(Photo: SR Driven Media)

Small problems arose in almost every round for the Dubbin Motorsports Team, but that did not stop the DMP Awnings | KENTEX backed team from having a productive weekend. 

By almost any measure, the GatorNationals is the second largest Drag Race on the NHRA tour, second only to the US Nationals on Labor Day weekend.

All NHRA National Events are important, but some have a special mystique around them. The GatorNationals is one of those special races and is considered one of the “Crown Jewels” of Drag Racing. When you win at Gainesville Raceway it just means more. Drivers and teams may not say it, but they know it, ….everyone who has ever raced there knows it.

It is not an accident that Dean Dubbin and the Dubbin Motorsports team chose to open the season at the GatorNationals. This race occurs at a perfect time of year at a perfect track in Northeast Florida. The atmospheric conditions are almost always perfect, the track is very good, and injected nitro dragsters thrive in that environment.

The Dubbin Motorsports team and driver Kirk Wolf had a good weekend and once again showed that they are a top Team in the series. Although some early-season gremlins kept the team from competing for the win, there are very positive signs that they are on track for a productive and successful 2024 season.

As It Happened

Q1 – A fuel tank leak caused the car to be shut off at the end of the burnout and before the run could be made.

Q2 – The DMP Team softened the car to make sure it would make it into the field. After some tire shake at the start the car cleaned up and ran strong out the back, getting to the finish line at 5.295 @ 276.24 mph and securing the number 7 position in the field.

Q3 – The car made a strong move early and ran good through the middle, but shut off at 5.00 seconds. Even with the early shut-off, Kirk still managed a 5.249 @ 259.46 mph run, moving up to the number 3 position on the ladder.

Kirk Wolf was sceduled to race Phil Burkart in the opening round, but after a severe clutch malfunction in Q3, Burkart and the team were unable to repair the car. The #17 qualified car of Brad McBride was wolf’s oponent in the first round.

Round 1 – Krik leaves first with a great light (0.027) and never looks back. The car is straight and smooth for the win over Brad McBride. The DMP/KENTEX car covering the quarter-mile in 5.268 seconds @ 274.61 mph to McBrides 5.404 @ 255 mph. On a side note, a problem arose just past the finish line for Wolf as the new Air-Scoop installed on the Dubbin car over the winter break exited the top of the injector on the manifold.

Round 2 – The DMP / KENTEX team was matched against Jakie Fricke driving the John Finke car. This shaped up to be a battle of cars running deep into the 5.20’s. That prediction would materialize for Fricke but not for Kirk Wolf. The DMP Car would expereince a fuel system malfunction causing a lean condition at the hit of the throttle. Kirk would have to lift less than a second into the run with tire shake caused by the lean condition. Fricke made a solid run for the win – 5.270 @ 276.75 mph

By The Numbers:

Q1: Problem – shut off

Q2: 5.295 @ 276.24 mph – #6

Q3: 5.249 259.46 – #3 (note: early shutoff)

Round 1:
Kirk Wolf, Left lane, (0.027) 5.268 274.61 (WIN) – Brad McBride, (0.036) 5.404 255.24

Round 2:
J Fricke, Right lane, (0.039) 5.270 276.75 (WIN) – K Wolf, (0.057) 12.434 60.58

Quotes:

Dean Dubbin:

“We worked through some fuel system things that held us back this weekend. I am so proud of these guys and the way this team is performing. We continue to make big-time runs and perform at a high level, even when things aren’t going perfectly.

We found a problem that kept the car from launching the way it should. When we get to Charlotte we should be back to normal with the solid early numbers that this car is known for. When Clay and Chase get this fuel system exactly where they want it, this car is going to be very fast at both ends of the track. I can’t wait to get to Charlotte and see how we do in 4-Wide racing.”

Kirk Wolf:

“Considering all the small things that held us back this weekend I consider the whole weekend a success. When you can make runs as fast as we did, even with the problems we were facing, that is a huge accomplishment. No one gave up or got down, everyone just kept pushing forward. I am so proud to drive this car and can’t wait to get back in it at Charlotte.”

Next Up:

The Dubbin Motorsports Team will be at ZMax Dragway in Concord, NC for the NHRA 4Wide Nationals – April 26th – 28th.

Motorsports.Media | Dubbin Motorsports | Photos: SR Driven Media