---

Clayton Harris claims Snap-on Wrench of the Year at IHRA Awards Banquet

20 January 1998

Asheville, N.C. -- Veteran drag racing driver and crew chief Clayton Harris added another piece of hardware to his trophy case Saturday night at the IHRA banquet at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C. as he was named by Drag Review readers as the Snap-on Tools Wrench of the Year.

Harris, the 1978 IHRA Top Fuel World Champion and a 30 year veteran of the sport, picked up the honor for his accomplishments as crew chief for the CARQUEST Top Fuel Dragster of World Champion Paul Romine. In a remarkable season, Harris set a new standard for Top Fuel performance and consistency in IHRA, tuning Romine to IHRA's first 4.8-second and 4. 7-second elapsed times en-route to two national elapsed time records, four national event wins, and a world championship.

"The Wrench of the Year award is a real honor and was earned by the entire team." Harris said. "In all the years I've raced, I don't think I've ever been with a team which worked as good as this season's crew. >From Paul driving to crew members David Moore, John Sparks, Mark Buchanan, Ron Wheelis, and Forrest Lorance, everyone earned this award and I'm proud to accept it on their behalf."