FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications, (626) 914-4761
IBARRA'S POPULAR MAZDA R-100 TO BE INDUCTED INTO
WALLY PARKS NHRA MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM
DURING NHRA SPORT COMPACT NIGHT Of CHAMPIONS
GLENDORA, Calif. - Abel Ibarra has long been one of the top stars of the sport compact scene, having helped pave the way for sport compact drag racing to develop into one of the fastest growing segments in auto racing.
Ibarra will again champion the way for sport compact drag racing as his popular K&N Filters Mazda R-100 will become the first sport compact vehicle to be displayed at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif. during a special induction ceremony next month. The NHRA Sport Compact Night of Champions will take place in conjunction with the season-ending Mazda NHRA Sport Compact World Finals presented by Toyo Tires, Oct. 25-26, at historic Pomona Raceway.
"We're really excited to bring Abel's R-100 to the Museum," said Sam Jackson, executive director Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. "I helped organize Abel's first exhibition run at an NHRA national event in this dynamite car and he made a great pass that had the crowd on their feet and folks in the tower wondering what they had just seen. Abel's classic Mazda R-100 is the perfect car to represent sport compact pioneers in the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum."
The NHRA Sport Compact Night of Champions will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, and will offer free admission to drag racing fans. In addition to the induction of Ibarra's R-100, there will be raffles and prizes and an autograph session featuring some of the top stars of the NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series.
"I'm really happy about this opportunity," said Ibarra. "The little car really deserves it. For its time, the little car accomplished a lot. It was the first car to travel nationally and was the fastest Mazda in the world for some time. It pioneered many things in this industry. I'm glad for all the people that helped out in the beginning."
Ibarra, who has been a Mazda loyalist since his early teens, built his R-100 in 1996 to race at import drag racing events across the country. The Los Angeles native campaigned the R-100 until building his current 1998 Mazda RX-7, which he has raced to three NHRA sport compact victories. Ibarra recently debuted his 2004 Mazda RX-8 that he will race next season.
"We are honored that Abel Ibarra's Mazda R-100 has been selected to be the first sport compact car at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum," said Robert Davis, Mazda North American Operations, senior vice president of marketing and product development. "Abel has been a leader in sport compact drag racing and Mazda is proud to be associated with both Abel and the NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series. It is amazing to walk through the Museum and see cars like John Force's Funny Car, Warren Johnson's Pro Stock car and Kenny Bernstein's Top Fuel dragster and realize that Abel's little Mazda R-100 earned its place here."
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (PT), is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. The Museum also is available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and group tours. For more information, please call (909) 622-2133 or visit http://www.nhra.com.
The NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It presents the 10-race, $2.1 million NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag Racing Series at nine tracks across the country from March-October. The series features the largest guaranteed sport compact event purse of more than $26,000 paid out per event. In addition, the series offers a year-end championship fund of $144,000, along with more than $1.7 million in contingency payouts. The series is highlighted by its five championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Turbo Magazine Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor). For more information, please visit http://www.nhrasportcompact.com.
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sweet ill be there to see it woooohooooo!

 

That car is definately interesting to watch. I saw it run this year when manny was driving it, must be an interesting ride. Hmm I wonder if Wally is a relative(same last name) ok I know he isn't but.

 

Congrats To Abel, and his entire team.

Yet another barrier falls.

Clayton

 

They can put an import car in the museum all they want, but when do they only give the import racers half size walley trophies...?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They can put an import car in the museum all they want, but when do they only give the import racers half size walley trophies...?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't know they gave half size wallys. I guess since I've never been to an nhra event, I don't know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninesecrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They can put an import car in the museum all they want, but when do they only give the import racers half size walley trophies...?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well we all know its not the size of your wally...it's how well you can use it

 

Quite an honor for Abel..well deserved

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by earl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Quite an honor for Abel..well deserved</TD></TR></TABLE>

agreed...ables the man.

 

Abel got a well deserved honor there. They don't just let ANYBODY'S car into the museum. He paid his dues, busted his *****, and brought his car out all the time even when there was no class for it. Congratulations.

 

thats real cool. for abel. its amazing how good that car looks being over 30 years old. its come a long way. other than the bergenholtz crx i cant think of a better car to represent our sport.i think they should repaint it the original candy red with the ghetto airbrushed FLACO on the side. that would be proper IMO.
-Roger

 

to my cousin Abel.

art

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoostingSnail &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Well we all know its not the size of your wally...it's how well you can use it </TD></TR></TABLE>

haha!!

I wish I could come out there for this event, but unfortunately I can't I will make it out there someday, I would love to walk through the museum.

It is awesome to see such a great guy in our sport get such an honor!! congrats Abel, and those that worked so hard to make the car a legend!!

 

Abel deserves it!

 

There are only 2 sizes of Wally trophies. The small Wally is given at all Lucas Oil Series and Summit Sport Compact events. "Large" Wally's are only given at POWERade National Events and for POWERade Championships.

NHRA took quite a bit of "heat" from domestic racers and track operators who have been denied a chance at a Wally, ANY Wally, for 50 years because it was reserved strictly for National and Divisional races. When NHRA made it available to "import" racers out of the gate, you can imagine the uproar it created internally.

Sheeze..........

 

I think Stephs hatch should be the next one inducted

 

What a bunch of cry babies!! why don't they just build an import

One of the great things about Import/Sport Compact is that it is fairly new compared with the other motorsports. It is not cheap to build a car (as in every other racing series) but it is new enough that anyone with a good job, a dream, and determination can break into.

I can see maybe having a smaller Wally for the sportsman classes, but a Championship series is a Championship series, and they should get as big a Wally as possible, especially when you take into consideration how much work, and time goes into running a Champioship!!

just my .02

 

I'm told there were several cars in the mix. Abel's car was the first one to make an exhibition pass at an NHRA national event, and it's still complete and available. But remember, not only is this an honor to Abel, but it recognizes all of import/sport compact as a legitimate facet of hot rodding and NHRA drag racing history.

Like someone else said, they don't induct just anything into that museum. Abel's car, Steph's car, Bergenholtz' car.............................the fact that an import/sport compact of any kind is being recognized in there is just HUGE for the industry. I hope we get a lot of people out to support it.

I've pumped up the museum in the past. This is a great opportunity for everyone to come see it, for free, while being surrounded by your contemporaries.

 

Jim Skelly.
I appreciate the efforts you make for the advancement of Sport Compact Drag RAcing

 

It's all you guys and girls that make it happen.

We just try to make sure the cars are lined up two by two.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Jim Skelly.
I appreciate the efforts you make for the advancement of Sport Compact Drag RAcing</TD></TR></TABLE>

I SECOND THAT FROM PERSONAL EXPEREINCE

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We just try to make sure the cars are lined up two by two. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's the truth- sometimes to hard!!!!!

That's a good move though- What about the old school beetles-they are the original import drag cars?