Championship Drag Racing

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Reading, Pa.
(Oct. 3-5)
(rain out reschedule)

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Paul Romine CARQUEST Top Fueler

Reports: Pre-race 2 Pre-race

Reading, pre-race 2: Paul Romine can't wait for the rescheduled Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway near Philadelphia. He is currently qualified forth in Top Fuel with a personal-best elapsed time of 4.564-seconds at 310.13 mph.

"The CARQUEST Top Fueler is producing great numbers through half track and I think Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) has some tricks to pick up our top end numbers," said Romine, who has driven for the Carrier Boyz Top Fuel team since Indianapolis. "If we can get our top-end numbers on par with the other teams, we'll be a threat come eliminations."

Last weekend at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chicago, Romine beat Jim Head in round one. It was Romine's first round win since May and the first career NHRA round win for car owners Mark and Andy Carrier.

"It was great to get a round win at Chicago and I was proud to get it for Mark and Andy," said Romine, who still has a chance for an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Top 10 finish and the Budweiser Top Fuel Shootout at Pomona. "We have a goal of a Top 10 NHRA finish and if we continue to qualify well, we still have a chance for the Budweiser Shootout at Pomona."

Reading, pre-race: Paul Romine and CARQUEST Auto Parts recently joined the Carrier Boyz Top Fuel team and instantly became a contender with 4.5-second performance. With the horsepower needed to be successful, Romine hopes to begin winning rounds this weekend at the 19th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Philadelphia.

"Our performance in qualifying at Indianapolis showed we can run with the best of them," said Romine, who ran a career-best 4.563 at the U.S. Nationals in his first race with the Carrier Boyz team. "Jimmy (Walsh, crew chief) and the Carriers have put together a first class operation and I hope with my driving, we can gel to become a force for the final events of the 2003 NHRA season."

Romine is currently in 12th position in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series point standings and having not won a round of racing since May, he is ready to turn his season around.

"I'm ready for a successful Sunday," said Romine. "With Jimmy tuning the car consistently down the race track, I think we'll be a contender very soon."