Mark Thomas
Starts Season in San Antonio
The Ethanol Performs Dodge Avenger of the Mark
Thomas Racing Team opened
2005 at the 4th Annual Amalie Oil Texas
Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. Thomas entered
the season coming off a successful 2004 campaign
with a runner-up finish in the 2004 points race
and has high expectations for 2005. "The goal
for anyone in the IHRA is to finish the year
number one and we have had the good fortune of
finishing in the top spot five times. However,
there is nothing guaranteed with the level of
competition in the Funny Car field so we are
determined more than ever to have a great year."
said Thomas.
Thomas came into San
Antonio prepared to start the season off right
and the IHRA Funny Car's change to an eight car
elimination field versus the past sixteen car
field made little room for error. "We had one of
the strongest fields that I can remember"
commented Thomas, "It felt great getting back on
the track, working with my crew, and
representing my sponsor...Ethanol Performs."
Thomas drove the Ethanol
Performs Avenger to the
third
qualifying spot to begin the eliminations on
Sunday, with several drivers right on his heels.
"The close competition is what keeps this
exciting…and keeps pushing each team to do the
very best they can." according to Thomas. The
Ethanol Performs Dodge Avenger
faced the number six
qualifier Chris Foster in the first round and
got the win on a hole shot. The second round
brought the match-up everyone has been waiting
for since the end of the 2004 season. Mark
Thomas versus Rob Acthison. 2004 number two
facing 2004 champion. Thomas anticipating a
tight race left the line a little early and red
lighted. "It was a disappointing start to the
season and not the start we were looking for,
but the Ethanol Performs team will bounce back
and get ready for Rockingham." said Thomas.
The Mark Thomas Racing Team is looking forward
the next race at Rockingham. "Our
Ethanol sponsors, the Ohio Corn Growers and the
South Dakota Corn Utilization Council have
always been great to us" said Thomas "I'm sure
they are as excited as we are
for this upcoming weekend…and
we thank them for their confidence and support
of our team!"
|
