Rick Santos Wittman, Ariz. Notes

THE SANTOS SCOOP OAKWOOD HOMES FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER SPEEDWORLD MOTORPLEX NOTES AND QUOTES

DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMP SANTOS TO RUN FIRST DIVISIONAL RACE OF 1999

Rick Santos, the 1997 and 1998 national and division seven champion will make his first divisional start of 1999 when he competes at the Speedworld Motorplex this weekend in Wittman, Ariz. Santos has competed in two national events so far in 1999 and has one win.

Santos won the national championship in 1998 after he won nine events in only 14 starts. Five of those wins were at a divisional level. He clinched the division seven championship in July, with two division seven races still remaining in the 1998 season.

SANTOS SCHEDULE

The Oakwood Homes dragster show car will be on display at the Oakwood Homes sales center located at 18937 West McDowell Rd. in Buckeye, Ariz. from March 12-14.

Rick Santos will make an appearance at the sales center on Saturday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

SANTOS 1999 RESULTS

National: Pomona (Calif.) Raceway, Federal-Mogul Dragster top qualifier and win Firebird (Ariz.) International Raceway, Federal-Mogul Dragster, lost second round

SANTOS SCRAPBOOK

Santos only has one start at the Speedworld Motorplex. It came in October of 1997. He won the event defeating Ken Zeal in the final on a hole shot. Santos ran a 5.745 ET at 243.04 mph to Zeal's 5.722 ET at 191.06 mph. Santos went into that event third in points. He went on to win another race at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., which made him the 1997 National and Division Seven champion.

SANTOS STATEMENTS ...

On Phoenix (Firebird International Raceway) ... "That was the worst weekend of my fifteen year career," said Santos. "We were plagued with motor problems all weekend long and losing on a hole shot is the worst way to lose.

Santos lost in the second round to Darren Nicholson. Nicholson had a .411 reaction time and defeated Santos with an ET of 5.553 and speed of 249.39 over Santos .473 reaction time, 5.523 ET and speed of 254.81 mph.

On Wittman (Speedworld Motorplex) ... "I hope that we can get back on the winning track with the division race in Wittman," said Santos. "It has been a long time since we have raced at a divisional level and it is fun because we have some different competition. We are also the main class at those events, so it makes it exciting."