NHRA Pro Stock Bike racer Reggie Showers, whose double win in the K&N Pro Stock Bike Klash and the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis excited the drag racing world in 2003, today announced that he will be on the sidelines in 2004. The 39-year-old Philadelphia native cited the lack of necessary funding and the desire to spend more time with his family as the reasons for taking the year off.

"After much thought, I am going to sit out the ’04 NHRA Powerade championship season," Showers said. "I could easily race in ‘04 and expect to finish somewhere in the top 10, but after the effort that was put forth this year by myself, Prosthetic Design and Star Racing, The NHRA Powerade Pro Stock Bike Championship is my only goal. Pro Stock Bike, like all of the other professional classes, is so expensive to race in, and until I secure the needed funding to win the championship I will not compete."

Showers, a double amputee whose remarkable comeback from a childhood accident gained him nationwide attention, had a career year in 2003. A nine-year Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran, Showers teamed with championship tuner George Bryce of Star Racing, with the association delivering immediate results.

A threat to win at every stop on the circuit, Showers rewrote his personal record books, scoring the first two national event wins of his career in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Memphis, Tennesee. He also advanced to the championship round in Joliet, Illinois, earned the first pole qualifying position of his career in Brainerd, Minnesota, and recorded his quickest elapsed time (7.07 seconds) and fastest top speed (194.27 mph).

The highlight of Showers and Bryce's year came during the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where the Prosthetic Design team won both the biggest race of the drag racing season and the K&N Filters Pro Stock Bike Klash, an annual all-star event also held at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Of Showers' decision to take 2004 off, Bryce wished him well.

"It was an unbelievable opportunity for me to coach Reggie to his NHRA victories and watch him complete his life story of overcoming the odds and achieving his goals.” Bryce said. “Everyone worked hard to form a remarkable team. The entire Star Racing family will miss him and we look forward to the day when he can return to the racing tour."