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Dan Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher are the fourth father and son to win at the same national racing event
Twin 1969 Chevy Camaro race cars owned by Sportsman Class racer Dan Fletcher
Thanks to K&N products, my cars outlast and out perform, said 63 time national event winner Dan Fletcher
Dan Fletcher won in Comp Eliminator and joined his son in the Winner's Circle as Thomas Fletcher took his first ever national even win in Stock Eliminator
1969 Camaro Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history
Proud father and son at Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania
Racing royalty is a little like rock star royalty, the talent is in the gene pool. Dan Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher recently became the fourth father and son on record to win at the same national racing event. The duo drove to the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania hoping to win, and they did.
Thomas Fletcher, 19, had his first ever national event win over Kevin Fogerty in Stock Eliminator in his father’s 1969 K&N Chevy Camaro. Right after that race Dan Fletcher jumped in Rick Braun’s 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt for an emotional win in Comp Eliminator and his 63rd national event win.
“It was a dream come true,” said Dan Fletcher. “My son drove my high-school car to the win. He’s a gifted talented racer. He’s smooth, like butter on the track.”
The race weekend did not start out so well for the Fletchers. “This has been a very tough year with weather on the NHRA circuit,” said Fletcher. “It rained a little and quickly turned hot, humid and nasty. The sun brought out the water on the track and we sat in the pits. Thomas got one time trial run in stock. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
When racing resumed the junior Fletcher made it to the final round and Dan and his wife held their breath. “I watched Thomas leave and I told my wife it looked decent,” said an emotional Fletcher. “Then I was standing behind her, holding onto her and I cringed when I heard the other guy ripping the gas. But, Thomas won and we jumped on the scooter and went down the end of the track, held Thomas and we all cried. It was so amazing.”
“When I got to the thousand foot mark, I figured I had a good shot at the win,” said Thomas Fletcher. “I love driving my dad’s car. I’ve been around racing all my life and this national win was a great way to thank my dad.”
There is another car in the Fletcher stable, a matching K&N 1969 Camaro that belonged to Dan’s father or Thomas’ grandfather. “The Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history,” said Dan Fletcher. “It was my dad’s car and there is a lot of sentimental value attached to it. He bought it as a race car and it was never on the street.”
Dan Fletcher won’t let Thomas drive his grandfather’s Camaro yet, he said it is a sacred vessel in the Fletcher family racing history. “If I could have won in my dad’s Camaro, it would have made our great day even better,” said Dan Fletcher. “I’m still not ready to let Thomas drive that car.”
Either way, wins-are-wins, and for the Fletchers, it’s not the passing of the torch but the passing of another racing era. That racing era includes K&N. “Thanks to K&N air filters and oil filters my engines have outlasted and outperformed,” said Fletcher. “K&N helps us keep winning in the family.”
Bobbie Rader and her husband John of Willow Springs, Missouri build custom show trucks.
Mother and son tear up the local race track in Missouri with her 1970 Chevelle and his junior dragster
This year, Bobbie Rader decided she wanted something new, something to break up the monotony of everyday life. She bought a 1970 Chevelle, modified it and took it to the bracket races at Ozark Raceway Park.
No Coast Kustoms Driver Bobbie Rader puts her 1970 Chevelle to the test at Ozark Raceway Park
No Coast Kustoms Driver Bobbie Rader will next race at The O’Reilly Auto Parts 20th Anniversary Street Machine Nationals at the Missouri Entertainment and Events Center in Springfield, Missouri
“The first time I went down the track, I was hooked,” said Rader. “The Chevelle is my ultimate dream car and it’s awesome to race.”
The Rader’s found it for sale in St. Louis. They purchased it without a floor, or a motor. It took three months to get it ready for racing.
“We use K&N air and oil filters on our vehicles,” said Rader. “K&N protects our engines and gives us excellent filtration.”
Rader’s 13 year old son, Joey McCune also started racing this year. The family picked up a junior dragster for him and he’s first in points at Ozark Raceway Park. “This is something we can do as a family,” said Rader. “My husband and daughter Krysta will race for the first time next year. Krysta is only 8, but she knows her cars.”
Rader will next race at The O’Reilly Auto Parts 20th Anniversary Street Machine Nationals at the Missouri Entertainment and Events Center in Springfield, Missouri.
Vojens Speedway in Denmark will host the Nordic Speedway Grand Prix and Australian Jason Crump said he is ready for another win.
Jason Crump hopes his motorcycle is the fastest to further increase his lead over the opposition
Crump is 35 points ahead of his nearest rival Tomasz Gollob of Poland in the World Speedway Grand Prix championship chase. Crump is also chasing his third World Title.
Double World Speedway Grand Prix Champion Jason Crump has used K&N filters since he was 10 years old.
“Vojens is a great track and I am out to win the Grand Prix there,” said Crump. “I don’t expect it to be easy. All the Danish riders (Hans Anderson, Kenneth Bjerre, Nicki Pedersen and Niels-Kristian Iversen) are riding well and they will be going there to win and doing their best to impress their home crowd.”
Australia has produced only four World Champions since the sport took on World Championship status in 1936. They include Lionel Van Praag, 1936, Bluey Wilkinson, 1938, Jack John 1951, 1952 and Jason Crump 2004, 2006.
“I started racing junior speedway when I was 10 and used many brands of filters that resulted in many engine problems,” said Crump. “One day a friend of my dad gave me a K&N motorcycle filter to try. The difference was amazing, my bike ran better and I had cured the problems with dirt getting into my engine. I also won the Australian Junior Speedway Championship that year. K&N was really my very first sponsor, and it was a big thing at 10-years-old to have a sponsor. I’ve used K&N ever since.”
The World Speedway Grand Prix resumes August 29 in Denmark.
Michael Lewis crossed the finish line ahead of the pack in the No. 60 Western Speed Ford Focus midget at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California in the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series.
USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series event won by No. 60 Western Speed Ford Focus midget at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino
Lewis began the evening with a strong qualifying effort by setting a quick time of 12.838 which put him ahead of teammate Cody Gerhardt. Lewis started fourth in the four-lap Trophy Dash and finished third.
Driver Michael Lewis steps in Victory Lane after winning the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series event, photo by Mary S. Secord
In the 30 lap main, Lewis started on the outside of the second row and went to the high groove at the drop of the green. He quickly passed the front row drivers and built a huge gap on the field as the race progressed. Despite several cautions later in the feature, Lewis had good restarts and continued to maintain a healthy lead until the end of the race.
“Michael was quick from the time we unloaded and tested,” said Western Speed Team owner Kevin Gerhardt. “Michael dominated the race stretching his lead by half a lap at times. The team is extremely happy.”
“The best and greatest race drivers have raced and won at the Orange Show Speedway,” said Michael’s father Steve Lewis. ‘URA midget greats Billy Cantrell, Johnny Morehouse, Allen Heath, Roger Ward and Troy Ruttman are among the winners. It was truly a special moment for Michael to cross the finish line first in the very competitive Ford Focus Feature event.”
The next scheduled Ford Focus event for Lewis will be a Madera Speedway in California on September 19.
Western Speed cars are equipped with K&N products. “Our K&N products give us extra power and excellent filtration,” said Gerhardt. “The K&N air filters are washable and reusable and protect our engines from track debris.”
Spiderman would be jealous if he saw UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva’s new ride named The Spider Silva Busa. Custom motorcycle builder Rob Uecker of Voodoo Industries began his build with a 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa and designed it to match the speed, power and image of the top ranked Mixed Martial Arts fighter in UFC history.
Ultimate Fighting Champion Anderson The Spider Silva with his custom Voodoo Industries 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa
The hand painted Spider machine is black with a gold metal flake web from back to front. “Gator Customs out of Chicago did a great job
on the paint,” said Uecker. “It’s dark, it’s tough and it seems to move when the bike is standing still. The black camouflage pattern shimmers and the gold shines down to each line of detail. Your eye follows to the back end which has a unique 240 wheel that holds a floating yellow spider that is also a spinner.”
One of the world's top ranked Mixed Martial Artists Anderson Silva and his striking new custom Hayabusa
From concept to finish it took Voodoo Industries about five months to develop and make the Spider Silva Busa. Uecker designed it and brought in custom component companies to help with the build.
“We removed the rear shock and replaced it with a solid strut,” said Uecker. “Anderson can lower the bike down and the rear won’t scrape his tail section. It’s a rigid superbike with about 200 horsepower that really growls with the Voodoo exhaust system. We also put in Pyrex glass radiator hoses and a TOCC see-through clutch cover.”
Voodoo Industries equipped The Spider Silva Busa with K&N air and oil filters. “There is nothing on the market that equals K&N with looks, power and protection,” said Uecker. “When you build the best you only use the best products on the market and K&N fits the bill every time.”
Silva reportedly went nuts in a good way when he saw his custom motorcycle for the first time. “Anderson said he loves the bike so much it’s going in a glass case in the recreation room at his Brazilian home,” said Uecker. “When he retires from the ring he wants to look at his Spider Silva Busa and say it’s his signature piece.”
Specs for the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa or “Spider Silva” Busa are:
Builder: Voodoo Industries, Rob Uecker
Engine: Shorty Duals with Speakeasy Baffles: Voodoo Industries See Thru Clutch Cover: TOCC
Clutch Set: DP
K&N air filter
K&N oil filter
Voodoo Industries Glass Radiator Hoses
Body: Paint, Molding Windscreen, Gator Glass “Spider Silva’ logos and Solo Hump: Gator Customs
Powercoat: Sport Chrome
Swingarm: Single Side 240 Tubular Swingarm (Webbing, “Spider Silva” rotor, “Web” Sprocket, Center Cap “Spider Silva” spinner) C&S Custom
Wheels: 18 x 8.5 and 17 x 3.5 Custom Design: Voodoo Industries
Tires: 240/18 Elite 120/17 Dunlop, USA
Front Brake Rotor: Galfer
Brake and Clutch Lines: Galfer
Brake Pads: DP
Mirror Block-Offs: Yanashiki
Yoke Cap: Roaring Toyz
Fuel Cap: Roaring Toyz
Kickstand/Lowering Links: Roaring Toyz
License Plate Mount: Roaring Toyz
Axle Cover and Frame Plugs: Lawst Caws
Voodoo Industries has moved on to its next project, which will also include K&N products. “All I’m going to say is it will be a futuristic hemi-powered surprise,” said Uecker.
