Quick 32 Champion – Kevin Wicke – Profiled 

By:  Tim Miller

With a another consistent and solid year, Kevin Wicke and the K&K Racing Team captured the 2010 Championship in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, taking back-to-back titles in the popular drag racing series. 
Wicke and his team also took the 2009 Championship, and he said that he believes consistency and working with a devoted team is the reason for success.
 
“We had a good year, everything went well,” said Wicke. “Consistency is a very big factor in racing,” he continued. “We qualified well and went a bunch of rounds, and our car never let us down.”
 
Wicke drives a 2006 Dodge Stratus in the Series’ Top Sportsman class, which is comprised of 16 door cars for the elimination rounds. There are also 16 Top Dragsters which compete, and the final eliminator in each class is pitted against each other for an event champion. 
 
Winning the 2010 title by a mere two points over top dragster driver Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ontario, Wicke qualified number one in two events of the 2010 Quick 32 Sportsman Series, qualified second in two others, and was third in the line-up for the other two events in the six-race series. The team recorded two runner-up positions in the Top Sportsman class, a semi-final round, two eight-round finishes, and a win in the Top Sportsman class with an event runner-up.
 
Wicke said he has raced for close to 30 years, and has been behind the wheel of a full-fendered car almost exclusively during that time. Along with competing in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, he has raced in the NHRA and IHRA.
 
His RJ Race Cars Stratus is powered by a 604-cubic inch with B1 Heads, nitrous assisted, and a Hutch’s Transmission Service two-speed Powerglide with a Coan Engineering convertor sit behind the engine. The fuel system is provided by MagnaFuel Racing Fuel Systems, and an Induction Solutions nitrous system is utilized. 
 
Kevin Zimmer is the crew chief for the team. Dan Culliton, Dennis Culliton, Derek Dotzert, Kody and Kayden Wicke also are part of the team.
 
Wicke mentioned that several members of the team have worked with him for many years, and he believes this is an important factor in winning.
 
“My crew guys are the best in the world,” he said. “Zim has been with me for close to 20 years and rest of the guys have been with us for a many years, and everyone knows their job. This takes a team effort and we have one of the best.”
 
Sponsorship for the effort comes from CVR Inc., Fraser Asphalt Paving, Perth Auto Dismantlers, Skully Bros. Metal Fabrication, Bear’s Performance Products, Ron’s Precision Machine, Fram Canada, Patio Passport, Hutch’s Transmission and K&K Racing & Performance.
 
He added he expects minimal changes for the Stratus in 2011, but will be ready for the show next year.
 
“I’m really impressed with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series,” he noted. “It’s a great group of guys. I’m real happy with our year and the Series.”  
 
The PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series winners will be honored at the “Night of Champions” on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
 
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@Quick32.ca
 
About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts:
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, of drag racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a regular basis, and will continue in 2011 for its third full season.
 
With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled cars (Top Dragster) and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series featured the best in ET-style, dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman ladder and pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race day final. 
 
Competitors in this exciting Series must comply with the IHRA Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be 7.95 seconds for the quarter-mile.
 
This new venture provided $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for the annual Championship Point Award Series Champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will provide large fields of race cars. 
 
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional atmosphere for its teams. It also provides solid media and logistic support, ensuring itself as one of the most popular drag race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster race cars.
 
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts competes several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing.
 
Photo Credit: Canadian Drag Racing Photos – www.canadiandragracingphotos.com
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Bruce F. Mehlenbacher
Director of Operations
Telephone: (905) 772-1800 Ext. #22
Cellular: (905) 517-5345
 
Tim Miller
Media Director
Telephone: (905) 870-1456