Gainesville, Fl (March.13, 2003) - At the MAC Tools Gatornationals, an event that historically is among her best, Shirley, voted one of the top five drag racers of all time in 2001 by a panel of experts commemorating NHRA's 50th anniversary, makes her first of six national appearances this season.

     She beat Jody Smart for the 1981 Top Fuel title and made it back-to-back wins by trouncing rival
"Big Daddy" Don Garlits in the final in 1982.

    "I know what the other Top Fuel racers are probably thinking:
Here they come - here come the weekend warriors," Shirley said from her home in rural Michigan.

 "We don't run all the races, I know, and my crew doesn't get as many runs to test things as everybody else does, and I don't get as many shots as the Tree. But I also know all the work Rahn
has in this and what parts we have in the car, and we've got a 4.50 race car."

     Rahn Tobler, Shirley's husband and crew chief, catapulted her into the 4.50s in their most recent appearance, last October at Las Vegas, where she beat Kenny Bernstein in the penultimate event of
Bernstein's career. Shirley also eliminated him at Columbus, where she reached the final four but had to sit out the late rounds of eliminations because she was out of equipment.

    That won't be a problem this year. "Rahn knows exactly what he's doing," Shirley said. "He always has. We just haven't always had the newest bells and whistles. But thanks to MAC Tools and Action
Performance, we have the best of everything for 2003."

    Last year, Shirley's MAC Tools/Action Performance dragster grew quicker every time out. She ran a 4.79 at Gainesville and a 4.73 at the next race, Bristol, followed by multiple 4.71s at Columbus, a 4.69 at Indy, and a career-best 4.58 at 322 mph at Las Vegas.  As the days dwindle down before she kicks off her final season and the pursuit of her 19th NHRA national event victory, Shirley has been battling the pain of a recent root canal. Tough as ever, she'll forgo painkillers so she can drive.

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