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Top Stories Big Changes in 2010 for Wagg and Bell Top Sportsman Dodge Daytona team!
Big Changes in 2010 for Wagg and Bell Top Sportsman Dodge Daytona team!
Friday, 26 February 2010 15:40
George
Patio Passport providing primary sponsorship
to Quick 32 Sportsman Series entry
by Bruce Melenbacher
WATERDOWN, ONTARIO – With new major sponsorship involvement, the Top Sportsman team of Mike Wagg and Dave Bell should be a contender in this year’s Quick 32 Sportsman Series.Thanks to funding from Patio Passport, the 1994 Dodge Daytona will be receiving big mechanical and cosmetic changes, according to Waterdown, Ontario’s Mike Wagg, who shares the driving chores with teammate Dave Bell of Grand Bend, Ontario.
“We’re getting rid of the red color on the car that everyone has seen for years,” said Wagg. “I don’t want to divulge the paint scheme yet, but we plan to debut the car at the Performance World Custom Car Show in Toronto in March.”
The Eddy Bryck chassis on the Daytona will be receiving a new KB block, which will be a lot lighter than the former 620-cubic inch Indy cylinder head engine.A major change will be the tossing of the four-speed Lenco transmission for a state-of-the-art Powerglide automatic, something Bell will take some adjusting to.
“We had to get on the same playing field as the others,” explained Wagg about installing the Powerglide. “Now I’ve got to learn, but I’m not too concerned.”
Wagg added that he and Bell have been receiving a great deal of help and support from fellow door-slammer racer Kevin Wicke, who won the inaugural Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship in 2009.
“We’re following Wicke’s lead,” Wagg said. “They have been showing us the chassis changes with the new transmission, and how to go about setting it up. We shouldn’t hopefully have a huge learning curve.”
Wagg said he will drive half of the six races for 2010, and Bell the remainder. Wagg will also continue his crew team involvement with the Pro Modified car of Al Hinds in the Pro Modified Racing Association.
For Paul Delicata of Patio Passport, his involvement comes as a progression from his drag racing days.
He started racing in 1983 with a Camaro Super Gas car, but said his interest started earlier: “I go way back,” he mentioned. “I go back to the days of John Rossiter, Alan Marsh, and the Vanni Brothers.”
After a stint in a Top Sportsman Trans-Am in the early 1990s, Delicata stopped racing, built street rods, and developed his firm Patio Passport, one of the largest retail and wholesale manufacturers of outdoor furniture.
But he kept his interest in drag racing, and decided to get back into the sport late last year.
“I was at Cayuga for the final Quick 32 race last September,” he said. “I have known Dave for years, and we worked out a deal. I’m really going to enjoy this coming season.”
Wagg mentioned that Delicata’s involvement in the sport is just what he needed.
“This is therapy, him going to races,” said Wagg. “He totally understands what we’re doing. He is so gung-ho.”
Along with major funding from Patio Passport, Wagg and Bell thanks sponsors Auto Clinic Of Flamborough, Pro Racing Fuels, Valvoline and NAPA (Waterdown Auto Parts). Crewing for the team will once again be Janet Ferguson, Bill Meehan and Paul Connolly.
Patio Passport on board with special cash awards for Quick 32 Sportsman SeriesThe Quick 32 Sportsman Series is pleased to welcome Patio Passport Awards to the winner and runner-up in the Championship Point Award Series
One of the largest retailers and wholesalers of outdoor furniture, Patio Passport provides high and medium-grade outdoor furniture across North America from its Woodbridge, Ontario base. Gazebos, cast aluminum, all-weather wicker, and a wide variety of accessories are available. Visit www.patiopassport.com to view the complete selection of stylish and affordable outdoor furniture and accessories. Patio Passport will post cash awards of $1000 to the Quick 32 Series Sportsman Series champion in 2010, and $750 for the runner-up entry.
About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts: The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, of drag racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a regular basis, and will continue in 2010 for its second full season. In 2010 the Quick 32 Sportsman Series will compete at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex.
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 competes several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing. For more information, please contact:Bruce F. Mehlenbacher
Director of Operations
Telephone: (905) 772-1800 Ext. #22
Cellular: (905) 517-5345
Tim Miller
Media Director
Telephone: (905) 870-1456
1209 Kohler Road, Cayuga, ON Canada N0A 1E0
Telephone: (905) 772-1800 Extension #22, Fax: (905) 772-1799
