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ENNIS, Texas - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster veteran Darvin Martinets reached his third final round in his last five events during this past weekend's Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex just south of Dallas. Martinets wheeled the Howie Main owned Blown Alcohol Dragster to a career-best 5.347 second elapsed time at 267.80 mph in the final.
Martinets, of Lake Jackson, Texas, didn't take the easy road to the final. Valvetrain problems in Saturday evening's final qualifying session caused the team to work into the late hours to get ready for Sunday. The team stayed in the field with an early shutoff 5.495 at 232.47 in the No. 7 position. In round one, Martinets took out Diana Harker with a 5.534 at 234.90 mph, but blew a head gasket in the process, requiring the team to change motors in between rounds. The team thrashed to make the change, but had time to spare before taking out Brandon Pierce with a 5.402 at 265.33 mph to set up the final with first time finalist Aaron Tatum's A/Fuel Dragster.
Plenty was at stake in the final as a win would make Martinets the Division 4 Jeg's Sportsman All-Star representative. After watching Tatum run a 5.30 in the semifinals, tuner Will Hanna made some adjustments to go for the win. The adjustments resulted in a career best of 5.347 at 267.80, but was not enough for Tatum's career-best 5.291 at 275.96 mph.
"I can't say enough about this team," said Martinets. "We busted our tails all weekend. We worked late Saturday night to get ready for raceday. Then we really had our backs against the wall after the first round when we had to change motors. The team really performed flawlessly. To make the call for the semifinals was an accomplishment in itself, to step up and win the round was a big testament to this team that Howie has put together. Will and Rick Hanna, Howie's brother Danny Main, his son Steven and his friend Kyle and my wife Natalie did a great job."
"I've always had good luck at this track," Martinets continued. "We really didn't get down the track to our liking in qualifying. One run the heavy cross wind got the car crossed up and I was forced to lift. The car kept on running good short numbers, but for different reasons we weren't making it to the finish line under power. We finally got on track there in the semifinals and Will and Howie made some key adjustments to step it up to that .34. It was kind of bittersweet. We made our best run ever, but we still didn't get the win. One of these days, maybe we'll get the win. All in all it was a good weekend. We made a good showing for our sponsors Pipe Tools, Cliff's Bits, DragRaceHose.com, Goodridge Hose and Fittings and Rislone Engine Stabilizer."
With their strong showing on the weekend, the team moved to third in Division 4 standings and 14th nationally. The Main & Martinets Motorsports team returns to their home track of Houston Raceway Park when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series rolls into town, May 16-18.
For more information on Main & Martinets Motorsports' marketing partners' fine products visit the websites below. To find out more on how to become a partner of Main & Martinets Motorsports, email Darvin at [email protected].
www.dragracehose.com - Log on to sportsman drag racer Will Hanna's DragRaceHose.com for all of your racecar hose and fitting needs. We are a proud distributor of Goodridge Hose & Fittings - Serious Hose for Serious Racers.
Bar's Products, Inc. - Premium Automotive Chemicals - Find out why top teams like Main & Martinets Motorsports trust Rislone Engine Oil Stabilizer to keep their 10,000 rpm + engine lubricated properly under the harshest of conditions. Rislone is a name racers have trusted for years and can be found at most auto parts retailers.
Photo courtesy of Roger Richards, Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine - Volume 10, Issue 04; April 2008
Martinets runs career best in Dallas final
ENNIS, Texas - NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster veteran Darvin Martinets reached his third final round in his last five events during this past weekend's Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex just south of Dallas. Martinets wheeled the Howie Main owned Blown Alcohol Dragster to a career-best 5.347 second elapsed time at 267.80 mph in the final.
Martinets, of Lake Jackson, Texas, didn't take the easy road to the final. Valvetrain problems in Saturday evening's final qualifying session caused the team to work into the late hours to get ready for Sunday. The team stayed in the field with an early shutoff 5.495 at 232.47 in the No. 7 position. In round one, Martinets took out Diana Harker with a 5.534 at 234.90 mph, but blew a head gasket in the process, requiring the team to change motors in between rounds. The team thrashed to make the change, but had time to spare before taking out Brandon Pierce with a 5.402 at 265.33 mph to set up the final with first time finalist Aaron Tatum's A/Fuel Dragster.
Plenty was at stake in the final as a win would make Martinets the Division 4 Jeg's Sportsman All-Star representative. After watching Tatum run a 5.30 in the semifinals, tuner Will Hanna made some adjustments to go for the win. The adjustments resulted in a career best of 5.347 at 267.80, but was not enough for Tatum's career-best 5.291 at 275.96 mph.
"I can't say enough about this team," said Martinets. "We busted our tails all weekend. We worked late Saturday night to get ready for raceday. Then we really had our backs against the wall after the first round when we had to change motors. The team really performed flawlessly. To make the call for the semifinals was an accomplishment in itself, to step up and win the round was a big testament to this team that Howie has put together. Will and Rick Hanna, Howie's brother Danny Main, his son Steven and his friend Kyle and my wife Natalie did a great job."
"I've always had good luck at this track," Martinets continued. "We really didn't get down the track to our liking in qualifying. One run the heavy cross wind got the car crossed up and I was forced to lift. The car kept on running good short numbers, but for different reasons we weren't making it to the finish line under power. We finally got on track there in the semifinals and Will and Howie made some key adjustments to step it up to that .34. It was kind of bittersweet. We made our best run ever, but we still didn't get the win. One of these days, maybe we'll get the win. All in all it was a good weekend. We made a good showing for our sponsors Pipe Tools, Cliff's Bits, DragRaceHose.com, Goodridge Hose and Fittings and Rislone Engine Stabilizer."
With their strong showing on the weekend, the team moved to third in Division 4 standings and 14th nationally. The Main & Martinets Motorsports team returns to their home track of Houston Raceway Park when the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series rolls into town, May 16-18.
For more information on Main & Martinets Motorsports' marketing partners' fine products visit the websites below. To find out more on how to become a partner of Main & Martinets Motorsports, email Darvin at [email protected].
www.dragracehose.com - Log on to sportsman drag racer Will Hanna's DragRaceHose.com for all of your racecar hose and fitting needs. We are a proud distributor of Goodridge Hose & Fittings - Serious Hose for Serious Racers.
Bar's Products, Inc. - Premium Automotive Chemicals - Find out why top teams like Main & Martinets Motorsports trust Rislone Engine Oil Stabilizer to keep their 10,000 rpm + engine lubricated properly under the harshest of conditions. Rislone is a name racers have trusted for years and can be found at most auto parts retailers.
Photo courtesy of Roger Richards, Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine - Volume 10, Issue 04; April 2008
