PR - MARTY THACKER - COLUMBUS DIVISIONAL WRAP-UP

Submitted by: Shanna Snyder-Bell

Contact Person: Marty Thacker
Contact email address: mlthacker@mapllc.com

Thacker Earns Divisional Championship in Columbus

Marty Thacker and the Rapid Transit Race Team headed into Columbus this past weekend to participate in the final Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event of the year and the conclusion of the rain delayed Bowling Green event. During the weekend, the team sponsored by TORCO Racing Fuels appeared in two final rounds and came away with one victory. That was just enough to give them the Division 3 Championship and the Spitzer Low Qualifier Series Championship.

Saturday Thacker won the semi-final round of the Bowling Green race by running a 5.54 at 258 mph. Heading into the final round of the race, which was also the conclusion of qualifying for the Columbus race, Thacker was sitting on the bump spot. The Team was able to step up to the challenge when the car motored down the track at 5.46 at 263 mph to claim the #6 qualifying position and the Spitzer Low Qualifier Series Championship. Unfortunately, Thacker turned on the red light (-.018) and was unable to come away with the win.

“Despite some of our shortcomings, this was a very good weekend for us. We never quite performed up to our potential, but we were able to come out of Columbus at the top of the leader board. We should have won the rain delayed Bowling Green event, but I didn't account for seeing the christmas tree better at night and gave the win away. We were able to clinch the Spitzer Low Qualifier title with that run though, so that gave us something to celebrate. Mike and Karen Spitzer have been so supportive of the Division 3 racers, not to mention the great work they've done for our team, so it meant a lot to us to claim that trophy,” Thacker commented.

On Sunday, it was time for the Team to refocus for the Columbus event. First round Thacker had a great .022 light and ran a 5.49 at 263 mph to take the win light. In the semi-finals, the former Division 2 champion earned the win by running a 5.57 at 260 mph. Thacker ran a 5.52 at 253 mph in the final but his opponent left too early and gave the Team their second win of the 2005 season.

“Going into the finals, we knew we had a larger than normal challenge. I guess that made it that much better when our win light lit up. We were a pretty ecstatic bunch. The trophies always have my name on them, but this whole operation depends on the Rapid Transit crew. Dan Fuller, Brian Mans, Larry Hunsaker, Bob Wright, Mark Wolfe, and Lanny Hoke make sure I have a properly prepared racecar each time we pull up to the line. TORCO Racing Fuels and Atlantic Scaffolding have helped us in so many ways this year. We are grateful to have such great sponsors on the side of this car. It's really too bad they can't fit all those names on the trophies.”

For the next event Thacker will head to Joliet, Illinois for the CARQUEST Auto Parts National event held September 30th thru October 2nd.

Please visit the official team website www.rapidtransitracing.com.

You can access the full line of innovative products offered by our major sponsor TORCO Racing Fuels including racing gasoline, additives, and TORCO Gear at www.torcoracefuels.com.

Visit the websites of our current associate and product sponsors at the following websites:

Atlantic Scaffolding Company – www.atscaf.com

Valvoline - www.valvoline.com/pages/racing

Hoosier Racing Tire – www.hoosiertire.com