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BRESLAU, ONTARIO (May 26, 2009) – He’s been racing a
long time, and has returned to quarter-mile action after taking some time away from the
sport.
Driving his 1957 Chevy in the new Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Paul Martin
said he is looking forward to the six-race series which began May 15-17 at Cayuga
Dragway.
“This deal is real sweet,” he said. “It will be great with no travel
involved and a group of high-caliber guys to race with.”
Qualifying his Shoebox Chevy eighth in the 12-car field on the doorcar
side of the series, Martin went to the second round in the opening event. After this first
of six events for 2009, he is sixth in points.
A former oval track racer, Martin said he went to the former drag strip
at Georgetown in the late 1960s. The Pro Stocks were racing there, and after watching teams
like Sox and Martin and other early proponents of the class, he decided to park his
Chevelle Super Late Model and go drag racing.
“I was amazed with the drag cars,” he said. “I said at the time that
this is what I’m going to be doing.”
So through the years Martin went from Bracket racers to an Altered in
the mid-1980s to a big-block Chevette in the early 1990s. He got the ‘57 in 2004, and raced
a great deal with the Supercharged Thunder group.
But he said he is going to concentrate on the Quick 32 for 2009. And a
family member helped him decide.
As the father-in-law of well-known drag racer Scott Wildgust, Martin
said Wildgust used him for a sounding board about the possibility of a new series.
“Scott filled me in on what was going on, and asked if I’d be
interested. I thought it was a great idea.”
Martin drives one of two 1957 Chevy two-door racing sedans produced, and
his has a three-inch chopped roof. All other Shoebox Chevy race cars are two-door hardtops,
and Martin’s blue ’57 really stands out. A 510-cubic inch Chevy sits under in the frame of
the Jerry Bickel Race Cars product, and utilizes a Kobelco supercharger and Enderle fuel
system. Behind the engine is a Bruno Automotive Lenco unit.
The car is owned by the Martins, Paul, Sandy, and Steven, and the family
receives help from crew chief Matt Shantz along with his brothers Andrew and Dan Shantz.
John and Carol Rosinski also crew with the team. Major sponsorship comes from Trimark
Transmissions Inc.
Martin said after four years in the Supercharged Thunder touring group
and some IHRA national events, he parked the car in 2008, but added he was ready when the
Quick 32 became reality.
“I love this sport,” he said. “I really enjoy this sport. It’s a great
tool for enjoying yourself.”
He also mentioned that the competitors will become an important part of
the series.
“This series will grow,” he continued. “And there’s going to be a great
camaraderie with the teams. It’s going to be great.”
The next Quick 32 Sportsman Series event presented by NAPA Auto Parts is
scheduled for June 27 - 28 at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.
About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto
Parts:
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, of drag racing was
started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to
compete on a regular basis.
For 2009, dates include Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario,
starting with the season opener on May 16 and 17 and the season-closer on September 19 and
20, at St. Thomas Dragway on July 11 and 12, and the South-western Ontario track of the
Grand Bend Motorplex on June 27 and 28, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National
presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 8 and 9 and September 5 and
6.
With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled
cars (Top Dragster) and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman
Series will feature the best in ET-style, dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman
ladder and will pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race day final.
Competitors in this Ontario-based series must comply with the IHRA Top
Dragster and Top Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be
7.95 seconds for the quarter-mile.
This new venture is providing $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for
the annual point award series champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will
provide large fields of race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional
atmosphere for its teams. It will also provide solid media and logistic support to ensure
it becomes one of the most popular drag race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster
race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts will compete
several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag
racing.
For more information, please
contact:
Bruce F.
Mehlenbacher
Director of
Operations
Telephone: (905) 772-1800 Ext.
#22
Cellular: (905)
517-5345
Tim Miller
Media Director
Telephone: (905)
870-1456
1209 Kohler Road, Cayuga, ON
Canada N0A 1E0
Telephone: (905) 772-1800
Extension #22, Fax: (905) 772-1799
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