[coverattach=1]STRATFORD, ONTARIO (November 11, 2009) – There was a fair bit of thrashing with a new car, and some mechanical gremlins, but Kevin Wicke and his K&K Racing Dodge Stratus came out on top, winning the 2009 NAPA Quick 32 Sportsman Series Point Award Championship.
“We won rounds when we needed to,” explained Wicke, driver of the 604-cubic inch with B1 Heads - 2 stage NOS system-powered Stratus. “This was a new car for us, and we spent a lot of late nights with it.”
Wicke did not outright win any of the six Quick 32 Sportsman Series races this season, but always made the elimination rounds, and was the runner-up in the Top Sportsman class for the September 19 event at the Cayuga Dragway at TMP, the team’s best showing.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is comprised on Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman, cars. The two classes of cars race within their class, and then the winner of each class is paired for the event final, with that winner declared the event champion.
“We got the car to come around the last few races,” he said. “We had some mechanical woes, and we broke some little stuff which gave us lots of grief. But we figured out the tune-up.”
The RJ Race Cars Stratus, a former Pro Stock car, employs a Hutchinson Two-speed Powerglide/Coan Converter transmission and a Magna Fuel System setup. Kevin Zimmer crew chiefs with the team, and other members include Dan Culliton, Dennis Culliton, Kody Wicke, and Kayden Wicke. The team is sponsored by Fram Canada, Perth Auto Dismantlers, Skully Bros. Metal Fabrication, Bear's Performance Products, Ron's Precision Machine, Fraser Asphalt Paving, Hutchinson's Transmission and CVR Inc.
“I really want to thank my crew,” mentioned Wicke. “I had tremendous dedication from the team. And I couldn’t have done any of this without Zim (Zimmer).
“I also want to thank Larry at Bear’s (Performance),” he went on. “He was a big help in many aspects and a big thanks to him.”
Wicke also had good things to say about the new series.
”I loved the deal,” he said. “It was impressive. My crew and I really enjoyed it.”
The PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series winners will be honored at the Champions Banquet on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in the Oak Room in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher [email protected]
About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts:
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, of drag racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a regular basis.
For 2009, dates included Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, starting with the season opener on May 16 and 17 and the season-closer “Double Header” on September 19 and 20, and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex on June 27 and 28, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 15 and 16 and the Thunder by the Beach Weekend September 5 and 6.
With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled cars (Top Dragster) and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series featured the best in ET-style, dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman ladder and pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race day final.
Competitors in this Ontario-based series must comply with the IHRA Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be 7.95 seconds for the quarter-mile.
This new venture provided $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for the annual Championship Point Award Series champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will provide large fields of race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional atmosphere for its teams. It will also provide solid media and logistic support to ensure it becomes one of the most popular drag race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts competed several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), Pro Modified Racing Association, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing.
Photo Credit: Bill Mehlenbacher Photography - nxphoto's Photos- powered by SmugMug and Mike Goodwin - MG Digital Media | Creative Design & Photography
“We won rounds when we needed to,” explained Wicke, driver of the 604-cubic inch with B1 Heads - 2 stage NOS system-powered Stratus. “This was a new car for us, and we spent a lot of late nights with it.”
Wicke did not outright win any of the six Quick 32 Sportsman Series races this season, but always made the elimination rounds, and was the runner-up in the Top Sportsman class for the September 19 event at the Cayuga Dragway at TMP, the team’s best showing.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is comprised on Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman, cars. The two classes of cars race within their class, and then the winner of each class is paired for the event final, with that winner declared the event champion.
“We got the car to come around the last few races,” he said. “We had some mechanical woes, and we broke some little stuff which gave us lots of grief. But we figured out the tune-up.”
The RJ Race Cars Stratus, a former Pro Stock car, employs a Hutchinson Two-speed Powerglide/Coan Converter transmission and a Magna Fuel System setup. Kevin Zimmer crew chiefs with the team, and other members include Dan Culliton, Dennis Culliton, Kody Wicke, and Kayden Wicke. The team is sponsored by Fram Canada, Perth Auto Dismantlers, Skully Bros. Metal Fabrication, Bear's Performance Products, Ron's Precision Machine, Fraser Asphalt Paving, Hutchinson's Transmission and CVR Inc.
“I really want to thank my crew,” mentioned Wicke. “I had tremendous dedication from the team. And I couldn’t have done any of this without Zim (Zimmer).
“I also want to thank Larry at Bear’s (Performance),” he went on. “He was a big help in many aspects and a big thanks to him.”
Wicke also had good things to say about the new series.
”I loved the deal,” he said. “It was impressive. My crew and I really enjoyed it.”
The PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series winners will be honored at the Champions Banquet on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in the Oak Room in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher [email protected]
About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts:
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, of drag racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a regular basis.
For 2009, dates included Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, starting with the season opener on May 16 and 17 and the season-closer “Double Header” on September 19 and 20, and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex on June 27 and 28, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 15 and 16 and the Thunder by the Beach Weekend September 5 and 6.
With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled cars (Top Dragster) and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series featured the best in ET-style, dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman ladder and pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race day final.
Competitors in this Ontario-based series must comply with the IHRA Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be 7.95 seconds for the quarter-mile.
This new venture provided $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for the annual Championship Point Award Series champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will provide large fields of race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional atmosphere for its teams. It will also provide solid media and logistic support to ensure it becomes one of the most popular drag race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts competed several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), Pro Modified Racing Association, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing.
Photo Credit: Bill Mehlenbacher Photography - nxphoto's Photos- powered by SmugMug and Mike Goodwin - MG Digital Media | Creative Design & Photography
