"We're going to have 300 more horsepower. You have to run fast to qualify in this Series"
BUFFALO, NEW YORK (February, 15, 2012) – A new powerplant under the hood of Dan Flanigan's 2002 Firebird Top Sportsman car should provide some more force for him when he takes to the track for the 2012 Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts season.
"I'm super excited," said Flanigan about the new aluminum 665-cubic inch engine. "We're going to have 300 more horsepower. You have to run fast to qualify in this series."
Flanigan only raced three times last year in Quick 32 Sportsman Series competition, and was a quarter-round finalist in the second event, the Xtreme Mayhem Nationals at Cayuga Dragway. He said that the car never performed as expected last year, and is looking for more success in 2012.
"We never got the combination right last year," he said. "With this new Jan-Cen engine, we should be ready to go."
He also noted that Vito Antonicelli, who built the Firebird door-slammer, has reworked a major portion of the car's rear end and suspension over the off-season, and Flanigan said this should help for the upcoming season.
A pair of 1150 Dominator carburetors using alcohol sit atop the new engine, and a Nitrous Oxide System is also employed. A Competition Transmissions two-speed Powerglide unit sits behind the big engine, and Flanigan is expecting times in the low seven-second range with speeds of up to 180 mph.
Sam Christian will crew chief on the Flanigan Racing Team entry and assisting will be Jim Flanigan, John Flanigan, Mary Lisa, Molly and Audrey Flanigan. Sponsorship is provided by NOCO Energy Corporation, a family-owned energy company based in Western New York which services several US states.
NOCO also has a strong presence in Canada with the NOCO Lubricants Company, which distributes Esso and Mobil lubricants also with its own brand in Ontario, and provides marketing exposure on both sides of the border that ties in well with Flanigan's racing in Canada and the US.
"I can't thank Jim and Mike Newman at NOCO enough for their support," said Flanigan. "They are great supporters of the sport."
Flanigan plans to run more events this year, and said he will be ready for opening day.
"I'm really looking forward to the new season, and going to a race in Michigan will be great. I can't wait."
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series kicks off its 2012 season with the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge May 18-20 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park, the first of six events.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series' companion series, the Pro Modified Racing Association, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, will also be at Cayuga for this event.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca will race six times in 2012. The series also competes with its two companion series, the Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, www.PBSS.ca offering a solid and full package of drag racing action.
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@Quick32.ca
Photo Credit: Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com
