Team News
VanDerGelds to debut Top Dragster in Quick 32 Sportsman Series
Son Brody to drive and father Tom to crew chief new entry in drag race series
CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO (April 16, 2012) – The VanDerGelds have been in drag racing for some time, but the team will be racing their own Top Dragster for the first time in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts this year.
“We’re about three nights away from getting the car together and we’ll be ready to go,” said car owner Tom VanDerGeld. “We hope to get out testing soon.”
Driving the Top Dragster will be Tom’s son Brody, a full-time college student and two-time Junior Dragster champ who will be getting into the new car for this first time.
The car is powered by a 706-cubic inch Pat Musi engine with a two-stage nitrous setup and an Aeromotive Fuel System. Sitting behind the engine is a two-speed Powerglide from the shop of Joe’s Transmission. The chassis is a Dan Page product which has received numerous and extensive updating from VanDerGeld and his Lowdown Hot Rods shop.
Spencer Hyde to drive new car in Quick 32 Sportsman Series
Top Sportsman racer will compete with a 1968 Camaro in popular drag race series
STRATFORD, ONTARIO (March 30, 2012) – Spencer Hyde will be racing a new car in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts this year, and he will be concentrating on more consistency.
And with the new car, the driver of the Hyde Racing Top Sportsman added this car will not use nitrous.
“We were having trouble with the nitrous setup,” said the full-time college student. “We wanted to get rid of it completely as we found it finicky.
“And without the nitrous, we think it will be one more positive step to help us get down the track.”
Hyde will be driving the former Keeling Motorsports 1968 Camaro, a Jerry Bickel Race Cars product which will be powered by a 762-cubic inch engine running carburetors, built by Engine Research & Development (ERD). A Coan Engineering transmission sits behind the big-block, which also utilizes and ERD-inspired fuel system.
Gremlins of 2011 fixed as Wagg and Bell prepare for upcoming season
Top Sportsman team looking for success in 2012 Quick 32 Sportsman Series
WATERDOWN, ONTARIO (March 22, 2012) – After a disappointing 2011 season, the B&W Racing Team believes it has a winning combination for the upcoming Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts with their Top Sportsman entry.
“We finally have the car sorted out,” said Mike Wagg, who along with Dave Bell, race the 1994 Dodge Daytona doorslammer. “We struggled with handling issues last year, but we now have it figured out, thanks to Ed DaSilva from J and E Manufacturing.”
The team was not happy with the car’s performance in the first half of the 2011 season, qualifying the Daytona but having trouble going rounds. While the car qualified in the top half of the ladder later in the year, Wagg added there were still problems.
New look for Grubb Racing in upcoming Quick 32 Sportsman Series
Top Sportsman team to debut Pontiac GXP door-slammer
PINE RIVER, ONTARIO (March 19, 2012) – After competing in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts with their Cavalier-bodied Top Sportsman car for several years, Marvin and Darrin Grubb will debut a new race car this year.
“We’ve got a new chassis and body this season,” explained team owner Marvin Grubb. “Just about every piece on the car except the engine and transmission is new.”
With more than 1000 runs and strong consistency on the Cavalier, the Grubbs turned again to builder Chris Duncan for their new car, a Pontiac GXP based on an NHRA Pro Stock body.
“We wanted to get lighter,” said Grubb. “This new car has a state-of-the-art Roush carbon fiber body.
“We’re expecting to go faster,” he continued. “This car is more aerodynamic.”
Mike Everitt joins Quick 32 Sportsman Series for 2012 season
Top Dragster team to run nitrous-assisted big block in drag race series
STRATFORD, ONTARIO (March 7, 2012) – Mike Everitt is planning on going faster this year than he ever has in drag racing.
With a new Top Dragster, Everitt will be competing in his first year of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, and he said he is looking forward to his season.
“We’ve been following the series, and to wanted to jump into it,” said Everitt, who will drive the Everitt Racing Team car. “We bought the car late last year, and only have a couple of laps on it.”
Although he has raced since 2004, the dragster will be a new experience for the former doorcar racer. He did race a slower dragster, but has not experienced the under seven-second times this car should be capable of.
