[coverattach=1]Ohio-based racer excited to get back out on the circuit
In 2005 Michael Dakin brought his A-Fuel dragster to the IHRA World Finals, looking to break into the qualifying field despite long odds. He was unable to do so, but his trip to “The Rock” left a very good impression on him. Now, four years later, he will return to IHRA competition.
Dakin will campaign a 2009 Murf McKinney Top Fuel entry at select ’09 IHRA Nitro Jam events, bringing former Frank Pedragon and Melanie Troxel tuner Scott Graham along with him. Now the question will not be if Dakin will make the show…chances are with the best equipment in his pits and one of the top tuners in the world in his corner the only question will be where he will end up on the ladder.
“I’m 65-years-old and life is too short so we decided we were going to get a car ready and run a limited schedule this year,” Dakin said. “We already had some really nice equipment so it wasn’t a huge financial commitment, and with the nice equipment we have and Scotty tuning the car we think we can run really well this season.”
Dakin has no delusions of grandeur regarding 2009 and he knows chances are he will not be heading to the World Finals with the world championship on the line. In fact, chances are pretty good it will be his son Chris in the driver’s seat, not Michael. However, he does have a few goals in mind.
“We want to get the car running well and possibly rent it out at some events,” Dakin said. “The car will definitely be for rent. We’ve been racing all our lives and we’re going to take things one step at a time. When we have the time and money we’ll go racing. Hopefully renting the car out will give us more opportunities to race ourselves.”
As the owner of Indian Creek Fabricators in Southwest Ohio , Dakin has a fairly busy work schedule. However, he did not want to go another year without becoming a regular at the drag strip.
“Like I said, I’m 65-years-old and have been involved with racing since I was 12 or 13,” he said. “Some of the nicest people you will ever meet are at the race track and you make friends you will have forever…life-long friends. That’s the best thing about racing, the people you meet and the friends you make.”
Dakin, who will race at a few NHRA events as well, had specific reasons he wanted his schedule to be IHRA-heavy.
“Everyone is a lot nicer, a lot friendlier and a lot easier to get along with on the IHRA side,” he said. “Everyone at IHRA has always treated me great, with an incredible amount of respect. That’s important.”
IHRA president Aaron Polburn is looking forward to having Dakin competing at Nitro Jam events this season.
“Michael is a great guy, the whole family is great actually, and I can’t want to see him in the pits in 2009,” Polburn said. “He’s a genuine person who always speaks his mind and is very popular with the other racers. It’s going to be a lot of fun having him around this season.”
About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk , Ohio , the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), part of Feld Motor Sports, a division of Feld Entertainment, promotes professional, semi-professional and local-level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $21.5 million IHRA Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is a 10-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2009, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and two in Canada . IHRA will also host seven sportsman national events, the IHRA Champion System Sportsman Nationals presented by vpracingfuels.com, at six facilities in the United States . The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 85 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Feld Motor Sports’ action-packed “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Street Warriorz.
About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 59 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!
In 2005 Michael Dakin brought his A-Fuel dragster to the IHRA World Finals, looking to break into the qualifying field despite long odds. He was unable to do so, but his trip to “The Rock” left a very good impression on him. Now, four years later, he will return to IHRA competition.
Dakin will campaign a 2009 Murf McKinney Top Fuel entry at select ’09 IHRA Nitro Jam events, bringing former Frank Pedragon and Melanie Troxel tuner Scott Graham along with him. Now the question will not be if Dakin will make the show…chances are with the best equipment in his pits and one of the top tuners in the world in his corner the only question will be where he will end up on the ladder.
“I’m 65-years-old and life is too short so we decided we were going to get a car ready and run a limited schedule this year,” Dakin said. “We already had some really nice equipment so it wasn’t a huge financial commitment, and with the nice equipment we have and Scotty tuning the car we think we can run really well this season.”
Dakin has no delusions of grandeur regarding 2009 and he knows chances are he will not be heading to the World Finals with the world championship on the line. In fact, chances are pretty good it will be his son Chris in the driver’s seat, not Michael. However, he does have a few goals in mind.
“We want to get the car running well and possibly rent it out at some events,” Dakin said. “The car will definitely be for rent. We’ve been racing all our lives and we’re going to take things one step at a time. When we have the time and money we’ll go racing. Hopefully renting the car out will give us more opportunities to race ourselves.”
As the owner of Indian Creek Fabricators in Southwest Ohio , Dakin has a fairly busy work schedule. However, he did not want to go another year without becoming a regular at the drag strip.
“Like I said, I’m 65-years-old and have been involved with racing since I was 12 or 13,” he said. “Some of the nicest people you will ever meet are at the race track and you make friends you will have forever…life-long friends. That’s the best thing about racing, the people you meet and the friends you make.”
Dakin, who will race at a few NHRA events as well, had specific reasons he wanted his schedule to be IHRA-heavy.
“Everyone is a lot nicer, a lot friendlier and a lot easier to get along with on the IHRA side,” he said. “Everyone at IHRA has always treated me great, with an incredible amount of respect. That’s important.”
IHRA president Aaron Polburn is looking forward to having Dakin competing at Nitro Jam events this season.
“Michael is a great guy, the whole family is great actually, and I can’t want to see him in the pits in 2009,” Polburn said. “He’s a genuine person who always speaks his mind and is very popular with the other racers. It’s going to be a lot of fun having him around this season.”
About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk , Ohio , the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), part of Feld Motor Sports, a division of Feld Entertainment, promotes professional, semi-professional and local-level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $21.5 million IHRA Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is a 10-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2009, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and two in Canada . IHRA will also host seven sportsman national events, the IHRA Champion System Sportsman Nationals presented by vpracingfuels.com, at six facilities in the United States . The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 85 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Feld Motor Sports’ action-packed “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Street Warriorz.
About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 59 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!
