2004 PM1 Jr. Nationals - San Antonio Raceway

March 6 & 7, 2004 - IHRA Drag Review Volume 33, Issue #6 - Junior 12-13 Year-Old
Winner Ayrton Gerthe is from Rockdale, Texas and he had a spectacular weekend. He won his first Iron Man and a Simpson Shark helmet for having the quickest (green!) reaction of the entire weekend, a .5014. Gerthe had been on the lights all day and in the finals on Sunday, he burst off the line with a .504 RT and ran a near perfect 8.821 on his 8.82 dial-in. Mom Lisa Gerthe said Ayrton's first question after he won was, "Do you think Dad will be happy?" (Ayrton knew his Dad would be way beyond happy.) Dad Duane Gerthe watched the final round from the stands and he was ecstatic when Ayrton's win light came on. Duane said, "Ayrton is a terrific kid and he is a first-rate student. He asked his Mom why I have tears in my eyes every time I show someone his Iron Man or talk about it. I'm just so proud of him. It's every IHRA kid's dream to win an Iron Man (the grown-up racers dream of winning an Iron Man too) and I'm thrilled for him." Ayrton will be racing at Lone Star Raceway Park this year and he thanks his parents, sister Alesi and his sponsor, Racer's Choice, Inc. Duane Gerthe said, "We want to thank Todd and Judy (Zampese). They put on a fantastic event and did a lot of special things for the kids." The Gerthe's added another cup of sugar to the weekend when they won Best Appearing Team.