Thu, 9 Dec 1999, 01:53 PM Century 21 Racing Team Adds Veteran Crew Chief to their Y2K Roster

Courtesy of Jon Knapp Crew Chief Bob Cave to Assist with Martino Racing's Pursuit of Pro Stock Championship

PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- As a competitor in arguably the most competitive division in all of motorsports, Pro Stock racer Tom Martino knows the search for improvement is never-ending. Therefore, less than a month after the end of the 1999 NHRA Winston Drag Racing season, the CENTURY 21 Firebird Racing team took what can be seen as a big step forward for the year 2000 with today's announced hiring of veteran crew chief Bob Cave.

"I am thrilled to welcome Bob Cave to the CENTURY 21 team," said Martino. "We have been friends for years, and four days after I heard that he was available, I was on the phone offering him a job. The bar is continually raised in Pro Stock, and I know Bob will play a big part in keeping us among the big dogs."

Cave, 43, who turned the wrenches on George Marnell's Pro Stock entry for the last three years, is a well-respected figure in the pit area. After a brief stint as a bracket racer, Cave assumed the mantle of crew chief when a former rival, Paul Robeshi joined the "doorslammer" ranks in 1984. Since then, Cave has remained in Pro Stock, working with such racers as Kenny Delco. Cave's sentiments on this new arrangement echo those of his team owner, and he too, has his sights set on a successful 2000.

"I'm very excited to be joining the CENTURY 21 team," stated Cave. "This is a championship caliber organization, and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season. You work hard throughout your career to reach this level, and it's gratifying to finally get there."

Cave's arrival is significant for several reasons. For the first time in the Martino team's Pro Stock existence, they will have one person whose primary focus will be on racecar preparation and set-up. This, in turn, will allow Tom Martino and his partner Tom Kling to concentrate on their in-house engine program, which showed remarkable gains throughout 1999. An added benefit is knowing they can call on Cave's knowledge and experience to assist them in that area as well should the need arise. As Tom Martino explained, this was simply the next step in the process of assembling a championship contending team.

"To be a player in Pro Stock, you have to cover all the bases," detailed Martino. "Last year, the demands of developing our in-house engine program were such that we were unable to spend as much time as we would have liked on our racecar. With Bob on board that will no longer be a concern.

"It's all part of the package. Last year we brought in Rick Triana to handle our race transporter and help out on the car, and he's done a great job. If Bob Cave is able to come in and do as well in his assignment as I know he will, it's going to be a great year for the CENTURY 21 Firebird team."



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