WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 7, 2008 - Team Chevy’s Marty Ladwig started off the 2008 NOPI Drag Racing campaign with a record-setting victory at today’s NOPI Florida Nationals. Ladwig established a new Pro FWD national elapsed time mark and earned the season-opening win by defeating Gary Gardella in an all-Chevy Cobalt final-round at Moroso Motorsports Park.

"This was a fantastic weekend," Ladwig said. "We came off our win at Pomona last season, and haven’t done any testing since then or made any changes to the Lucas Oil Chevrolet. To be able to come out here and run as well as we did, win the race and then set the record, is an awesome accomplishment for everyone who’s a part of this team - Lucas Oil, K &N Filters, Chevrolet, Ecotec, GM Racing - just a great group of sponsors who make it all possible. We had top speed of the meet and low e.t.. This team really earned this one."

Ladwig entered today’s eliminator with his Lucas Oil Chevrolet qualified in the No. 2 position and with a tough first-round opponent in No. 3 qualifier Jason Hunt. In today’s key round-one matchup, Ladwig’s Lucas Oil Chevrolet squeezed past the Matco Tools car and crossed the finish line with a 7.388 e.t. at 192.26 mph. Hunt’s Ecotec-powered Cobalt followed with a 7.493 second run at 196.12 mph. Ladwig’s margin of victory was .0876 of a second.

"As close as that was, I was just happy to see the win light come on in my lane," Ladwig said. "It was hard to tell who won. I was out in front, and then he got by me, and then there in the last few feet is where I made up the difference."

After a two-hour rain delay, Ladwig lined up against Gary Gardella, who advanced to the final round after qualifying No. 1 and defeating Chris Rado in the opening heat. In the title match, the two Chevrolets were even to half track before Ladwig’s car edged ahead to take the win light with a national record 7.337 e.t. at 199.87 mph. Gardella’s car got slightly loose, and he clicked it off early crossing the stripe in 9.531 seconds at 80.45 mph.

"After the rain it became a tuner’s race," Ladwig said. "The track cooled, the air was heavy and everybody was trying to make their best guess on what the track would give. This time, we were fortunate to get it right, and with our setup the Lucas Oil Chevrolet went straight down the track."

"It’s an incredible feeling. All of that pre-season stress has lifted right off our shoulders. Over the winter we prepared to get to this point and to have the first race turn out the way it has made it all worthwhile."

It was Ladwig’s second straight victory going back to last October’s NHRA Sport Compact finals in Pomona, Calif., where he also defeated Gardella in the final round.