TAN Q&A with Dave Hirata

Written by Nate Van Wagnen
Photos by Steve Fuhrman/Cyclops Photography 

We ask Dave Hirata a series of questions, including TAN fan questions, ranging from his recent Norwalk win to his favorite music acts. 

Top Alcohol News: What was it like winning after thirteen years of trying since your last national event win?

Dave Hirata: It felt just like the first win. I was probably more excited overall for my crew guys and partners because none of them were with me for a win. Obviously it’s been a long time for me, but I was probably more excited for them. I didn’t realize that I had won the last two rounds so that made it that much more exciting. 

TAN: You struggled with DNQs and first round losses the past two seasons. What kept you going through those struggles?

DH: Probably the success that we had previously and knowing that we had all of the best parts and pieces. I was scared to quit. There were times where it was like, ‘what am I doing?’ I wasn’t about to give up, not getting this car to run. Basically having a great crew – people that stuck with me. No one gave up. Once you start turning it around and seeing results, everyone walks a little faster and your chest is out a little puffier. It makes all the hard work not work anymore. We definitely have a taste of it. Not that we’re going to be dissatisfied with anything less, but we have some high expectations now, performance-wise. All of that combined is what keeps us going. 

TAN: Will the Norwalk win add any races to the planned schedule this season?

DH: Yeah. We haven’t been to Columbus in years, so we might go there next weekend. Past that, it will depend on how we do at the next few races. We probably won’t race until Bowling Green after Columbus. We have the Bowling Green-Indy-Earlville threesome there. We were thinking about going to Brainerd but that makes it four in a row and that’s tough on us. We talked about going to Maple Grove because we would have until October off after Earlville. Columbus is probably the next race we’re serious about. The car shook in the final round and that broke some parts so we’ll have to fix that before Columbus. We’ll always race as long as the car is running good. We’ll go out to California if the car is running good – we’ve done that before. 

TAN: What will you do to build on your performance at Norwalk?

DH: I think the biggest turnaround was being smart about our decisions. The car went off the trailer and ran a thirty-three at Gainesville then we went to the next three regionals and just lost it all. We made some bad decisions. It’s crazy how you sit down and look at things and go, ‘Jeez, we’re so far away. We need to get back to our baseline,” and we started off like we never ran the car. We went to Cordova and went, “Okay, this is the track. This is the weather. Let’s tune it for that,” and it went down the track. We just need to make better decisions, being really logical, not knee-jerk reactions. The other thing is we tune by crew. Before every run, we have a little meeting and find out what everyone thinks. The guys threw out some great ideas and we went with them. I think that’s been an important thing, too. 

 Crew member Brian Inouye and Kenny Hirata

TAN: What did you change to go from smoking the tires to getting the car down the track?

DH: We went back to a combination that was about two years old to start with. We basically just started over. Last year I hired who I still think is one of the best tuners in drag racing (Steve Boggs). It just didn’t work out, so we had to go back to what we knew. We had to change some things around to how they were a few years ago. Now we feel like we have something to work with. 

TAN: Which band or singer do you want to see in concert?

DH: Seriously? (laughs) Actually the old-school punk bands from the eighties – Black Flag, Circle Jerks. We’re going to try to see this concert in the fall called Riotfest – it’s like a three-day deal. One of the biggest surprises for some people would be Allison Krauss, the bluegrass singer. Right now, those are my goals.

TAN: The Hirata name is legendary in drag racing, whether it’s your dad’s car winning Indy '63 or you racing A/Fuel. Do you think that adds pressure?

DH: Yeah, but he doesn’t add any pressure. I pressure myself. You just don’t want to disappoint and I never felt like that was an issue from my family. It doesn’t come from them – it comes from within. You just want to do as well and be as successful. That’s with our business, too. My dad started a business (Hirata’s Body Shop) and I’m at a point to make sure it doesn’t fail. A lot of second or third generation things fail. So to answer the question, I do feel the pressure but you just gotta work hard and make good decisions. Probably ‘work hard’ is the biggest thing. Treat people right. Hopefully it’s all been successful. I feel like we’ve been successful in business, in racing, and with people in general. 

 Kenny Hirata watches as Dave makes a run at the 2012 Norwalk regional.

TAN: Which round did you feel was the critical round of the weekend? 

DH: Round one, trying to get past Reichert just because he’s Reichert. Round two, we got some performance back and we felt like we were running with everyone. We didn’t have good performance against Reichert. Even though the semifinals and the finals weren’t great, you get some confidence that you’ve made the right decisions and hopefully the other teams see that. I think we could’ve been taken for granted the last couple of years. Hopefully that’s not the case anymore. I think round two was the most important because of the performance. We really won one round; that’s how I look at it. The other people lost the other three because we really shouldn’t have won. 

TAN: Did you see qualifying in the bottom of the field as a disadvantage?

DH: The biggest thing about that is if the people win who should, the quicker cars, you just never get a break. Unless there are upsets, and there were. Joliet is a great example. We qualified eighth and who do we end up running? The guy who just ran 5.22. We need to qualify better, and that’s one of our goals, to qualify in the top six. It’s murder if you qualify in the back half and win because you’re facing the quicker cars every round. I probably shouldn’t say that because we showed that every car can win. Psychologically you’re just not getting a break. I just proved that because we shouldn’t have been there. Maybe it was the psychological thing that worked for me because we qualified 15^th then ran a forty that wasn’t a fluke. 

Grayson Biehn sends Dave down the Norwalk quarter-mile

 

TAN: You faced blown cars in the final two rounds. What are your thoughts on the parity between blown cars and A/Fuel cars this season?

DH: The parity is as close as it’s ever been. I feel like the blown cars have a definite advantage in the weather. But you’ve still got one or two A/Fuel cars that will go out and run a number. It is what it is and that’s how we run it. It’s not going to change and I’m not trying to change it. We’ve gotta run our own deal. If we get it right, we’ll run with the blown cars, but man, the performance gain has been so huge with them over the past few years. It makes it equal and now you’ve really gotta be on your game. Look at the way those guys are running –the Demkes, the Whiteleys, and Brandon Booher . It seems like it’s a consistency thing. I look at that as, ‘well, I need to be more consistent.’ I need to run with them. I want to run with the best car out there and that’s always been one of my goals. It’s motivation to me. 

TAN: Do you have anyone you want to thank?

DH: My crew and my partners. What was cool about this win was it was the first time my crew had to go rounds since they were with me. It was flawless. Every round we had time to stop and take a break before they called us up. The crew is Grayson Biehn, Chris Wells, Brian and Byron Inouye, my girlfriend Molly, and my mom and dad obviously. My partners are NGK, Lucas Oil, Schepel Motor Group, Napa Service Auto Parts, Impact, and R&R Connecting Rods. 

PSA Interview with Bill Bader Jr.

Bill Bader Jr., son of legendary race promoter and former IHRA president Bill Bader, runs Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, home to an NHRA national event, a regional/divisional race, and as many major independent shows as any track in the country. Bader Jr. is as smooth as they come, all business, and a total pro - just like his dad. "Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals" rolls off his tongue faster than most people could say "Norwalk," his track workers aren't track workers - they're "team members" - and this weekend's Division 3 Lucas Oil Series event isn't a points meet; it's the B'laster Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser. The Pro Sportsman Association's Todd Veney caught up with Bader Jr., 44, to get his thoughts on what it takes to make a racetrack work, why he switched from IHRA to NHRA, and how he drew a turn-away crowd for a divisional race.

PSA: How did you get 48,000 people to a divisional race?

BBJ: By not looking at it as a divisional race. I looked at it as a national event. When we had our IHRA national events here, we didn't have John Force, Tony Schumacher, or Larry Dixon. Our biggest star was probably Mark Thomas - an Alcohol Funny Car racer - and I applied the same formula that made our IHRA national event a success to our divisional race. I looked into the old Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars name, saw that the trademark had expired, and registered it. I own the name. We made the Alcohol Dragster drivers our Top Fuel stars, and our Alcohol Funny Cars became our fuel Funny Cars. Some alcohol racers feel like they're second-class citizens, and I had a meeting with them in 2008 and told them that we were going to pack this place for the divisional. I saw the looks on their faces, but I told them, "Trust me. It may not happen this year or next year, but it will happen." And in 2010, it did. We literally had to close the gates and turn people away.

PSA: So you see your events as entertainment - not as simply races...

BBJ: Drag racing is entertainment. What's wrong with saying you're in the entertainment business? It's not like we're manipulating the outcome. We're entertaining people. We learned with our Night Under Fire event [where big-name nitro Funny car racers, including Force himself, fill the stands for a one-day extravaganza] that you have to market each event differently. The fan who comes to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals is not necessarily the same person who comes to the Night Under Fire. People who go to an NHRA national event typically are hardcore fans from major metro markets. The Night Under Fire fan is more likely to be from someplace rural. He doesn't know everything about every car, and it's probably the only race he's going to go to all year. He just wants a good show, and he's going to get one.

PSA: What's the best way to promote a drag race?

BBJ: First, you have to understand who your fan is. We have all kinds of events, but 10 or 12 are significant events with their own unique footprint in the market, and each one needs a different marketing strategy. It's my job to sell tickets. It's not NHRA's job - they're a sanctioning body. What we've always tried to do is sell the entire experience. You can't just do one-week radio buys on WMMS in Cleveland and WIOT in Toledo anymore. It's not the same world it was 30 years ago. It's not the same world it was in 2008, when everything turned upside down. People have scaled down their lifestyles in the last four years; they've learned to live within their means. For the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, we're using 18 different marketing channels. We look at this place as a destination venue - like Disneyland. That's why we've laid claim to the July 4th weekend. Everyone in the United States is looking for something to do that weekend. Why do the same old mundane thing you've always done in the past just because that's what you've always done? Why go to the lake? Come to Norwalk, Ohio! The hardcore fans already know the race is that weekend - we want to get everybody else there. The commercial we're doing for that event doesn't look, taste, or feel like any drag racing TV ad ever. Nobody's screaming, nobody's crashing, and nobody's holding a Wally. It's designed to change human behavior.

PSA: Whose idea was it to switch from IHRA to NHRA - yours or your dad's?

BBJ: Mine. Dad bought the track in 1974. He already ran Sandusky Speedway - he was a round-track racer - and the first drag race at his track was the first drag race he'd ever been to. He always hounded Bob Daniels, the old Division 3 Director, to get a national event. He just wanted one in the worst way, but Bob told him flat-out, "You'll never have an NHRA national event in Norwalk - we've already got Indy and Columbus," so he reached out to Ted Jones and Larry Carrier to get an IHRA race and tried to make that the best it could be. We'd have this place packed for Saturday nights, but on Sundays there'd be 3,000 people in the stands. It was heartbreaking. When Dad stepped down from IHRA in 2004, I looked into the future, and our future was NHRA. I made a call to Tom Compton, and it started a two-year dialogue. Tom called Dad one day - I think it was more of a courtesy call than anything else - and told him that he'd already been talking with me for a couple years about having an NHRA national event. Dad called me right up and said, "Are you crazy?" He was the president of IHRA and he had no idea that I'd been talking to Tom. That first year, 2007, when the first pair of Top Fuel cars fired up Sunday morning and the stands were full, we just looked at each other. That was a moment. It wasn't about how much money we were going to put in the bank; it was about a dream realized.

PSA: Was the plan always for you to take over for him?

BBJ: Well, I've been working here since I was 10 years old. My parents were divorced, my father was a workaholic, I wanted to have a relationship with him, and by coming to work here I kind of met him on his terms. I started out picking up garbage, and I've installed guardrails, done minor electrical stuff, put up fences, worked on drainage, and just basically done every job there is. My degree is in accounting and corporate finance, but I'm more of a marketer than a bean counter. This is not a business you can run with a pencil.

PSA: What did you learn from Bill Sr.?

BBJ: He always said, if the customer wins, you can't lose. I've seen him in bad situations, and when it's over, everybody comes out laughing, arm-in-arm. I definitely haven't mastered the art like he has, but we have an incredible rapport with our fans - they're our guests, always - and with guys racing in, say, the DOT Tire class, or the Alcohol Funny Car racers here for the divisional race, or the local guys who are out here every weekend. This track is my home. I spend a lot more time in my office than I do at home. The Bader family isn't the Angel family or the Meyer family, who had other businesses before they owned a track. This is all we do. This is how my sons are going to college. It's who we are and it has to work.

PSA: What's been most surprising?

BBJ: Just how hard this really is. It has to be one of the most difficult ways in the world to make a living. This business will eat you up and spit you and not even care, and you have to be mentally tough like my dad. People come to one of our major events, see 30,000 people in the stands, and think they're looking at 100,000. The human mind overestimates the size of the crowd and underestimates the expense and risk involved with putting on an event like that. That's why all these people think they want to get in this crazy business. Hundred-hour workweeks are not uncommon, and it's not just me. The people who work here are dedicated, drank the Kool-Aid, and bought in to what we're trying to do.

PSA: What would you do to improve drag racing as a whole?

BBJ: Our sport has a problem: kids don't have the passion for the automobile that they once did. Lots of them aren't even interested in getting a driver's license. We need to get mainstream America more excited about drag racing, get people emotionally involved. I don't think the human-interest side of the sport is exploited nearly enough. Most top-end interviews are uninspiring. Racers have become homogenized - there's no color, no personality. Everyone's afraid of irritating their sponsors. Where's the subplot? What are the real storylines? Don't talk about which lane is better. Who cares? Drag racing is a fast, ultra-exciting, consumable product. Every time you turn around, somebody just won. There's a problem, and we, as an industry, need to figure it out. One thing about me - and it's a blessing or a curse, depending on who you ask - is that I'm never satisfied with anything. Ever. Every night when I drive out of here, I think there must be something I could have done better.

Q&A With Stefan Kontos

Prior to the Big O Tires Nationals, we spoke with Stefan Kontos of the Spiro Kontos-owned Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team.

Stefan Kontos

Top Alcohol News-What is your title at Kon Rodz Racing?


Stefan Kontos-Officially, I'm the owner's son, and I tend to stay closer to the behind the scenes stuff like Marketing, Branding, and pretty much as much as I can that involves the day to day management of the team, whenever my time away from school allows. Unofficially, I'm the team joker. I'm the one that tries to find as much fun stuff to both around the track and in the towns that are usually near us. So like I find hotels with pools that we can use, or theme parks. All that kind of stuff.


TAN-Give us a brief history of the team.


SK-We started out in 2005 doing some local Top Sportsman racing. After my dad got in a car accident, he revisited his passion of collecting cars while recovering. So eventually we picked up a Firebird and we did some local stuff. We never really did too much with that car, a couple weekends, but it was really fun, which is what racing really is all about to us. We ended up jumping straight to nitro and put together both a nostalgia car and a big show car.


After a few outings, we realized that without much financial support, you can't really compete at such a pro level in Nitro, so we sold that all to Australia and bought a Pro Mod 1963 'Vette. I begged my dad not to go Pro Mod racing, so we ended up trading the 'vette for a 2006 Monte Carlo FC from Bruce Mullins out of Virginia.


We went IHRA racing for a bit, then they disbanded the class due to lack of funding. We headed to NHRA and are we're going in to our 4th season with NHRA next year. We have Randy Anderson of Advanced Power Systems as our tuner and really had a great year this year. We reset our personal best twice, ran very consistantly, and got our first round win ever as a team in any class. We're really excited for next year. Hopefully we'll make a run for the Top 10, or even Top 5 nationally.


TAN-What does the future hold for Kon Rodz Racing?

SK- Well, just like any other team, right now were putting together equipment for next year and trying to find that part or piece that adds to the car’s performance. So we’re working hard at doing that at the moment. We are going to be running a 1 car team next year once again with Cassie Simonton driving. I’m sure as everyone has seen, my dad is looking for a Nostalgia Front Engine Dragster, so hopefully him and I can put something together that works with my schedule with school, I can do some licensing and maybe some match racing mid to late next year. The ultimate goal for me is to drive an alcohol funny car, but collectively we all feel that I should try something that’s a little less aggressive and safer for me to learn in at first.


TAN- What are your thoughts on the current and future state of alcohol racing?


SK- Hmm, that’s definitely something that everyone has been discussing lately. To be honest, other than division 1 and 3, I have never been to any other divisionals. So I can't really say that I know a lot about those other divisions, other than the usual reading I do on Drag Race Central. But what I do know about division 1 and 3 is that they are 2 extremely competitive divisions.  I’m not trying to take anything away from any other divisions. Right now, the Alcohol class is so competitive, and there are multiple cars that can win on any given Sunday. I think that Division 3 has a really good program put together with Norwalk and the Bader family. They treat every single racer, spectator, and guest of the track as if they are family, which is something that we all enjoy.

We really do have a great program to offer and it is a shame that not all tracks do what the Bader family does at SMP. In Division 3 we race on some truly spectacular facilities, ith Chicago, Indy, and Norwalk in the top 3 on my personal list. I think that those races are ones that the majority of D3 racers look forward to the most, and look forward to throwing down on. Unfortunately we have the fact that Norwalk is really the only track we get an apparent turnout from. They absolutely PACK those stands and fences with people. Obviously they’re doing something right. But, Norwalk isn’t the only track that the divisional series offers. Weekend upon weekend we have cars going to races that only have 2 or 3 cars, and hardly any fan turn out, which in my mind is a shame. I think that the proposed program that the NHRA is discussing with racers is a really solid program. Of course, there needs to be some revisions to it, but with the current situation we’re all in, something needs to be done for sure.

I haven't really read too much further into the new situation, but what I can say is that something definitely needs to be done. Take division 3 for example. We had so many cars that were top hitters all in one division. It was really difficult for you to qualify for the 8 car field at times. That’s what made it so much fun and why you had so many out of division cars coming to race with the d3 hitters at times.

Take Chicago for example... last year the bump was a 6.30 and we didn’t get in because we ran like a 6.56...this year you had cars running low 50's and the bump was a 5.69 I believe. It just shows you how much things have changed and how competitive and developing this class really is. I just hope that for the sake of the class, the NHRA realizes this and also that the economy turns around. There are too many good teams sitting on the sidelines that we all miss as being part of our big family. It’s a shame that you have such talented people on the sidelines because of the economy. We’re just hoping that things turn around so they can be back out there.

TAN- In your opinion, what improvements could be made to alcohol racing?

SK- How do I think that Alcohol Racing can improve….Well first there is the obvious. Well to me it’s obvious at least. Unfortunately, the turnout at divisionals as far as fans isn’t the greatest. As racers, we all love and appreciate the support that we get from the fans that turn out. However, I think that in order to improve the class, we need to go to an all national level. From a business standpoint, nationals are the logical decision. The payouts are higher, there is more exposure for the companies that sponsor you, and your team gets so much more attention from both the media and fans. In today’s economy, that is what we need; More exposure for the teams and sponsors. So to me, I think that if we eased away from the divisional format, the class would improve incredibly. Besides, who doesn’t like running all out on the nation’s best tracks, having the field separated by the smallest fractions of time possible. That is what racing is all about.

TAN- What do you enjoy most about going to the track?

SK- The track is really a place that I call home. For the past 6 or so years, I have not stopped thinking about racing. It’s really a sickness, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. To narrow down on one thing is pretty hard. I’d have to say being around the people is probably my favorite thing. And when I say people, I mean the racers, fans, and NHRA officials. At the track, we all have a common goal to make Drag Racing the largest recognized motorsport in the world. Unfortunately, it's taking a little longer for that to happen, but hey, all in time. Everyone we race with is a class act. You have so many people that root for you, support you, and are there for you if you need an extra part to finish your servicing, or an extra hand in between rounds. It’s truly a family and that’s what I really enjoy most about the racers. You will never find a better group of people then what we have right now.

The fans that support NHRA Drag Racing are the best fans in the world. I think that we put on a great show for them and it really shows when you have people coming up to you and thanking you for giving them or their family members such an amazing experience. That’s something that the NHRA does really well in my opinion.

The NHRA officials are really cool as well. You have a bunch of people that truly care about the sport. I have my buddy Coop who is the NHRA National Event Coordinator. Coop and I met a few years ago and he always makes the time to stop by and say hi to us whenever he’s not running around. He works with a guy named Jason who is also a great guy, I believe it ia his first year with the NHRA. They're both really super guys that have a passion for the sport and you see that in their work. You then have all of the division directors that treat us like gold. Similar to Jason & Coop, they have a passion for the sport and want to make sure that as racers, we have the best time racing.

TAN- Who are your favorite teams to race with in TAFC?

SK- That’s a tough one. There are so many great teams out there with amazing people. It’s a pleasure and honor to be racing with every single team out there. In Alcohol it truly is one big family out there and we all have lots of fun doing what we do. We’re very fortunate to say the least. In funny car, I'd have to say that I really enjoy racing with the Fosters, Paul Gill and Team, Wayne Butler, Tom Carter and his team, the Parker Family & Brent Henry, The Lombardo's (thank you for helping us out in Indy!). The Pomponio's are a great group as well. I also really enjoyed racing against Steve Harker and his family, as they were always really great to us and are truly a great group to be around. I also have to say I really enjoy racing against the Larry Dobbs team as they are fellow Canadians and are about 2 hours away from us. They have a great team, and can be a threat on Sunday. That team car was piloted by Paul Noakes, who used to race with us in the IHRA, so it was nice to have him and a few guys that crewed for him out there racing with us again. And of course, the Mickey Ferro team is a great group of guys. And last, but certainly not least, "Uncle Frank" Manzo. Frank is a tremendous competitor and I am both happy and honored to say that he is a friend of ours. Frank is truly a class act and is someone that truly makes the Top Alcohol Funny Car class what it is. He really is someone that will take the shirt off his back for you and help you to the best of his ability. We had a second round match up with him in Indy and even though he beat us, we really enjoyed racing him. He has really tried his best to help Cassie and offer some advice whenever she needs it.

I really didn't mean to forget anyone if I did. To summarize, everyone we race with is a class act. We never have any problems with anyone and we really do enjoy racing against each and every person we have lined up against. When Cassie first got into the car, the amount of people that offered help and support was really amazing. It just shows you the camaraderie in the Funny Car class.

TAN- What about in the Dragster class?

SK- Now Top Alcohol Dragster is another class that is full of my favorites. Obviously, we don’t race TAD, but that class is full of so many great teams and competitors. You have the Booher Construction Team with the Spitzer car piloted by Brandon Booher. To say that they came a long way this year is truly an understatement. We have been friends with the Booher’s ever since we came to the NHRA and I am so proud of what they did this year. Every single person on that team is someone I am proud to call a friend. They had great runs this year and even got the record for the world’s fastest and first converter car into the 5.3 second range. So I definitely have to say that the Booher team is my overall favorite.

But like I said, that class if full of great people. You have the Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite car owned by Jerry Maddern. Chris, Jerry, Kevin, Mike, and Ronald are all a really great group of guys that know how to win. That car is a beast and is a threat anywhere it goes. So they’re definitely one team that I’m constantly rooting for.

Then you have a bunch of other teams like the Reichert team, Duane Shields' team, Doug Foley & the Tom Conway Dragster, Mike Manners in the "Shredder" car, the Pickett Racing team, and the Randy Meyer Racing team,  whom I am proud to say I  beat in the unofficial "avoid the rain" pit-bike challenge in Norwalk this year. Once again, if I missed anyone, I apologize. You all know that I consider you friends and great people that I’m so lucky to be around on the weekends!

TAN- Is there anyone that you would like to thank?

SK- I have to thank my family and team for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to be part of such an amazing organization. My father, Spiro, is the reason that this is all happening. I'm living the dream, even though I'm not driving....yet! My stepmother, Fay, is someone I have to thank for putting up with all my shenanigans when I'm at home and dad is away racing.

Last but not least, my team. Cassie is like a sister to me and she really wants to see me do well in racing one day, so I am very lucky to have her in my corner. Marquis, I don't think I could go racing without Marquis on my side. He is an amazing part of this family; he works a mean clutch as well. I also have to thank a great friend and someone that I really look up to, Pat. He joined us this year doing bottom end. Immediately he fit in to our team and family. Pat is a tremendous asset to our team; it wouldn't be the same without him. Cory, who is like a brother to me. He and I are always the two guys finding some fun at the track; I couldn't go racing without him, as well. Our truck driver, Jeff, who recently joined us at Indy, is our newest part of the family. I can't forget my buddy, Mike, for always being there for me and constantly providing comic relief. Last but not least, our tuner, Randy. He'll be the one that will help me get in to a race car, making sure I have a safe and competitive ride underneath me one day.

I want to thank Top Alcohol News for this opportunity and for taking the time to do this interview. I hope the next time we speak, I will be discussing my plans for my own racing.

TAN- Thanks for speaking with us, good luck!

Feel free to contact Stefan Kontos via Facebook or on Twitter (@StefanKontos).