Katie Ward to drive second team Top Dragster in Series
ORANGEVILLE, ONTARIO (March 9, 2011) – When the Hinbest Racing Team takes to the track this year in Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts competition, it will be with a two-car drag racing effort.
Team driver Michael Hinbest will continue to race behind the wheel of his Top Dragster, but the team will be complimented with the addition of a second Top Dragster entry, driven by Katie Ward.
"We plan on running both cars in the whole series," noted Hinbest, who placed 10th in the Championship Point Award Series last season.
"Katie enjoys being in a male-dominated sport, and is not easy to intimidate."
Hinbest's Top Dragster will receive new cylinder heads on the supercharged ERD (Engine Research & Development) powerplant, but other changes will be few for 2011, noted Hinbest.
"We will be running a relatively similar package this year," he noted. "We're going for consistency this year rather than horsepower."
Hinbest qualified number one for five of six events last year in Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and put together a string of eighth and quarter-final rounds. He added that this year the team will concentrate on consistency and each member of the crew will concentrate on their duties, while he works on his driving.
"Our goal this year is to get more consistent lights," he said. "Each crew member will play a specific role, and allow me to focus on racing."
Crew chief for Hinbest and the Mike Bos dragster is Roy Hinbest. Other team members include Irene, Robert, Stephen, and Kailynn Hinbest.
Behind the 540-cubic inch ERD powerplant is a Coan Engineering two-speed Powerglide and a SSI Supercharger sits atop the engine. Best run to date for the team is a 6.12-second, 227 mph clocking.
Sponsors for the team include NAPA Auto Parts, Ideal Supply, Tire Discounter Group, The Canadian Automotive Institute, Roy's Service Centre, Quaker State, Porta-cool, Fire Ball Coatings, NGK Spark Plugs, NAPA Brake and Chassis Products, Permatex, Fast Eddie Racewear, RSC Automotive Sales Consulting.
A special thanks goes to Carl, Terry and Rob at ERD.
Ward, who is from Orangeville, and a university student, will be driving the team's other car, a Bos dragster with a nitrous-assisted ERD engine. She has been driving in the Top ET class in an eight-second dragster, and will be stepping up her efforts for 2011. The new car will be part of the Hinbest Racing display at the upcoming Performance World Custom Car and Truck Show in Toronto this weekend at the International Center.
Hinbest said the weekends of racing in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series is a family ritual for the team.
"We like the series," he said. "We enjoy the fact that we can race with fast, high-caliber cars and teams. And the whole family enjoys the series. We see it as our vacation time."
Check out the Hinbest Racing interactive website at, www.hinbestracing.com
