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How long have you been drag racing?
My wife and I started going to Test and Tunes in '93, but we did not
really get serious until 2001 when we started running EFI Renegade.
How did you get your start? Like so many others I bought
a 5.0 (a 5-speed '88 GT) and wanted to see what it (and I) could do.
What’s been the biggest challenge to your racing program this season? Compared to last season? For 2002 our biggest challenge(s)
came in 1)learning to tune the car 2)learning to tune the suspension.
For 2003 we have to find more performance from the car AND the driver.
What would you consider your biggest accomplishments as a racer?
My (our) biggest accomplishment to date would have to be our Top 10
points finish in NMRA Renegade in our first full season of
competition.
What’s gotten you hooked on the Mustang drag racing scene?
The first thing has got to be that rush when your adrenaline is up,
you let go of the transbrake at 5000+ rpm, feel the front-end come up,
hear the slicks crunch, listen to the motor as it climbs, click that
shifter, feel the speed start to build, then cross that final stripe,
take a deep breathe and start to bring it down (is it hot in here or
is it just me??). :) The rest has got to be the friends and racers,
the fans when they come around in the pits, and the feeling of being a
part of something that some people can only dream of.
What are your plans for the future? For 2003 we have got
to find more power. COMP has spec'd out a new cam for us that I think
will help a lot. We want to make all 8 races in 2003 but some things
have to fall into place to make that happen. Beyond 2003 is up in the
air right now.
What changes, if any, do you feel the sanctioning bodies need to make
in order for our sport to prosper? I'd like to see the rules
structures made more even so the cars could cross over.
Who are your biggest friends (or enemies) at the track?
Oddly enough my biggest friends are also my competitors. On the track
it's dog eat dog, but once you're on the return road and in the pits
it feels like anyone will help as much as they can if you have a
problem. Enemies - Pit squirrels on 4-wheelers and pit bikes who have
no respect for themselves or others.
Who do you fear having to see at the starting line? Why?
I don't really have a fear of anyone because I try to not focus on the
other person, but I do respect every racer that I line up against.
What would you tell someone looking to start out in the heads-up
racing scene? Be prepared for a steep learning curve. This
stuff is not easy or cheap by any means.
Very briefly, tell me the dumbest
mistake you've ever made at the race track? Paying attention
to my opponent and his launch instead of focusing on my own.
Anyone you’d like to thank, wives you HAVE to thank, other things not
mentioned you feel are important? For 2002 I really want to
thank all of our sponsors for their help and support. AirBorn Coatings
for header and piston coatings, AMS Racing Engines, Brad Goodman at
Brad's Transmissions, Don Creason at Performance Industry Photography
for helping create the sponsor packets and for including the blue car
on his trailer, Fast Chassis Performance for helping with the rear
suspension, Performance Automotive for the great front end parts and
chassis tuning help, TCI Torque Converters, Royal Purple Synthetic
Lubricants, Vortech Superchargers, Total Engine Airflow for the killer
cylinder head and intake work, VP Racing Fuels, Meyers Farms for the
4-wheeler, my parents and my in-laws for checking on the house and the
dogs when we were gone, and my wife Jennifer. There are a lot of good
women out there but I got the best of the bunch. I also would like to
mention that for 2003 we will be getting help and support from 2 new
sponsors, JE Pistons and Dynamic Racing Transmissions.
What music do you listen to? Who’s your favorite?
Tool, Disturbed, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Rage Against the Machine,
Godsmack. A friend of mine calls the most of what I listen to "Anger
Metal". It'll keep you awake when you're on the road at 3:00 a.m.!!!
Any nick names for you? Just BK. A friend started calling
me that because of my initials and it kind of stuck.
Do you have any pets? Yes, 2 full-blood Siberian Huskies
(Jake and Shelby. Take a wild guess on who named Shelby!!)
Do you have Kids? No,
nada, zero.
What do you like to do as a hobby outside of drag racing?
Read and watch movies. I also like to play pool.
What track do you dislike the most? Right now I'd have to
say Byron. The pits are just to darned small and the noise curfew is a
pain in the butt.
Which is your favorite track to race on? National Trail
Raceway
Do you have a lucky charm? What is it? My lucky
charm would have to be my wife. We have a pre-run ritual that we go
through that helps me relax and get settled in the car. She also makes
sure that the tires are right and guides me in to the burnout box.
If you could meet anybody you wanted living or not who would it be? Why?
Nobody I can think of.
Any additional comments? Go
Fast, Go Straight, Have Fun!!!
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