Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) is excited to announce a newly formed partnership with Simpson Performance Products for the 2016 racing season. MBR and Simpson will embark on their first year of official partnership in the NHRA's Top Alcohol Dragster category within the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
"It is very exciting and an honor to be a part of the Simpson Performance Products team," said Kyle. "Racing at 270+ MPH is serious business; however, we have peace of mind when we get into our car knowing we are protected by the best safety products available. Competing safely is our top priority; we have and will continue to invest in our safety by utilizing Simpson Performance Products."
Michalek Brothers Racing, along with some of the world’s most respected racers and teams including John Force Racing, Tony Stewart, and Carl Edwards, rely on Simpson Performance Products each time they take the track. Although many of Simpson's products have evolved over time, the concept remains the same: containment inside a safety cell is vital in any crash. Simpson Performance Products includes the equipment found in current Sprint Cup, IRL, Formula One and Drag Racing vehicles. When racers sit behind the wheel in Simpson's Envelope of Safety, they give themselves the advantage of 54 years of safety innovation and experience.
“It’s an honor to be a part of the Simpson Performance Products family. Kyle and I rely on their products every time we strap into a racecar and I can’t wait to represent their proven and trusted brand both on and off the track. The 2016 racing season is shaping up to be our biggest, and most challenging year to date. We have high expectations for ourselves and we look forward to having Simpson Performance Products along for the ride!"
To learn more about Simpson Performance Products, visit simpsonraceproducts.com for more information and to purchase products. Simpson Performance Products are for racers "driven by safety." Stay safe at the track with Simpson Racing helmets, shoes, suits, gloves, and more.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing Facebook page and follow @MichalekRacing on Twitter and Instagram.
Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) is excited to announce a continued partnership with Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ (NASDAQ: FDML) Champion® Spark Plugs brand for the 2016 race season. The upcoming season marks a significant milestone as MBR and Champion move into the fifth year of a successful partnership. 2016 will be MBR’s most ambitious season on track as the team prepares to debut its own NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster within the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
“Champion has been there every step of the way as we have chased our racing dreams; we are humbled and thankful for all that Champion has done and continues to do for our racing careers,” said Kyle. “Developing our working relationship with Champion, Fel-Pro, Sealed Power, and Speed-Pro over the past 5 years has been a very rewarding experience and we are very proud to have the continued support of these great brands. 2016 is shaping up to be a big year for both MBR and the Federal Mogul motorparts brands, and we are very excited to represent each of these brands on and off the track as we take the next step in our racing careers as car owners. This progress would not possible without the ongoing support of the Federal Mogul Motorparts brands.”
The “Performance Driven” motto of Champion Spark Plugs continues to hold true both on and off the track as the brand leads the way with first-class digital initiatives for aspiring racers and everyday gear heads. Champion’s industry-leading Search for a Champion contest is back for its fifth straight year and is upping the ante with over $200,000 of cash prizes for racing sponsorships up for grabs. Champion is also excited to introduce the Parts Matter sweepstakes highlighting the shortcomings of inferior replacement parts. Getting involved is simple: submit photo or video of car-fails that didn’t have to happen on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr by using the hashtag #PartsMatter #Entry. Photo submissions will be entered for a chance to win one of three $100 weekly prizes or a $500 monthly grand prize. Fans can now also wear what the drivers wear by purchasing official Champion gear on the brand’s online store.
"As we continue to make progress each year towards reaching our ultimate goal, it's an honor to have consistent support from some of the most recognized and respected brands in the industry," said Corey. "We continually strive to perform as well off the track for our partners as we do on the track, and to extend this relationship for a fifth consecutive year speaks to how mutually beneficial this partnership has been since day one. I can't emphasize enough how fortunate we are to be partnered with Champion, Fel-Pro, Sealed Power, and Speed-Pro, but I can tell you that we will continue to go above and beyond to be the best brand ambassadors that we can be."
To learn more about Champion Spark Plugs and other “Performance Driven™” Champion products, visit championautoparts.com for more information. Federal-Mogul Motorparts is a leading global vehicle components manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of quality products, trusted brands and creative solutions to the automotive aftermarket.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) has entered a new era. After 3 years of part-time involvement in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series behind the wheel of the Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster, the team will move forward with fielding its own Top Alcohol Dragster entry under the MBR banner. Michalek Brothers Racing has taken possession of a 2010 Spitzer Enterprises A/fuel dragster and is in the process of preparing the car and assembling a team for a 2016 debut.
“First and foremost, we need the thank Jared and Randy Dreher of Dreher Motorsports,” said Corey. “Over the past 3 years we have built an outstanding relationship with those two and their welcoming family both on and off the track. They were gracious enough to let me license in their car and they provided Kyle and me the opportunity to get seat time at 2 regional events and 6 national events inside the cockpit of a proven winner. It was a blast, to say the least, and I’m looking forward to seeing them out at the track for years to come.”
Kyle Michalek, MBR’s first Top Alcohol Dragster driver, reflected on a partnership that got off to a fast start and never lost momentum all the way through the team’s runner-up finish this past month in Norwalk, Ohio.
"The Drehers consistently provided us with a great car which helped shorten the learning curve and get us quickly acclimated to the Top Alcohol Dragster class," said Kyle. "We always knew the car would be setup safely and it would be capable of running with the best cars out there every time we came to the track. That was a huge confidence boost and enabled us to experience lots of on-track success while racing with the Drehers. We can't thank them enough for providing us with a great opportunity."
With three solid years of learning and experience in the NHRA’s fastest semi-professional racing class, MBR will move into unchartered waters as an owner of a 3,500 horsepower injected-nitro burning dragster.
"Being car owners is both exciting and overwhelming at the same time," said Kyle. "Corey and I still find it hard to believe we have an A/fuel car in our shop and recognize we are extremely fortunate to have great partners that support us and allow us to pursue this new opportunity. We are fully aware of the daunting scope of work ahead of us to get ready for the 2016 tour. This includes car preparation, team building, and sponsorship development with current partners while bringing in new support for our team. We know it won't be easy, but we are eager to tackle this challenge and continue moving forward in our racing careers as we build a team capable of running with the best competition in the class."
Corey Michalek commented on the team's progression through the sport and what this new opportunity means to MBR.
“This is the next step of the journey that’s been 13 years in the making,” said Corey. “We’ve had a heck of a ride to this point working for Mark Thomas and Pat Dakin, preparing and racing two separate super comp cars, winning the Search for a Champion contest to allow us to step up to A/fuel, and then having success on the national stage racing with the Drehers. As long as we can continue getting the opportunity to be at the track and to compete, sign me up.”
With MBR’s 2015 season in the books, the focus now shifts towards preparing for the 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule. Along with pursuing additional partnerships and preparing the car to hit the quarter-mile, MBR will be teaming up with Drag Illustrated to provide readers with a transparent, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get an A/fuel dragster operation up-and-running from scratch. The driver blog series has a tentative August 2015 start date and the team plans to contribute monthly installments.
"This will be a "learn-as-you-go" process for MBR as we navigate the in's and out's of owning, operating, and funding an A/fuel car," said Kyle. "We hope to be able to provide insight to the process through the blog series, and keep MBR fans in the loop as we eye a 2016 debut for our car."
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) and Dreher Motorsports entered the 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio on a mission to mix it up with some of the best Top Alcohol Dragster racers in the country on 4th of July weekend. Corey Michalek returned to the driver's seat hoping to feed off the momentum built during the team’s semi-final finish in Houston just a few months back when brother Kyle Michalek was behind the wheel. This marked the first time that the younger Michalek had piloted the Dreher Motorsports A/fueler since bowing out early at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina this past March.
"I preached it before the race and I preach it every time someone asks us about driving… Kyle and I make less than 10 runs a year,” Corey stressed. "We put so much emphasis on taking advantage of every single opportunity that we get to stand on the gas in one of these cars. When we pull up to the line, I believe we have a different approach, a different sense of urgency than maybe a driver who runs 12-15 races a year. If we throw away an important qualifying run or a pass in eliminations, that’s it for us for the year. We just want to do whatever we can to make as many runs as possible."
Corey hit the track for qualifying on Friday afternoon and promptly opened up the weekend with a 5.371 second pass at nearly 266MPH; good enough to sit in the preliminary #3 qualifying position. The team then followed up their opening run with strong 5.412 and 5.365 second laps to enter eliminations in the #5 spot to set up a first round matchup with Brandon Greco. This would mark the first time that Michalek and Greco had squared off in competition and Corey never trailed in the race, winning with a 5.401 second lap at 263.51MPH. The team’s performance was good enough to earn lane choice over the nitro-injected machine of long-time A/fuel juggernaut Rich McPhillips on Sunday.
The tuning duo of Randy and Jared Dreher put their minds together on Saturday night and Sunday morning prior to the quarterfinals matchup with McPhillips and set the car up for its best run of the weekend in which the Kenan Advantage Group A/fuel dragster covered the quarter-mile in 5.330 seconds at over 262MPH.
"The 5.33 to kick off our day on Sunday really started building momentum for us,” said Corey. “The Drehers just flat-out made a heck of a call. That was our quickest pass of the weekend by over 3-hundredths of a second and it was the second-quickest pass of the round. It was at this point that it dawned on me how similar this weekend was playing out to the way the 2014 Four-Wide nationals race played out. In that race, we qualified #5, we took out a blown car in the first round that had their ‘chutes come out during the run, we faced the #4 and #1 qualifiers (both of which were some of the best A/fuel cars in the county), and then there would be a stout blown car waiting for us in the final if we made it there."
Before thinking about racing for the trophy, Corey would have to get by Mia Tedesco, the event’s #1 qualifier. Mia not only qualified on the pole, she also ran low elapsed time of the event in the quarter-finals and held lane choice in the matchup by nearly a tenth of a second. When the light turned green, Corey had a sizeable jump off the starting line and the Dreher horsepower was able to hold off a late, hard-charge by Tedesco by .004 seconds (about 20 inches) to propel MBR and Dreher Motorsports into a final round matchup against Chris Demke.
"The semi-final win was huge,” said Corey. "We managed to claw past the number 1 qualifier and it set us up with the defending NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster National Champion, Chris Demke, with a Wally on the line. When you dream about winning a race, you dream big. You want to do it by beating the best. That opportunity was now right in front of us."
Demke, the #2 qualifier, lived in the mid-5.30’s all weekend and owned lane choice going into the final round. Both Corey and Chris charged off the starting-line with nearly identical reaction times, but from there Demke was able to steadily pull away to claim his second national event win of the 2015 racing season. Corey reflected on the team’s successful weekend.
"We gave it everything we had and just came up short; no excuses,” said Corey. "It stings to get that far and to come so close to sealing the deal, but we can't hang our heads with the results. The Dreher Motorsports team worked tirelessly to get the car ready round-after-round and we were in it until the very end. Major props to Chris Demke and his team for a job well done!"
With the conclusion of the 2015 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Michalek Brothers Racing now shifts its focus towards acquiring additional partners and working towards an expanded schedule for 2016.
"Even though our on track time was brief in 2015, we made the most out of our opportunities bringing home semi-final and runner-up finishes and can't thank Dreher Motorsports, the Kenan Advantage Group, and Champion Spark Plugs enough," said Kyle. "We have great partners and could not do this without them. We have a lot of work ahead of us getting ready for the 2016 season, and we're looking forward to getting back to the track and putting some fire in the pipes!"
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photos courtesy of David Smith/PSA
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) rolls into the Buckeye State this weekend for its annual stop in Norwalk, Ohio. Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) and Dreher Motorsports will join forces once again to field an entry in the ultra-competitive Top Alcohol Dragster class at the 9th running of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
With the drag racing world shifting its attention to northwest Ohio for the holiday weekend, MBR driver Corey Michalek looks ahead to getting back on track after being idle behind the wheel since early March.
“Anxious is probably the most appropriate term,” said Corey. “It’s been a long 4 months of being out of the driver’s seat since Charlotte. As a part time driver running a limited schedule, there is so much emphasis put on every opportunity that you get to stand on the gas, and it’s a challenge to get into any type of rhythm with such long gaps in between races. The main objective for me coming into the weekend is to show up mentally in midseason form the way Kyle did in Houston.”
Norwalk marks the second consecutive race of the season that MBR will pull up to the starting line with primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG). MBR states its goals for the weekend are simple: perform well on track, and just as important, help KAG find qualified applicants to join its team. KAG will have a full staff on site in Nitro Alley to engage and interact with prospective employees. Any current CDL holder or mechanic is encouraged to stop by the KAG booth to learn more about job opportunities and for a shot to win a free iPad mini. Additional details can be found at THEKAG.COM/RACE.
With additional backing from Champion Spark Plugs, Fel-Pro, Speed Pro, Sealed Power, and GoPro cameras, MBR and Dreher Motorsports will go toe-to-toe with a field of more than 20 of the country’s best Top Alcohol Dragster teams for the third straight year. Focused on the weekend, Corey reflects on his brief 3-race career piloting a 3,500 horsepower A/fuel dragster.
“Since the 2014 Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, it’s been a humbling experience for me behind the wheel. We have been fortunate enough to be able to come out and make a bunch of A-to-B runs and get the car qualified into a couple of stacked fields, which is a victory in itself, but we’ve run into a string of really tough luck going into eliminations the past two times that I’ve driven,” said Corey. “I know the Drehers are ready to throw down this weekend and I’ve been training since the Monday after Charlotte to be fully prepared for any situation that we may face on track so we can be contenders come Sunday. I’m ready to drop the visor and go to work.”
The team kicks off its weekend this Friday with 2 qualifying runs at 12:00PM and 3:00PM. Action resumes on Saturday afternoon when the KAG A/fuel dragster makes its third and final qualifying pass at 12:00PM, followed shortly after by the first round of eliminations at 3:00PM. The 8 remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then square off for the final 3 rounds of eliminations with a Wally on the line Sunday at 12:15PM, 2:25PM, and 3:40PM.
“It’s 4th of July weekend at the Bader’s house and we can’t wait to get the KAG A/fuel dragster on track in front of a packed house at Summit Motorsports Park,” said Corey. “This is MBR’s home track and we count down the days each year until we get the opportunity to come back. Fireworks, $1/lb ice cream, and nitro…it doesn’t get any better than this!”
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Over the course of three hot, humid days in Houston, TX, Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR), Dreher Motorsports, and the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) teamed up to post a string of impressive performances en route to a semi-final finish at the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals.
Back in the driver’s seat for the first time in just under a year, Kyle Michalek kicked off his third season behind the wheel of the Dreher's nitro-burning A/fuel dragster in style by posting a career best 5.299 second elapsed time at 267.96 MPH to sit in the provisional #1 qualifying position. The Michalek/Dreher combo then reeled off a 5.356 second lap at 267.00 MPH and a 5.326 second lap at 270.16 MPH (new career best MPH) in the remaining qualifying sessions to enter eliminations in the #2 qualifying spot. This starting spot marked the team’s best qualifying effort in National Event competition.
Still riding a high from resetting his personal best ET and MPH, Kyle Michalek broke down the team’s qualifying performance.
"It's tough being out of the car for an extended period of time; I was probably more nervous for the first qualifying pass than I was racing in the final round of the Norwalk regional a few years ago," said Kyle. "I knew we had a great race car and I didn't want to overthink the run and make a mistake. It was a huge confidence booster to run a 5.29 right off the trailer, and we followed up with two more great runs in the low to mid 5.30s. The car was quick and consistent throughout qualifying which set the tone for a great overall weekend."
Due to early Saturday rain showers, the first round of eliminations for the Top Alcohol Dragster class was postponed until Sunday morning setting up an action-packed day of racing with extremely tight turnaround times in between rounds. Kyle Michalek kicked off eliminations against the #15 qualifier, Chase Copeland, and was the first off the starting line with a .067 second reaction time to Copeland's .075. The KAG A/fueler launched hard and was on another solid lap before the engine fell silent just after half-track. Copeland, in the left lane, went into immediate tire-smoke and enabled MBR to coast to victory, crossing the finish line in 5.878 seconds at 177.81MPH. This victory marked Kyle’s first round win in National Event competition.
After returning to the pits, the team diagnosed the mechanical malfunction from the previous run to be a broken crankshaft. With a compressed timeline leading into the second round of eliminations, the Dreher Motorsports team of Randy Dreher, Jared Dreher, Red, and Matt Stout kicked it into overdrive to swap motors in time to get the car back to the starting line for a quarter-finals matchup against Mia Tedesco. Tedesco, the 2015 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals winner, would have lane choice from her 5.395 second run in the first round of eliminations.
"It felt great seeing the win light come on after our first round win against Chase Copeland; however, I knew the car was hurt and we had some work to do before second round," said Kyle. "The timeframe was tight and the pace was frantic, but we overcame the mechanical adversity and got the engine change complete in under an hour. Everyone pitched in and we got the job done; it was a key moment in our weekend and while it was stressful at the time, those are the moments in the heat of battle that make great teams. Even though we didn't have time to start the car in the pits before second round, I had faith in the team and knew Randy and Jared would provide a good tune-up to give us a shot as long as we were able to get to the starting line."
Lined up in the right lane, Kyle was first off the starting line once again (.044 to .106) and he never looked back winning wire-to-wire with a strong 5.379 second pass at 259.11MPH to set up a matchup with David Brounkowski for a chance to race against Randy Meyer in the final round for the Wally. In what ended up being the closest race in all four rounds of eliminations, Brounkowski was able to eliminate the MBR and the KAG A/fuel dragster with a slight jump off the starting line (.025 to .047) and a margin of victory of just 0.0151 seconds (approximately 6 feet).
When all was said and done, Kyle Michalek closed out the weekend with a new career best qualifying position, a new career best elapsed time by a full tenth of a second, a new career best speed by over 7 MPH, and a solid semi-final race day finish.
"We had a great weekend on and off the track," said Kyle. "The car ran well, we picked up a couple round wins, and we were able to introduce NHRA race fans to the great job opportunities as KAG truck drivers and mechanics currently available at www.thekag.com/race. I'm very excited for the future of the MBR/KAG collaboration and thankful for the opportunity to have the KAG team's support."
MBR returns to the track July 3-5 for its 3rd annual stop at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, OH with Corey Michalek behind the wheel. The Kenan Advantage Group will once again serve as the team’s primary sponsor for the event and Champion Spark Plugs, Fel-Pro, Speed-Pro, Sealed Power, and GoPro will continue to provide additional support.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Michalek Brothers Racing driver Kyle Michalek is gearing up for a weekend of new opportunities as he zeroes in on the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals. Michalek, entering his third season behind the wheel of the Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster, will be making his 2015 debut in Texas, the state that he now calls home. This event also marks the first race west of the Mississippi for an MBR driver, bringing along with it a new batch of competitors different from the list of drivers the team has become accustomed to lining up against in the Midwest and along the east coast.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back in the driver's seat and taking on new competition at a new facility," said Kyle. "We have experienced success in Texas before and we're looking to pick up right where we left off. They say everything is bigger in Texas; a win here would be just as big as any we've had up to this point and there's no reason we can't put the KAG car in the winner's circle this weekend."
MBR rolls into Houston with primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) looking to not only succeed on track, but also on a mission to help North America's largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider find qualified applicants to join its team. KAG will have a full team on site in Nitro Alley to engage and interact with prospective employees. Any current CDL holder is encouraged to stop by the KAG booth to learn more about job opportunities and for a shot to win a free iPad mini.
"We are really looking forward to spreading the good news about all of the exciting career opportunities at KAG again this year," said Kyle. "There really is something for everyone from owner operators, to company drivers, mechanics, and tank washers; KAG is a growing company eager to tap into the talented NHRA fan base. I'm excited to talk to fans in person at the track about these opportunities; however, if you can't make it to the track you can still get in on the action by visiting www.thekag.com/race to learn more!"
MBR races into Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, Texas for its second stop on the 2015 tour. In addition to partnering with the Kenan Advantage Group, Champion Spark Plugs, Speed-Pro, Fel-Pro, and Sealed Power, and GoPro cameras, will be featured on the side of the Dreher’s injected-nitro machine.
Kyle Michalek kicks off the event this Friday with two qualifying runs at 11:30AM and 2:30PM. The team takes the track for its third and final qualifying pass at 11:00AM on Saturday with the first round of eliminations following soon after at 5:30PM. The eight remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then battle it out for the Wally with the final three rounds of eliminations taking place on Sunday at 1:00PM, 2:15PM, and 3:30PM.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photo courtesy of David Smith
Michalek Brothers Racing opened their 2015 NHRA campaign this past weekend at the 8th Annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. Driving the Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster, Corey Michalek came into the event with his sights set on defending his event title from the previous year.
After having all racing action cancelled on Friday due to persistent rain showers, the team faced unseasonably cool conditions on an action-packed Saturday that included two qualifying runs and the opening round of eliminations. MBR was in the first pair of Top Alcohol Dragsters on track and set the early pace with a 5.357 second lap at 266.11MPH; good enough to land them the #9 qualifying position after the first qualifying session.
The second round of qualifying started strong when the Champion Spark Plugs A/fueler launched hard with a .938 60′ time but dropped a cylinder soon after and covered the quarter-mile in 5.420 seconds at 258.86MPH to enter eliminations in the #10 position, setting up a matchup with Wayne Morris. Upon firing the car in the round of 16, the crew noticed a mechanical issue with the team’s 3,500 horsepower nitro-burning motor and ordered Corey to shut it down, causing the team’s weekend to come to an abrupt halt.
“The most sobering part about that outcome was getting out of the car knowing that after waiting 8 months to race again and then making just two runs, I was done for the weekend already,” said Corey. “It’s a tough pill to swallow knowing now there is another 3 month gap until I get back in the car again and that will already be my final race of the year. Running an extremely abbreviated schedule forces us to put an incredible amount of emphasis on every single opportunity that we get to strap into the car.”
Michalek then looked ahead as the team prepares for its two remaining events.
“At the end of the day, I’m very thankful for the opportunity that I have to be able to compete in this class. The car that I get to drive is a consistent winner, the team that we partner with is among the best in the business, and the facilities that we get to participate at are world class. I relentlessly prepared for Charlotte all off-season long, but we caught a bad break and it cost us our shot at defending our title. But as the saying goes, ‘Yesterday is gone, today is up for grabs,’ so it’s time to get back to work and zone in on Houston and Norwalk.”
MBR returns to action April 24-26 in Houston, Texas with Kyle Michalek behind the wheel for the 28th annual NHRA Spring Nationals. This event marks the first time that MBR will compete in Houston and is the first of two races that The Kenan Advantage Group will serves as the team’s primary sponsor in 2015.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photos courtesy of David Smith
Just under one year ago, Corey Michalek entered his debut race in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster class, the 2014 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, behind the wheel of a 3,500 horsepower A/fuel dragster with wide-eyes and a great appreciation for having the opportunity to compete against some of the best Top Alcohol Dragster drivers on the planet. Three days later, a dream was realized when MBR and Dreher Motorsports crossed the finish line at nearly 270mph on Sunday afternoon to take home the Wally trophy in Corey’s first ever start.
“We went from having mechanical issues that wiped out both runs on Friday, to getting in the show under massive pressure with a career best lap during Q3 on Saturday,” said Corey. “From there, the Drehers had the car dialed in running close to low E.T. each round of eliminations and we rode a huge wave of momentum all the way through the finals on Sunday. To this day, the memories from that weekend still seem surreal.”
Fast-forward to less than a week before the 2015 installment of the NHRA’s 6th annual spring race in the Tar Heel State and the tone gets a lot more serious. While last year’s Charlotte victory remains sweet, Michalek continues to hold on to what could have been in his second race behind the wheel, this time at his home track in Norwalk, Ohio, where the team bowed out as the #11 qualifiers without contesting the first round of eliminations due to parts attrition.
“On the other side of the spectrum, I have extremely high goals for myself and the team each time we pull into the track. Going back to my first experiences racing with Mark Thomas, I saw firsthand what it takes to be elite in this sport. My mentality has always been that whenever you don’t win a race, you didn’t complete your task. I have a sour taste in my mouth from Norwalk and I feel like I left something on the table as a driver, personally. I’ve spent the last 8 months prepping so that I have zero doubts when I get strapped into the car this weekend that I’ve done everything that I could do to be prepared.”
Validating last year’s inaugural performance is something that Corey has on his mind after attempting only 9 runs in all of 2014.
“Shortly after the Charlotte race, Brandon Booher said to me, ‘Welcome to the champagne room of drag racing…now anything aside from a win is unacceptable.’ Coming from someone who fields one of the premier cars in the class and someone who has been there before, I’ll never forget that because it validated what I had always believed was the only way that you should approach a race. It’s blunt, but it’s a mindset you have to have in order to be the best at what you do. I respect how difficult it is to have success at any level of this sport, but at the same time, I only get the chance to race once or twice a year so I strive to be a force every time I get an opportunity to do so.”
MBR rolls into Bruton Smith’s recently repaved “Bellagio of Dragstrips” in Charlotte, NC for the 2015 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the first of three scheduled races in 2015. Long-time partners, Kenan Advantage Group, Champion Spark Plugs, Speed-Pro, Fel-Pro, and Sealed Power, and newcomer, GoPro cameras, will adorn the side of the Dreher’s injected-nitro machine.
“We are very fortunate to be able to continue competing at this level and we couldn’t do it without our partners Champion and KAG who stepped up as our primary sponsors for 2015,” said Kyle. “We have a lot of exciting on and off-track promotions planned this year, and we can’t wait to get started in Charlotte!”
MBR’s return to the track is made possible due to their partnership with Dreher Motorsports, now beginning its third year. Under the guidance of veteran and standout Top Alcohol racers, Randy and Jared Dreher, Corey looks forward to what the two teams can do together in 2015.
“This will be our third consecutive year partnering with Dreher Motorsports and they are the driving force behind the success that we have had in our short time in the class,” said Corey. “Randy and Jared have worked for years to refine their tune-up and they field one of the most formidable cars on the property each time they show up to an event. If the car is on and we do our job behind the wheel, we are very confident that we’ll be able to continue to contend each time we pull up to the line.”
MBR kicks of their 2015 season this Friday with two qualifying runs at 11:45AM and 3:00PM. The team returns for their third and final qualifying pass at 11:45AM on Saturday with the first round of eliminations following soon after at 3:00PM. The eight remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then battle it out for the Wally with the final three rounds of eliminations taking place on Sunday at 11:45AM, 2:00PM, and 3:45PM.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photos courtesy of David Smith
Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) is excited to announce a continuing partnership agreement with the Kenan Advantage Group, Inc. (KAG) for the 2015 racing season. KAG returns to the team for a second straight year with an expanded schedule, and will serve as the MBR’s primary sponsor for the Charlotte, Houston, and Norwalk national events.
“We are very excited and grateful to continue our working relationship with KAG in 2015,” said Kyle. “We are looking forward to engaging with KAG employees at the track, and helping connect NHRA fans with great job opportunities as KAG tank truck drivers and mechanics.”
“There are so many race fans in the logistics and transportation industry, particularly commercial truck Drivers and Mechanics”, said Jessica Rauls, Corporate Communications Coordinator. “By partnering with MBR, we are providing a unique opportunity to speak with potential candidates in a relaxed and fun setting. We are seeking commercial truck drivers including company drivers and owner–operators, mechanics and tank washers to join our growing team.”
“Last year we asked some of our Drivers and Mechanics to speak with potential recruits because no one knows KAG better than the employees themselves,” continued Ms. Rauls. We were pleased to see so much company pride; the experience was rewarding for everyone involved.”
Job opportunities are available nationally and KAG currently has open positions in 44 states. Please visit WWW.THEKAG.COM/RACE for a full list of available positions.
In addition to having a fully-branded paint scheme on the team’s 270MPH A/fuel dragster, once again prepared by Dreher Motorsports, KAG will also have team members on-site at the Houston (April 24-26) and Norwalk (July 3-5) national events to answer questions and to help prospective employees fill out job applications.
“We’re ecstatic that KAG has decided to expand their commitment with MBR in 2015 and we’re anxiously awaiting the opportunity to work with them this upcoming season,” said Corey. “It will be great to have them join us again in Norwalk this year and we can’t wait to introduce their company to the awesome fans in Charlotte and Houston.”
The Kenan Advantage Group is based in North Canton, OH and is North America’s largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider, delivering fuel, chemicals, industrial gases, and food-grade products. KAG is committed to investing in modern, clean, well-maintained equipment, and providing work schedules that include allowing drivers to return home each day. KAG serves a diverse customer base including major oil companies, truck stop chains, convenience stores, hypermarkets, aviation fuel marketers, national and regional petroleum marketers, chemical manufacturers, and manufacturers of bulk liquid food products. KAG is the only independent fuels delivery carrier with a nationwide network of terminal and satellite locations, having operations in 42 states and the ability to deliver within all 48 states of the continental United States and Mexico. In addition, KAG operates in 16 locations throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. Visit WWW.THEKAG.COM/RACE to learn more.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
The stars of NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car didn't disappoint in 2014, with record-breaking numbers, dominating performances, a cast of diverse characters new and old, and exciting storylines throughout the Lucas Oil Series season. In no particular order, here are a few of the notable headlines and stories from 2014.
5x TAD National Champion Reichert Retires as Driver/Owner
During the 60th running of the U.S. Nationals, a race he won three times, Bill Reichert announced he would retire as a driver following the NHRA Nationals at Reading. The Michigan driver was winless on the national level this year, but won two North Central Region races and posted a 5th place finish in national points. Reichert's legendary driving career spans two decades, in which he won 28 national events, 54 regional/divisional events, five national championships, and nine divisional championships. His retirement announcement hinted that he might serve as a crew chief in 2015 should the right opportunity arise.
Bill Reichert - Nate Van Wagnen photo
Rookie drivers debut with winning performances
The alcohol categories had a standout rookie class in 2014. Corey Michalek, brother of 2013 TAD rookie Kyle Michalek, made his A/Fuel debut at the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. Cutting .02 lights in three of four eliminations rounds, Michalek beat Matt Cummings, Randy Meyer, Bill Reichert, and Brandon Booher to win his first-ever TAD national event. High profile bracket racer Mia Tedesco stepped up to TAD in 2014 with Hirata Motorsports, eventually winning the Bowling Green regional and reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals. Young Nostalgia Funny Car driver Cameron Ferre made another step up, driving Larry Miersch's A/Fueler to runner-up finishes at the Mission regional and the Finals at Pomona. Mike Doushgounian won his debut regional race and reached the semis at two national events, driving a Bob Miner-powered, ex-Frank Manzo TAFC. Matt Gill, son of noted east coast TAFC racer Paul Gill, runnered-up at two regionals and won the Gainesville regional.
Mia Tedesco - Nate Van Wagnen photo
Demke, Harker Dominate Maple Grove Weekend
The eventual national champions in both TAD and TAFC, Chris Demke and Steve Harker, displayed their might at the NHRA Nationals held at rural Pennsylvania's Maple Grove Raceway in October. They entered the race knowing three trophies were on the line: the rain-delayed Carolina Nationals Wally, the NHRA Nationals Wally, and the Lucas Oil Series national championship Wally. The national titles were decided on Friday, with Demke beating Bill Reichert and Harker defeating contender Dale Brand in the Carolina Nationals semifinals. The two champs went on to beat Randy Meyer and D.J. Cox, respectively, to win the Charlotte race on Saturday. They completed the sweep on Sunday when Demke beat Duane Shields in the NHRA Nationals TAD final and Harker unleashed a mean 5.429 on John Lombardo Jr. Demke (5.217/277.94 MPH) and Harker (5.429/267.91 MPH) also left with low ET and top speed of the event.
A/Fuel Rule Changes Spark Parity Debate
2014 looked to be an interesting year for Top Alcohol Dragster teams after rule changes for the A/Fuel cars were announced before the 2013 PRI show last December. The nitro-burners would be allowed an extra percent, ten degrees cooler fuel, and an insulated main fuel line. The insulated fuel line was added to the blower car rules later into the season. Drivers and crew chiefs shared their thoughts on the InsideTopAlcohol forums, in the pits, and in this Drag Illustrated round table discussion. Presented without comment, here are a few basic stats from the 2014 season:
A/Fuel: 7 national event wins (Randy Meyer/Shayne Lawson 4, Duane Shields 2, Corey Michalek 1), 16 regional event wins (Rich McPhillips, Jackie Fricke, Bill Reichert, Meyer/Lawson, Shields and Garrett Bateman 2, Jeff Veale, Jared Dreher, Mia Tedesco, and Mike Manners 1), highest national points finish - 3rd (Meyer), Top 10 points finishers - 5, 2 regional championships (Fricke - East and Meyer - Central), quickest run - 5.202 (Johnny Ahten at Seattle and Karl Brounkowski at Houston).
Blown: 9 national event wins (Chris Demke 5, Joey Severance 3, Mike Strasburg 1), 9 regional event wins (Demke 4, Severance 3, Strasburg and Brandon Booher 1), highest national points finish - 1st (Demke), Top 10 points finishers - 5, 2 regional championships (Marty Thacker - North Central and Demke - West), quickest run - 5.217 (Demke at Reading).
Randy Meyer - Megan Meyer photo
Brand New Camaro TAFC Bodies Make Their Debut
The eagerly awaited 2014 Chevrolet Camaro body was released midseason when Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream team debuted the very first edition with driver Todd Veney at the Maple Grove regional. Jay Payne won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in his Peak Camaro's debut. Dale Brand was the third Camaro driver, adding a new look to his championship chase at the Carolina Nationals. Impressing in both the looks and performance categories, look for more Camaro bodies to pop up in 2015.
Jay Payne - Nate Van Wagnen photo
First-Time Winners Add to History Books
While not as many 2013 first-time winners (9), 2014 was a good year for new national event champs. Corey Michalek kicked off his TAD career with a win at the Four-Wides. Mike Strasburg made the most of his opportunity to drive the 2013 championship-winning YNot Racing blown alcohol dragster, scoring his first national event Wally at Norwalk. Randy Meyer Racing driver Shayne Lawson won both of his 2014 national events, first winning Topeka then Dallas. In TAFC, former sand racer Nick Januik won his home race, the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Vegas, in just his fifth national event appearance. Former IHRA AFC standout Dale Brand notched his first and only national event win of 2014 at Topeka. Lucas Oil Nationals winner Scott McVey had to wait until the Earlville regional to finish off the job, but his first national event win was followed up with the regional event win the next day.
Corey Michalek - David Smith photo
Taliaferro Walks Away from Gnarly Collision
Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Mark Taliaferro suffered a horrific collision with the retaining wall while racing at the Northwest Nationals near Seattle. Taliaferro went into tire smoke during the second round of eliminations and was unable to recover, ending up in the opposite wall. Opponent Garrett Bateman watched the accident occur in front of him, as he red-lit, smoked the tires and aborted the run. Fortunately Mark walked away without serious injury and returned to competition at the Las Vegas fall race, eventually finishing 9th in national points.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photos courtesy of David Smith
Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) is excited to announce a continued partnership with Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ (NASDAQ: FDML) Champion® Spark Plugs brand for the 2015 race season. Kyle and Corey Michalek won the brand’s inaugural “Search for a Champion” contest in 2012 and have since carried the iconic Champion bowtie branding across the country on the sides of a 270MPH A/fuel dragster. In 2015, MBR and four Federal-Mogul Motorparts brands will once again collaborate to compete within the NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
The “Performance Driven” motto of Champion Spark Plugs holds true both on and off the track as the brand continues to lead the way with first-class digital initiatives for aspiring racers and everyday gear heads. Champion’s industry-leading Search for a Champion contest is back for its fourth straight year to award $125,000 in racing sponsorships, and to add fifteen new members to an already stacked #TeamChampion roster. The King of the Road contest’s third edition kicks off in the Spring of 2015 and Champion will award $10,000 in prizes to the best street-legal rides across the country. Fans can now also wear what the drivers wear by purchasing official Champion gear on the brand’s all new online store.
“We are very proud to continue our relationship with Champion, Fel-Pro, Speed-Pro, and Sealed Power as we head into year four of our successful partnership,” said Kyle. “Knowing we have the backing and support of Federal Mogul and #TeamChampion both on and off the track gives us a lot of confidence.”
The 2014 racing season was “Performance Driven” from start to finish with MBR spreading the word about the brand’s Search for a Champion and King of the Road initiatives in front of crowds exceeding 45,000 fans per day at two NHRA Mello Yello Series national events and the premiere Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race in the country. The team also raced the Champion Spark Plugs dragster to an event win in front of a national audience on ESPN2 at the 5th Annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It was so gratifying to be able to take the Champion Spark Plugs paint scheme all the way to the winner’s circle in Charlotte,” said Corey. “The victory marked one of the biggest milestones in our continuously prospering relationship with the brand. It was so great being able to promote the Champion, Fel-Pro, Speed-Pro, and Sealed Power brands and to recognize all the support they have given us over the past 3 years on a national stage.”
With the 2014 season in the rearview mirror, Michalek Brothers Racing and Champion Spark Plugs have their sights set on another strong campaign in 2015. MBR is currently finalizing plans for events in both the NHRA Mello Yello Series and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tours. MBR and Champion will continue to capitalize on the success of the duo’s social media engagements and at-track promotions.
To learn more about Champion Spark Plugs and other “Performance Driven™” Champion products, visit CHAMPIONSPARKPLUGS.COM for more information. Federal-Mogul Motorparts is a leading global vehicle components manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of quality products, trusted brands and creative solutions to the automotive aftermarket.
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photo courtesy of David Smith
The MBR/Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster entry sponsored by the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) and Champion Spark Plugs qualified #11 amongst a field of 21 of the nation’s premier Top Alcohol Dragster drivers at the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, OH. Taking place over the course of a picture-perfect 4th of July weekend, this was the team’s third NHRA national event appearance as competitors; all of which MBR has successfully made the qualifying field.
Rookie driver Corey Michalek returned to the seat for the second time this year, and the team started the weekend out with a strong 5.455 second elapsed time at 262.03mph during Q1. During the second round of qualifying, the team had an aborted run due to tire shake and ended day 1 in the #10 qualifying spot. The 3,500 horsepower KAG A/fueler took the track one last time early Saturday afternoon and improved on its initial qualifying time by running a 5.445 second lap at 257.73mph to secure the #11 spot in the ladder. Unfortunately, during the process, parts attrition took its toll and MBR’s weekend came to an end before contesting the first round of eliminations.
Fresh off his second event of NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster competition, rookie driver Corey Michalek evaluated the team’s performance.
“Obviously we want to do well every time we show up at the track,” said Corey. “There is definitely a sense frustration when we don’t do well because Kyle and I have such an intense desire to win, just like our teammates, Randy and Jared Dreher. But we’re also realistic because we have been around the sport long enough to fully understand that sometimes there is only so much that is in our control. When you put nitro inside of a race car, parts are going to malfunction and weekends like this are going to happen, unfortunately.”
Michalek wasn’t totally down on the final outcome of the weekend, however.
“On the positive side, though, we persevered enough to rise above the mechanical issues in order to solidly qualify the KAG / Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster in the #11 spot. Considering the competition that was on the property, and the fact that the current national points leader was unable to make the show, that was quite the accomplishment.”
The 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals also marked the first time that the younger Michalek had piloted a race car down the esteemed Norwalk racing surface. Corey happily recalled his experience of finally getting an opportunity to race at his home track in front of a capacity crowd filled with friends and family.
“Turning the corner in front of the huge Summit Motorsports Park grandstands for the first time was an awesome moment. After standing along those fences for years, to moving behind the car on the starting line as a crew member, it was great to finally be in the position to make a lap down the Norwalk quarter-mile,” said Corey. “Having a huge contingent of family, friends, and MBR supporters on-hand in the stands and in the pits all weekend long was the icing on the cake. Kyle and I are beyond grateful to have the backing of such an awesome support system.”
With 2014’s three scheduled races in the books, Michalek Brothers Racing now shifts their focus to next season and beyond.
“Each year MBR strives to move forward and 2014 has been a year of great progress,” said Kyle. “With the addition of KAG to our team, and the continued support of Champion, Fel-Pro, Sealed Power, and Speed Pro we were able to bring home a National Event win at the Charlotte NHRA Four Wide Nationals. This provides momentum and inspiration to continue building our program so we can increase our participation within the class. We’re confident our team has a lot to offer both on and off the track. We will take the next couple months off to focus on building relationships with current and future business partners, and look to come back strong in 2015. But, if an opportunity comes up to hit the track again this year we won’t think twice about it!”
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Family: Parents John and Lisa Michalek, brother Kyle Michalek, and girlfriend Christine Kotter
Accomplishments: Won TAD debut at 2014 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, first “Search for a Champion” contest winner, 2007 IHRA AFC world champion as a Mark Thomas crew member
First race car: Super Comp dragster
Favorite movie: Inception
Favorite music: It’s always changing depending on the mood. I spend about 45 minutes a day listening to music walking to and from work and I have something on pretty much all day when I’m there.
Favorite TV shows: NHRA ESPN2 broadcasts, Big Bang Theory, and Moonshiners
Favorite sports teams: Louisville Leopards, Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Browns
When I'm away from the racetrack I: Work 10 hours a day at my normal job and then I go home and work into the morning on preparing for our upcoming races and sponsorship presentations for next season.
Favorite racing memory: Getting to be out at the track with Kyle
Top accomplishment in racing: Winning the 2014 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. The drivers that we had to go through to get there are some of the most respected wheelmen in the business and it was awesome even to just get the chance to line up against them.
Toughest opponent: I’m still way too new to single anyone out. I respect anyone that can bring a car to the starting line.
Favorite opponent: I haven’t had the chance to compete against Kyle yet, but I think we’re both looking forward to that.
Favorite drivers outside TAD: Clay Millican, Mark Thomas, Pat Dakin
Personal heroes: Both of my grandfathers for their service to the country.
I race because: I’m an adrenaline junkie, I love the competition, and the racetrack brings our family together.
I race TAD because: It is the premier class of sportsman drag racing in the world and it’s one step away from our ultimate goal.
Pre-race rituals or superstitions: Checking the throttle stop, wheelie bar, and parachutes and stretching my lower back one last time before hopping in the car. Racecars aren’t built for tall people!
Nobody knows that I: Eat at least a half of a pack of Oreos at a time, sometimes the whole thing.
If I didn't race I would: I really enjoy my job outside of racing so I think I would be able to function…but let’s not eliminate racing.
Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing Photos courtesy of David Smith
Corey Michalek to make Summit Motorsports Park competition debut amid stacked field
It has only been 44 days since Michalek Brothers Racing pulled off the Summit Motorsports Park property at the conclusion of the 8th annual Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars race, but for brothers and teammates Kyle and Corey Michalek, it feels more like 44 years. The wait, however, comes to an end this weekend as the team, partnered with Dreher Motorsports, returns to Norwalk, Ohio alongside 24 of the best Top Alcohol Dragsters in the country to vie for the coveted Wally that is up for grabs at the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
MBR returns to Norwalk for the second time in 2014, this time with Corey getting behind the wheel, in the midst of an already eventful campaign. The team started the 2014 racing season strong at the 5th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. With Randy and Jared Dreher making the tuneup calls, the Champion Spark Plugs/Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster took home the wally in Corey's national event debut.
“Charlotte was a dream weekend for us; there’s no getting around that," said Corey. "The Drehers worked their tails off to provide us with a race car that was capable of going the distance and we were fortunate to catch a few breaks along the way."
The younger Michalek, looking ahead to his second race in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster competition, was quick to halt the trip down memory lane.
"Charlotte is in the past now and what we did at that race has zero bearing on what’s going to happen this weekend, as the regional race proved. My goal for this race is first and foremost to qualify. I know that sounds very underwhelming after winning in Charlotte, but with the 24 other cars that will be in attendance, this is going to be one of the toughest fields to qualify for all year. We want to have one of the 16 quickest cars come 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon and then we’ll re-direct our approach from there.”
"On top of that, I really want to make as many runs as possible just to develop into a better driver. At this point I would say that I'm still going for a ride and trying to play catch up each time down the track rather than being ahead of the car and driving it. I cringe re-watching some of the Charlotte runs because I know I need to be so much better at so many aspects of the driving process."
Michalek Brothers Racing will once again rocket down the Norwalk quarter-mile carrying primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) to actively recruit new mechanics and CDL truck drivers. More information about great nationwide job opportunities with the KAG team can be found by browsing and applying for available positions here (https://intelliapp2.driverapponline....?r=raceRacecar). Longtime MBR supporters, Champion Spark Plugs, Sealed Power, Speed Pro, and Fel-Pro, will also be featured on the Dreher Motorsports A/fueler as Corey makes his maiden voyage down the track at which he attended his first drag race.
“Even though I live in New York now, I still consider Summit Motorsports Park to be my home track. It’s the first drag strip that I ever visited as a fan and I’ve been there for more races than any other facility on tour, but this weekend will be the first time that I’ve driven there. I’m really excited to finally have the opportunity to compete in front of our friends and family at the same place where it all began for me.”
Fans attending the event will be treated to non-stop action all weekend long as "America's Racetrack" celebrates the baddest race cars on the planet with $1/lb ice cream and the Bader family's signature fireworks show. MBR hits the track twice on Friday to kick off the weekend with runs at 12:00PM and 3:00PM. The team returns for their third and final qualifying pass at 12:00PM on Saturday with the first round of eliminations following soon after at 3:00PM. The eight remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then battle it out for the Wally with the final three rounds of eliminations taking place on Sunday at 12:15PM, 2:25PM, and 3:40PM.
"It's well known that whenever you come to Norwalk it's going to be a great time, said Kyle. This coming weekend will be extra special with the 4th of July celebration. What is more patriotic than side by side racing at over 270 MPH, and nitro burning engines pushing out over 3,500 horsepower; all capped off with a Bader family fireworks show?! We're looking forward to running hard and having a great time!"
For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
Hello everyone! It's been two months since our last blog and a lot has happened both on and off the track.
MBR started the 2014 racing season strong at the 5th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. With Corey driving and Randy and Jared Dreher making the tuneup calls, we were able to take the Champion Spark Plugs/Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster all the way to the winner's circle! This win was extra special because it was the first NHRA national event victory for both MBR and Dreher Motorsports.
After about a month off, we returned to our home track, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, for the 8th annual Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars regional where I took over the driving duties for the weekend. This event is the premier regional event on the NHRA Lucas Oil Series tour, and I was the runner-up at this race in 2013 during my Top Alcohol Dragster debut.
Our plans coming into the event were to take it one step further than last year to hopefully win the race this time around, but it just wasn't meant to be. Severely cold temperatures on Friday night led to tire-shake and an aborted run during Q1. Huge crowds packed the place all day on Saturday, but unfortunately Mother Nature wouldn't give us a break and there wasn't a single car that went down the track the entire day. That left us with one last-ditch attempt to qualify for the field on Sunday morning and a broken clutch linkage after the burnout sent us home early.
Despite the cold and rainy weather, and a DNQ, we still viewed the event as a success. This race marked the debut of MBR's partnership with the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) who served as the team's primary sponsor during the event. We really enjoyed interacting with the KAG employees and their families at the track. It was fun showing KAG what we do, and why we are so passionate about NHRA drag racing. We really appreciate KAG supporting our team and believing in us.
KAG was also able to interact with race fans throughout the weekend as they actively recruited new mechanics and CDL truck drivers. For more information about great job opportunities with KAG nationwide, you can browse and apply for available positions here (https://intelliapp2.driverapponline.com/c/kenan?r=raceRacecar).
Things have been equally busy away from the race track as well. I finished grad school, accepted a promotion, and began a new job in Houston that I'm currently in the process of relocating to from Ohio. It has been crazy the past two months and there's never a dull a moment!
Looking ahead, we'll be back on-track July 4-6 at the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, OH. Corey will jump back in the driver's seat for this race and it will be his first time competing at the Bader's famed facility. The remainder of the 2014 season after the Norwalk event is yet to be determined, but it is safe to say it has been an eventful year so far!
Nitro or nothin’.
Kyle Michalek
Kyle and Corey Michalek drive the Dreher Motorsports-prepared Champion Spark Plugs/Kenan Advantage Group A/Fuel Dragster. The brothers were the first winners of Champion's "Search for a Champion" contest. For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing Facebook page and follow @MichalekRacing on Twitter and Instagram.
