YNot Racing’s Canadian Mentor
Some interesting developments for Colorado-based YNot Racing team involves one of the true legends of Canadian drag racing….
Calgary’s Roger Bateman, one of Canada’s most winning drivers and who was voted by DragRaceCanada viewers as the top Pro Driver of the Year for 2009, has taken on a very interesting role with the team.
Long known for his absolutely amazing driving technique, Bateman will undergo a bit of a transition this season; a move from driving to tuning. Roger will call the shots for YNot Racing’s TAFC Ford Mustang. That was the very car which Roger drove for Winnipeg’s Brian Friesen – which has now been sold to the Jim Whiteley owned racing group. Jim’s wife Annie has begun her licensing process and is scheduled to begin competition soon.
“Brian (Friesen) decided he could not afford to do this anymore and I had been working with Jim and Norm (Grimes) on their Top Alcohol Dragster,” said Roger. “So when Brian’s Funny Car became available the team then ended up buying it. It is a good car that I am very experienced with. I will become Annie’s crew chief.”
For Bateman, who has driven a series of Top Alcohol cars since 1983, the change to racing from the outside will be an adjustment. But it is also something he is looking forward to doing.
“I’m ready for the challenge,” he continued. “I’ve been around the best (tuners) for a long time, guys like Les Davenport, Bob Reynolds and Ken Murray. Hopefully I have learned something from all those great guys. I will also get to work with Norm Grimes who as you know — may be the best there is out there.”
The YNot Racing team, which is based from Grand Junction, has been a serious NHRA Championship contender and player for a number of seasons in Top Alcohol Dragster. So expectations are high that the TAFC side of the operation could eventually become equally as competitive.
“It wasn’t that long ago that my future in drag racing was unclear,” Roger added. “But for whatever reasons it seems that every time I think it is going to stop – things end up better for me.”
Posted by: Bruce Biegler
(Bruce Biegler Photos)