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Classic
Graphix Honors Ferguson’s 3.79 Run
PITTSBORO, N.C. (July 20, 2017): At this past weekend’s
PDRA Mid-America Nationals, Dan Ferguson, driving the
Henry Dogay-owned ‘68 Camaro, made history as the first
Top Sportsman to make a sub 3.80 run. Ferguson, aided by
Dogay and crew chief Rick Fogle, made the most of the
post-sundown run on Friday night to take the “Cajun
Nightmare” where no Top Sportsman car had gone before.
Despite still having high humidity and water grains in the
air, the Musi Racing Engines 959 powerplant plumbed with
four stages of nitrous had enough umph to slide into the
elusive 3.70-range. Ferguson recorded a 3.799 at 196.53
MPH to etch himself in the history books.
Last season, PDRA apparel provider, Classic Graphix,
sponsored a program to reward record-breakers in the Pro
Mod classes. A Top Sportsman reward was added on for the
first person to make a 3.70 run.
“Last year we came up with the program to reward these
racers with $1000,” explained Scott Bathurst, owner of
Classic Graphix. “No one was able to do that in Top
Sportsman last season and nothing was ever discussed or
put in writing for this year. After Dan went 3.79, they
came by and asked if the program was still on. I wanted to
honor their accomplishment, so I decided to still do the
reward, even though it wasn’t really on the table this
year. The PDRA is a great organization. I want to do
anything I can do to help out the series and racers.”
“I'm really grateful to Scott and Classic Graphix for
honoring this deal, even when it wasn't on the program for
this year,” thanked Ferguson. “He does our shirts; they
are awesome. Scott's been real good to work with. I love
his designs. The reward had expired, but he's honoring it
anyway. That says a lot about what kind of person he is.”
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Although Ferguson had the
chance to try for a new Top Sportsman record, he did not try to back up
the 3.799, preferring instead to use his other qualifying runs to get a
setup for eliminations.
“We have not yet attempted to go for the record,” he continued. “I like to
be in bracket mode for the first qualifying session since it's typically
the same weather and time of day we'll see in eliminations. Then the
second, night session is when we turn it up to go fast. Saturday morning I
like to be back in bracket mode for a time trial. We will go for it when
the time is right.
“The air wasn't great [on that 3.79 run]. There was a lot of humidity and
water grains. Some people say we're running a Pro Nitrous car, but we run
at 130 or 150 pounds heavier than a Pro Nitrous car. It was originally
built with a naturally aspirated motor. It didn't even have a bottle mount
in it. It wasn't wired for nitrous. It's got a fiberglass body. It's got a
dash. It has a transmission tunnel. It's heavy. Henry Dogay custom ordered
this car himself to be a Top Sportsman car in 2014. Many of my competitors
have carbon fiber bodies, carbon brakes, Ness four-link brackets, etc.
There’s a lot of cars that are more Pro Mod-like than this one.”
The two-time champ admits that making the historic run is a highlight of
the season, which has been an uncharacteristic struggle for Ferguson. “We
spent the first four races working out a lot of bugs. Then the last two
races, the car's been good and I've made mistakes. We had to get two
different tune ups developed, one for going fast and one for bracket
racing. We haven't gone testing. We just showed up at the PDRA races with
it, so we've been kind of unprepared. Now the car is running great. We’re
out of time to make a bid for another championship, but being able to be
the first in the 3.70s is pretty cool. And having the support of great
companies like Classic Graphix, along with my car owner Henry Dogay, Rick
Fogle, Rossler Transmissions, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Doorslammers Plus,
Protect the Harvest, my parents and the PDRA makes it possible to keep
going and come back for more.”
Check out Classic Graphix PDRA apparel on
http://www.pdrashop.com/cart
PDRA extends deepest sympathies and prayers to the Dogay/Ferguson team and
Fogle family on the passing crew chief Rick Fogle. He will be greatly
missed. Rick passed away today from a stroke, just days after he helped
the team make this historic run.
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, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Extreme
Motorcycle along with several sportsman and various exhibition categories.
The 2017 PDRA schedule consists of eight national events. For more on the
world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing organization visit
www.pdra660.com. Follow the PDRA: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube.
Photo: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA660.com
PRESS CONTACT: Lisa Collier
Professional Drag Racers Association
lisa@pdra660.com
704.692.4636
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