NEWS FROM NHRA: Lisa Kubo looks to stay hot in Palm Beach

KUBO AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS IN FWD

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Lisa Kubo, who earned the first Pro FWD victory of the season with a final round win over Nelson Hoyos in the season-opening NHRA Summit Sport Compact Series event in Fontana, Calif., hopes to keep the APC Saturn Ion Quad Coupe on the top of the points standings as Moroso Motorsports Park in Palm Beach, Fla. hosts the second annual BFGoodrich Tires NHRA Sport Compact Nationals, April 17-18.

Kubo, 29, from Chino Hills, Calif., has won consecutive events dating back to the 2003 NHRA Sport Compact World Finals and set the Pro FWD E.T. record with a 8.028 second pass in her final round of qualifying March 13th at California Dragway, a number which she backed- up the next day in the win over Hoyos. As the class gets closer to the elusive first pass in the seven-second range, Kubo appears to be the driver knocking on the door to history. "Getting the record in Fontana was definitely the most unbelievable thing that I have done in front-wheel-drive so far," Kubo said. "Just two-hundredths of a second faster, this is driving me nuts, it's so minute, but I'll take the points for winning the race. It gave me the leverage to figure out exactly what my plans are for this season. If we keep trying to go after that seven-second pass, we'll keep laying on it hard and we'll forget why we're there and that's to win a championship." Kubo's crew chief and husband, Gary Kubo, has been the mastermind behind her success as an NHRA driver since she was racing in the Honda Tuning All Motor class in 2001, winning three of the six races that season.

"Gary is the brains of the team," Kubo said. "He's the one that makes it hit. He's got little things he's doing right now, testing the motors that we have to see just how far he can push them before they blow up. He hasn't even started fine-tuning yet." Despite sponsorship difficulties in 2002, which limited the team to just three events without a victory, the time away from the track allowed them to build for the future and make the switch into the Pro FWD category, where they made their debut last August.

 "The class is so exciting," Kubo said. "I feel safer in this class, but even more than that, I feel like I can do whatever I want. It's an all-out class, and to have a really fast Pro FWD car is the ultimate." As Kubo shoots for the goal of winning the season championship, she realizes that staying at the head of the class means holding off last year's champ Nelson Hoyos, a rivalry that was rekindled at the Nitto California NHRA Sport Compact Nationals. "There is something about Nelson, that my car can go sideways but I'm not letting off, I'll pedal it and keep going," Kubo said. "He is the driver that brings out the best in me." Moroso Motorsports Park should represent a huge challenge for Kubo. Not only will it be her first time racing there, but it's also the home track for Hoyos, a Hollywood, Fla. resident.

"Last year, everyone was breaking records there, so I'm very excited about getting the chance to see it," Kubo said. "I plan on bringing my lucky horseshoe."

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.