(Photo: Kirk Wolf Racing | SR Driven Media)
Dubbin Motorsports is a team that is heading into the NHRA Fall Nationals this week with a lot of confidence, but an unproven, repaired Race Car.
In the Semi-Final round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, Dean Dubbin was in the driver’s seat when the car left the starting line carrying the front end and continued into a wheel-stand. When the car came down the impact caused damage to critical infrastructure of the car which forced repairs to the chassis before the car could be raced again. Dubbin chose to skip the US Nationals and sent the car to Chase Copeland’s shop, not just for repairs, but for a new front half. All the tubing and components forward of the driver’s compartment were replaced.
Essentially, the Dubbin Team is headed into the Stampede of Speed with a new Dragster.
Chase Copeland of Copeland Race Cars is the recognized leader in A/Fuel Dragster Chassis construction. For decades Dragster and Funny Car Team owners across the country have trusted Copeland to make sure their cars were repaired and ready to run again, in many cases with short “turnaround times” like the Dubbin Team was facing.
“We didn’t want to jeopardize the gains we have made this year by not having the car in perfect condition”, commented car owner Dean Dubbin. “If the chassis is off in any way, the changes that Clay and Chase need to make to keep the car at its maximum performance level may not materialize the way they should”.
Clay and Chase Copeland are the father & son tuning team that has the Dubbin car running consistently with the premier teams in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster field.
“The chassis has to be as tunable and predictable as the engine and clutch. If the chassis is twisted or bent in any way that can affect the whole tune-up”, said Dubbin
Photo: Kirk Wolf Racing | SR Driven Media
The DMP Awnings, KENTEX Roofing Systems backed team will have Kirk Wolf behind the wheel at the Texas Motorplex. Wolf is no stranger to late rounds and winning races. The Dubbin team with Wolf driving visited the winner’s circle and collected the “Wally” earlier this year with a solid performance at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.
“Kirk Wolf’s win this season in Norwalk showed that he is very capable behind the wheel”, said Dubbin. “He has the ability to deliver under pressure in the late rounds when it counts, and race wins are on the line”.
The NHRA Texas Fall Nationals is also the setting for the JEGS All-Star Competition. The JEGS AllStar event will bring some of the best Alcohol Cars in Drag Racing to the Texas Motorplex. The pit area will be full of teams with the people and equipment to win this prestigious event. Many Teams are also engaged in championship battles that are very close, making every round count even more for drivers in the Lucas Oil Series Championship hunt.
Dubbin summarized the season so far: “We aren’t over-confident and we certainly aren’t cocky about our successes this season, but we are comfortable being in the other lane against the full-time hard-running teams. We believe we can be successful and run good numbers in all conditions, and everyone has worked hard to make that a reality. This team is in a nice place right now and we are looking forward to the Dallas Race”.
Dubbin Motorsports | Motorsports Media | Photo: Kirk Wolf Racing | SR Driven Media