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also liked the PDRA two
day race format and eighth mile racing. It’s a safe place to race with
an awesome track and great people to deal with. Ron [Bales, team
co-owner] and I both love heads up drag racing. There are several
really fast dragsters that feel like we do, so hopefully it can grow
into another class at PDRA.”
At the PDRA Summer Drags, Esz laid down an astounding 3.696 to reset
the Top Dragster elapsed time world record. This also awarded him the
number one qualifying position and a spot in the Ultra 4 Shootout.
“I think Ron was more excited than me. We only have 15 runs on the car
this year. We made some mistakes and did a real big wheel stand in Q2
which really could have ended ugly, but luck, a blessing and some
driving saved the day.
“We have the best crew,” added Esz. “Without them we just could not do
it. Lauren, my fiancé, and my friend Jim Casto are awesome. My son
Tristan is the video man and then Shadow keeps a watch while we are
making runs.This hot rod is a beast and we are looking for some faster
times yet.”
Esz has a good chance at breaking his own World Record. He’s been
competing - and winning - such shootouts as the Ultra 4 for years.
Although he started out in truck pulling, he made the switch to racing
in 1990 when he bought a Spitzer Dragster. The engine in his pulling
truck went straight into his dragster and proved to be a winning
combination. He and his crew, which then consisted of his father and
mother, found their way to the winner’s circle in their very first ET
bracket race.
The need for speed was strong in Esz, so he and his father began
competing in the NHRA Division 3 Spitzer Super Quick Series in 1992,
finishing second in points and then winning it all in 1993 when Esz
was also voted NHRA Division 3 Driver of the Year.
After scaling back on traveling and focusing locally for a few years,
Esz invested in a new Spitzer Dragster and BAE engine in 2006. “Many
racers told us we would spend a year just trying to get it down the
track,” Esz remembered. “The third time out with the car we won a
quick 8 race at Clay City. I had some good coaches through this
process - Jeff Fowler and Larry Snyder. So in 2006 and 2007 we won the
Pro Top Outlaws Championship.
“At the end of 2007 I sold my car and decided to concentrate on my
business, Phil Esz Equipment LLC. I couldn’t believe how much
difference it made. I knew it was not getting the attention it needed,
but was amazed at the difference it made.”
That business has now grown and also allowed Esz to form UltraSonic
LLC. “Four years ago I started selling Ultrasonic Cleaning machines in
the automotive industry. I saw some improvements that could be made on
the machines and decided to start UltraSonic LLC. It allows me to move
into many markets. Everything needs cleaned and what amazes me about
UltraSonic is it cleans where you can’t touch, see or feel, deep
cleaning the parts. We have videos available of this on our website.”
For more information on UltraSonic, LLC, visit the website:
www.ultrasonicllc.com.
With the focus on his business paying off, Esz was ready get back
behind the wheel in 2013. “Ron Bales and I were talking about buying
his old car back. Before Ron and I bought the car my father passed in
February of 2013. We bought the car two weeks later. I wish my father
would have known. He loved racing. He was my hero and taught me more
than I ever realized. So the Bales and Esz Racing Team was born.”
Bales and Esz Racing Team has proven to be just as competitive as Esz
was before his racing hiatus. The new World Record attests to this and
stands as a lasting tribute to Esz’s late father, who would no doubt
be incredibly proud of the legacy his son now carries on.
Photo: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA660.com
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