Epping: Terry Haddock final summary

HADDOCK EXTENDS POINTS-LEAD WITH RUNNER-UP FINISH IN EPPING

EPPING, N.H. (September 7, 2008) -- It's one down, one more to go for Lend America nitro Funny Car driver Terry Haddock. With a runner-up finish in the IHRA Amalie Motor Oil North American Nationals, he extended his points-lead to 65 heading into the World Finals in Rockingham, N.C. October 17-19.

Haddock ran the quickest ET of the event in his first round defeat of Paul Lee, a 4.965-second, 305.77 m.p.h. blast against Lee's tire-smoking 8.139/116.67. In round two, Haddock again was the benefactor of tire-smoke, besting Jack Wyatt, 5.033/298.47 to Wyatt's limping 7.349/121.34.

In the final round Haddock suffered the fate of his earlier opponents, losing traction and chattered the tires halfway through his battle against Andy Kelley, falling with a 10.857/95.69 to Kelley's 5.160/264.96 lap.

"It was a great weekend -- almost perfect," Haddock said. "We extended our lead and ran really well throughout the heat of the day. The 4.96 we ran against Paul [Lee] in the first round showed just what this Lend America Stratus can deliver.

"IHRA has done a great job keeping things even in our field, forcing an exciting World Finals where every lap will be critical for us.

"Now that we're done here, we can rest and prepare for the last race, and then put it all on the line when we get there," he said.

"I can't say enough about what an honor it is to carry the Lend America flag into battle, and I know that we're going to prove Mike Ashley [Lend America Chief Business Strategist] made the right choice by joining us. Our other marketing partners, DJ Safety and Aircat Pneumatic tools, have been a great support as well, and our goal of winning the world championship for them is the focus of everything we'll be working on in October," Haddock said.

-credit: ma