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Martin Speeds Past Top Dragster Barrier
Bruce Biegler - November 1, 2007
 During the recently concluded 12th Annual IHRA World Finals, held in Rockingham NC., Barrie, Ontario-based Tim Martin Racing established an important new milestone for blown altereds.
Driver Tim Martin, achieved both a personal goal and a new IHRA milestone when he wheeled his Hemi-powered '23T to a record setting 5.945 secs during round one of Top Dragster eliminator.
That marked the first time in IHRA Top Dragster class history that an altered chassis car has run sub 6.0 secs. In fact, Martin came very close to becoming the very first racer ever in the TD class into the "fives". That prestige was grabbed only the previous evening before when North Carolina's Ed Careccia unloaded a numbing 5.865 secs at 236.92 mph (the all time quick and fast run in the category) driving a conventional rear-engined Top Dragster.
"Going into the Rockingham event we had come close with a 6.07 secs run," Tim revealed. "During qualifying we had some issues which slowed us down. But going into round one our plan was to run it all out and not worry about the round win. Going down the track -- I knew it -- because the car was pulling so hard."
 "Getting into the fives has been an objective of our team for about a year or so," he added. "We are proud to be the first altered car with an automatic to do it. We got some great coaching along the way from our engine builder Al Billes. He told us to be patient and not rush things -- and that is exactly what we did."
There has been some previous 5-seconds runs by blown alcohol-burning altereds in IHRA competition but those runs came under vastly different rules during the later 1990s. Neal Parker was credited with sub 6-seconds runs driving his '48 Fiat however that car had a clutch and Lenco transmission and was in fact raced in the now defunct Pro Outlaw category. Clutch and planetary transmission combinations are not legal for IHRA Top Dragster class racing.
Martin revealed that the team may evolve to a even newer but similar configuration 23T which will be built by Mike Bos for the 2008 season.
Tim Martin Racing would like to thank their team, family and friends for their support. Also their sponsors, Al Billes Racing, Mike Bos Chassis Craft, Snyder Motor Sports, Coan Engineering, Stroud Safety, Taylor Motor Sports Products, RH2 Race Radios, NGK Spark Plugs, VP Fuels and Pennzoil.
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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