Pre-Season Preparation Continues for Napa Q32 Teams

Status Quo for Grubb Racing TS Cavalier after successful 2010 season…..Tony Positano adds Nitrous Injection to his Top Dragster….

Posted by:  Tim Miller
 
After running a season with a new engine in their 2004 Chevy Cavalier Top Sportsman entry, Grubb Racing (Pine River ON) is only making some minor changes for the upcoming Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts of drag racing.
 
“We feel pretty good about the upcoming year,” said team driver Darrin Grubb. “We’re not doing too much new on the car, just a little freshening.”
 
The team placed seventh in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series in 2010, highlighted with a Top Sportsman division win and a Series event win at Cayuga during the Canadian Nitro Nationals. The team always qualified for the field during the season, and also made some first, second, and semi round appearances. Grubb said it was important for the team to run consistent.
 
“Consistency is our main focus,” he explained. “We want to go rounds rather than go fast.”
 
Powering the Cavalier is a Chevrolet 706-cubic inch Par Racing Engine, coupled to a Hutch’s Transmission Service two-speed Powerglide, which all sits in a Chris Duncan Race Cars product.
 
The fuel system is provided by George Rupert of Rupert’s Racing Products, which Grubb said has been an important factor to the team’s success.
 
“We would not be where we are today without George and his help,” he said.
 
Mike Dennis is crew chief on the team, along with Marvin and Barb Grubb. The team has been racing for about 20 years.
 
Sponsors on the team include Marvin’s Automotive Service Ltd., Pennzoil, Hutch’s Transmission Service, Ideal Supply, Chris Duncan Race Cars, Foris Signs and Par Racing Engines, and Grubb wanted to tip his hat to the sponsors.
 
“We’re very grateful for the involvement of our sponsors,” he said. “They have been awesome.”
 
Grubb said the team will be ready for the opening round of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge May 20-22 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park.
 
And he said the team enjoys racing in the series.
 
“Everybody gets along great,” he said. “Bruce (Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series) and his officials do a wonderful job of putting on these races. It has been a lot of fun.”
During the off-season  Toronto’s Tony Positano has been working on his Top Dragster in the hopes of making faster passes for the upcoming Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
 
“Last year we were qualifying 12th or 13th,” he explained. “And with the new additions coming on board this year I don’t want to get bumped out of the program.”
 
So Positano has had the 565-cubic inch Stefko Racing Engines powerplant in his 245″ Mike Bos Slip Joint Dragster freshened up, and has added a nitrous system with a MagnaFuel Racing Fuel Systems setup. Ron Shilling, who prepared the two-speed Powerglide transmission, also provided his expertise with the nitrous system.
 
Positano believes these updates will keep him competitive.
 
He qualified for all but one of the 2010 Quick 32 Sportsman Series events, and went to the second round of eliminations twice in the six-race series. He is hoping for more success this year.
 
“We need to pick up a couple of tenths,” he said. “There’s going to be some strong competition this season.”
 
Crew chief for the team is Kelly Sams, and Ron Shilling also lends a hand. The team receives sponsorship from Lucas Oil Products Canada and Vinylbilt Windows & Doors.
 
Although he has only raced for a few years, Positano said he thoroughly enjoys the competition and the atmosphere that drag racing in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series provides.
 
“Kelly and I will still be thrashing every weekend,” he explained. “It’s a great community and a great social event.
 
“It’s in your blood,” he went on. “I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
 
Positano and his Top Dragster will take to the track for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series season opener May 20-22 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park for the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge.
 
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@Quick32.ca