Indianapolis Paul Romine Report

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6, 1999) -- An incredible .418 reaction time by Paul Romine helped propel his new Spitzer-built CARQUEST Top Fueler to round two of the 46th NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In a battle of drag racing's two World Champions, Romine, representing IHRA, against Gary Scelzi, representing NHRA, Scelzi had the better ET, the best of round one, a 4.588 at 306.12 MPH, but Romine's reaction time won him the race with his second best ET ever, a 4.666/306.60. The margin of victory at the finish line was a mere five-thousandths of a second, or two feet!

"If you can't get up for the World Champion, then you might as well go home," said Romine about his race with Scelzi. "I knew I might need some help at the starting line, but Clayton also made the power at the top end and it got us to round two."

In round two, Romine again had the better reaction time, .487 to opponent Tony Schumacher's .498, but Romine's day ended. Entering the race with a 3-0 record in final eliminations against Schumacher, the Exide Team defeated a tire smoking Romine, 4.641/315.49 to 10.514/89.56.

The CARQUEST team returns to action next weekend, traveling to Epping, NH for the IHRA North American Nationals. Romine's next NHRA event will be Sept 30 - Oct 3, the NHRA Nationals in Topeka, KS.