|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big
Changes Led to Championship for Kirk
PITTSBORO, N.C. (November 15, 2016): “Everything was still
going wrong” is how Justin Kirk described the start of his
2016 season. Early exits marked the first half of the year
for the third generation racer. He and car owners Randy
and Cathy Kelly fought their dragster all season until the
Kellys made a daring decision to switch cars and motors
mid-season. After that Kirk began to dominate the
competition, winning his first ever national event,
following that up with another win and a semi-final finish
all en route to being crowned the PDRA 2016 Lucas Oil Top
Dragster World Champion.
“It’s really just now setting in,” told the 23 year old
West Virginia native. “People start calling ya the Champ
and you start to realize, ‘Hey I kinda did do something.’
It feels good to follow in the footsteps. Papaw’s done it;
my dad’s done it; now I’ve done it. It’s a surreal
feeling. We’ve accomplished a lot as a family. That means
a lot.”
Justin’s father Doug Kirk took two IHRA Pro Stock titles
in ‘91 and ‘93. He continues to be competitive in PDRA’s
Extreme Pro Stock and a third championship isn’t out of
the question for him. The racing patriarch of the family,
Carl, was also a champion racer many decades ago. The
apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the Kirk family.
This championship-winning season is only Justin’s second
year in Lucas Oil Top Dragster.
“Everybody said we were crazy, but it probably couldn’t
get no worse than what it was,” Kirk said of the
mid-season changes. “We changed the motor, the car,
everything but the driver. If it didn’t work out then I
guess we would have had to change the driver, but it
worked out. The whole package came together. The last half
of the season, I don’t know if you could have drawn it out
any better. Out of the last three races, we went to two
consecutive finals, winning both, and then one semi-final.
|
|
“That first win at GALOT
stands out because Dad and I won the race together, and it was my Top
Dragster first win, but the highlight of the season would have had to have
been the Bradenton make up race. We waited for two years for a win and
then we go back-to-back. That was a good feeling. When we won that, it
gave us a three round points lead. That made the season. It was our
turning point. We knew all we had to do was go to first or second round.
That took the load off our shoulders.”
Kirk didn’t have to wait long into the PDRA World Finals to put all doubt
to rest. “The first round of the Virginia race we had to run David [Brown,
number two in points]. We shook. I didn’t want to give up. I kept trying
to get the car under control. I noticed he was getting closer, but I
fought it all I could. Come to find out, he actually busted his
transmission and pushed a head gasket. I didn’t want to win with it
costing him that much, but I guess it was one of those meant-to-be deals.
That’s the way it should be though - running each other first round. I
didn’t want to set around in the bleachers and watch to see if I won it.”
Kirk had several sponsors on board for the final race of the year
including Glockner Auto Group, Martin’s Peterbilt, Killer Cat Diesel,
Snap-On Tools, SNS Tire, and Hoosier Racing Tire. He also thanked, “Randy
and Cathy Kelly, of course, along with their BWC Trucking business; Gary
Henry, my dad, my papaw, my whole family; my wife for getting everything
ready every race. I sure couldn’t get the trailer ready. My family
supports me in everything, whatever I need. They’re always there for me. I
also want to thank Matt Hornbuckle at PEM Performance built the motors. He
dropped everything he was doing to get the motor done for us. Actually, he
used his block. He had one laying in the floor getting ready to build his
own motor and he used it for us. And I also want to thank the PDRA and all
the staff for giving us a good place to race. It’s been a great year. We
look forward to next year.”
Next season, Justin will be back defending his championship in Top
Dragster as well as tuning for Doug’s Pro Stock car. Just to ensure they
keep busy at the track, Justin also plans to compete in PDRA’s Bracket
Bash. For Justin, being involved on the Pro Stock car is just as
gratifying as being behind the wheel himself.
“The Pro Stock car is like leaving work to go to a harder job. It’s a good
time, but it’s a lot of work,” added Justin, who also keeps busy with
three family businesses during the week. “Dan and I make the calls
together. Before he came along I made all the calls for the last four or
five years since we started doing our own motors. I do the clutch myself.
My uncle takes care of the engine part in between rounds, but when he
doesn’t show up I take care of that part, too.”
If funds become available at some point, Kirk hinted that they may
consider going to a two car Pro Stock team. “I love watching Dad race,
same way Randy would rather stand behind our dragster. But, my long term
dream would be to race Pro Stock. I love it; I love everything about it.
For now, as long as Randy wants to race I’m going to race with him. He
gave me my first chance and we won a championship together second year in.
I wouldn’t leave him for nothing. We have so much fun like it is, if it
would stay this way forever, I wouldn’t complain a bit.”
Even though Justin doesn’t race on a professional level like his dad just
yet and hasn’t amassed as many trophies, his Top Dragster machine actually
outpaces the Pro Stock car, giving the youngest Kirk a few bragging rights
in the West Virginia hills. Justin Kirk isn’t only the 2016 PDRA Top
Dragster World Champion, he’s also the “Fastest Kirk on the Hill”.
Photo: Gary Rowe /
PDRA660.com / RaceWorks.com
ABOUT THE PDRA
Based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the Professional Drag Racers
Association is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport
of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro
Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro Boost, and Pro Extreme Motorcycle along with Top
Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster, and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2016
PDRA schedule consists of nine national events. For more on the world’s
premier eighth mile drag racing organization visit
www.pdra660.com.
Follow the PDRA:
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
YouTube.
PRESS CONTACT: Lisa Collier
Professional Drag Racers Association
lisa@pdra660.com
704.692.4636
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|