Everything Comes Together for Thacker in Indy
After coming close numerous times earlier this year, everything came together in Indianapolis last weekend for Marty Thacker and the Rapid Transit Race Team as they earned their first divisional win of the 2007 season. The win catapulted them to the 4th position in the National standings and enabled them to take the lead in the Jeg’s All-Star points race.
“What a great life! Competing against and spending time with our friends at the track is how we want to live our lives. To be able to come out here and race at all is such a blessing, but to come into this division and win against the caliber of cars that compete here is just incredible. My crew was awesome all weekend and they made the difference,” said Thacker.
The 2 time divisional champs qualified #4 for the event with a 5.40 at 268 MPH and ran consistently quick numbers all day long on Sunday to earn their win. In the first round, Thacker ran at 5.43 at 268 MPH to earn the win light. In the semi’s he got the jump off the line and never looked back, outrunning his opponent with a 5.41 at 269 MPH to earn the trip to the final round. For the final round, Thacker again ran well, 5.44 at 267 MPH, to take home his first Wally of the season.
“There was a lot of sun on the track on Sunday. We were tempted to go at the tune-up more aggressively, but managed to control that urge and try to take what the track would allow us.
Having the Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels cars sweep the alcohol categories is something we've been trying to do for a long time. It made the day even more special to celebrate with Mick and his crew in the winner’s circle. We can't do enough to repay Evan and the folks at Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels for their friendship and support. But we're going to keep trying.”
For their next event the Team will finish up the Divisional swing in Columbus, Ohio, July 27th thru the 29th.
Quick Facts
· In his fourth final round of the season, Thacker picked up his first divisional win. That win moved him all the way up to fourth in the National points standings.
· Thacker currently sits in second place in the Divisional points standings.
· The Team went to three final rounds last year and earned one win at the prestigious Jeg’s All-Star event in Joliet, Illinois. This year, Thacker went to the final round of the Jeg’s event, but missed out on a second straight victory by just inches. He currently leads the Division 3 points chase to represent Division 3 in the race in 2008.
· The Team set a personal best ET of 5.26 at the TORCO Racing Fuels National event in Richmond, Virginia the end of last season.
· The 2005 Division 3 Champions finished 3rd in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points standings and finished in 16th place nationally in 2006.
· The Team, based out of Robinson, Illinois, has won 5 UDRA National Championships and 2 NHRA Divisional championships.
Please visit the official team website Rapid Transit Racing.
You can access the full line of innovative products offered by our major sponsor TORCO Racing Fuels including racing gasoline, additives, and Skull Gear at www.torcoracefuels.com.
Visit the websites of our current associate and product sponsors at the following websites:
Hoosier Racing Tire – Hoosier Racing Tire -- Tires Designed For Champions
Lucas Oil – Lucas Oil
Fatheadz – fatheadz eyewear
