Early First Strike for NHRA Champ
Reigning NHRA Super Comp Champion Luke Bogacki didn’t waste any time getting his 2014 season started on the right foot…..
While the champ didn’t kick off the season with a Super Comp victory in his K&N Filters backed dragster at Lucas Oil Raceway of Indianapolis (he fell in round 4 of competition), he did manage to best an 80-car Super Gas field, driving his RacingRVs.com backed Corvette to the win at the opening NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Series event of the season. Bogacki capped off an exquisite starting line performance by parlaying a huge hole shot advantage to a 9.956 final round victory over Kenny Lafollette, despite Lafollette’s perfect 9.900 elapsed time.
“This was our first NHRA event of the season, and the first outing with our new marketing partner, RacingRVs.com featured on the Corvette. Granted, the bulk of the value that we offer our partners actually has very little to do with on-track success; but this win adds exposure to the activation of our alliance, and that is definitely a plus. I’m happy to win this one, not only for Joe Fisher and Michael Faulk at RacingRVs, but also for Charlie Stewart and the crew at Charlie Stewart Race Cars. They built me a great race car; and last year I made it look like an average machine at best. It’s been over a year since I parked this car in the winner’s circle, so it’s great to get it back there for them.
Bogacki’s path to victory in Indianapolis began with an opening round win over red-lighting Bill Jackson. He then knocked off up-and-coming sportsman standout Mia Tedesco in round two, and advanced past Gary Rogers, Bob Locke, Paul Richardson, and Bill McCulloch to reach the final alongside Lafollette. Bogacki’s starting line prowess was on display throughout the event, as he posted reaction times ranging from .004 to .017 throughout the 7 rounds of competition, averaging a stellar .010 light.
“The race with Mia was definitely my lucky round,” expressed Bogacki. “She has completely owned me over the last two years. I bet she’s beat me a dozen times, in every category, form of competition, and method you can imagine. I’m not sure I’ve ever beat her, and if I have it’s been so long ago I can’t remember it.”
Bogacki emerged from their second round encounter by a scant .001 of-a-second, as his .017-induced 9.917 just held off her .014, 9.921.
“I was definitely not trying to be .017 beside her,” Bogacki laughed. “I know that’s a competitive light, but she’s really good and she beats me like a drum; so I wasn’t even trying to be .007, much less .017! I was set up low .00 there. To compound my mistake on the starting line, I kind of lost track of track position down track, and I really didn’t execute my gameplan at the finish line. I came back to the pits and people were trying to give me way too much credit, saying ‘That was awesome, you took .001 at the finish line.’ The truth is, I got there first .001, and I honestly had no idea that I’d done it! I just ended up in the right place at the right time.”
From that round on, Bogacki explained that he was the beneficiary of good fortune.
“I raced a lot of good racers who all seemed to make their worst run of the event beside me,” he said. “I was solid on the tree, and I’d like to think I would have been hard to beat; but my opponents didn’t really test me. I had a couple red lights in the other lane, and the other rounds my opponents were either late or missed the 9.90 index badly. I’m not saying it was an easy win, there is no such thing. But it seemed like several opponents made uncharacteristic mistakes. Thankfully, I was able to capitalize on them.”
Bogacki’s RacingRVs Corvette features the same basic combination with which he closed the 2013 season, save for a handful of offseason updates. Toward the end of 2013, Bogacki installed a new APD Max Speed carburetor, with which he credits toward much of his turnaround with this combination. Prior to last weekend’s event Bogacki, a longtime Mickey Thompson Tires customer, made the switch to MT’s 3191W slicks, better known as the “Bubba Tire.” The 3191W incorporates technology that the MT staff implemented within the outlaw 10.5” market, and has now carried over to into bracket and sportsman category racing. Obviously, Bogacki was pleased with the performance of the new slicks and credits them in part for the victory.
RacingRVs.com is the major marketing partner on the LBM Corvette. The Dayton, OH based dealer of new and used trucks and trailers for the racing industry specializes in pre-owned truck conversion motorhomes, like the one that Bogacki uses to tow his racing operation and displays at each event he attends. For more information, stop by the LBM pit area at a future event or visit www.RacingRVs.com.
In addition to RacingRVs, Bogacki wished to recognize associate marketing partners on his Super Gas machine: K&N Filters, ThisIsBracketRacing.com, C.A.R.S. Protection Plus, Watts Auto Diesel Service, PCD Wraps & Graphics, Product Development Group (Makers of AirTek Pressure Systems and Flo-Fast Pumps), Advanced Product Design, JEGS, BTE, and Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels.
The Luke Bogacki Motorsports team also depends on quality products and services from the following manufacturers: Charlie Stewart Race Cars, Auto Meter, Lucas Oil Products, Moser Engineering, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Huntsville Engine & Performance, American Race Cars, Ohlins Shocks, Dixie Racing Products, Dedenbear, Renegade Racing Fuels, ISC Racer’s Tape, Nitrous Express, Hedman Hedders, K&R Performance Engineering, Nitroplate, California Car Cover, CollectorTethers.com, DragRaceResults.com, Todd’s Extreme Paint, Milodon, J&J Performance, Wiseco, Jesel, B&M, Earl’s, and Crane Cams.
Luke Bogacki will continue along the NHRA Lucas Oil trail this weekend with a stop at the Division 2 Lucas Oil Series double-header at Atlanta Dragway. Later in May he’ll attend the K&N Spring Fling 5-Day bracket event in Bristol, TN before making his 2014 national event debut at the NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka, KS.
To keep up with the Luke Bogacki Motorsports team, visit the Luke Bogacki Facebook page.
