to first get down the track, then to do it consistency," Romine said. "Once we do that, then we can worry about going some rounds on Sunday."

The NHRA Pioneer Keystone Nationals is Romine's seventh NHRA appearance this season. In those appearances he has one DNQ, three first round losses, two semi-final finishes, and a runner-up finish at the Winston Invitational.

Professional qualifying for the Pioneer Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway begins, Friday, Sept. 18th with two sessions scheduled for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (EDT). Qualifying concludes, Saturday, Sept. 19th with two additional sessions at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin, Sunday, Sept. 20th at 11 a.m.

The Nashville Network (TNN) will televise 90 minutes of final round coverage and race highlights, Sunday, Sept. 20th at 5 p.m. (EDT). TNN will also show one hour of live first round coverage, Sept. 20th at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).