Clevite Engine Parts continues to lead the pack during the 2006 motorsports season with legendary products, its commitment to service and support and for recognizing the talents of engine builders who help to make it all possible.
NASCAR RACING SERIES
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is only 15 races into the season, but talk regarding the Race for the Chase is already heating up among teams, drivers and fans. At this point, Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 UAW Dodge Dealers Dodge — has made his way to victory lane four times — the most of any driver so far this season.
The current leader of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points race is Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates have waved the checkered flag three times so far this season, including their win at the prestigious Daytona 500.
Hendrick Motorsports use the triumvirate of Clevite Engine Parts — Clevite 77 engine bearings, Victor Reinz gaskets and Perfect Circle piston rings.
“It takes a lot of people to turn a race shop into a well-oiled machine,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Our team depends on the folks at Clevite Engine Parts to provide us with the winning combination of parts, power and performance that carry us all to Victory Lane.”
In the Busch Series, Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 21 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet, has the most marks in the win column after completing the first sixteen races of the season. As always, the Busch Series boasts a mix of racing veterans and newcomers, who make for exciting racing for the fans and helps the drivers and their teams build experience. Harvick’s team relies on the combination of Clevite 77 engine bearings and Perfect Circle piston rings to help them go the distance on race day.
Ten races have been completed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and drivers Mark Martin, piloting the No. 6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Ford, and Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Tundra have three victories under their belts. Both the Roush-Yates and Toyota Racing Development teams use the legendary Clevite 77 engine bearings to power their way to victory lane.
CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER SHOWDOWN
The seventh season of the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown kicked off during the first week of May with all four rounds of competition held at the prestigious NASCAR Technical Institute. This year’s competition was intense and featured a blend of veteran and “rookie” competitors.
On Tuesday, May 23, in front of more than 1,500 fans, Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow of Hendrick Motorsports made their third straight final round appearance and built against first-time Showdown participants Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engineering.
Both teams stayed neck and neck throughout the entire build, working in perfect sync. Borem and Hoffman fired their engine two seconds ahead of Maiwald and Parsnow, but it cut out after running just a few seconds. Borem and Hoffman fired their engine again… but it was too late. When the noise stopped, Maiwald and Parsnow finally captured the prize that had eluded them the past two years – the Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy.
Maiwald and Parsnow posted a phenomenal build time of 16 minutes, 54 seconds (a new engine build record), with Borem and Hoffman of Pro Motor Engineering posting an equally impressive time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds. The competing engine builders assembled 357 cubic inch Ford engines — similar in design to those used by NASCAR’s Ford race teams.
NHRA RACING SERIES
On the NHRA circuit, the members of Clevite’s Nitro Club are lighting it up in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car series.
Melanie Troxel, pilot of the Skull Shine Top Fuel dragster, is on the top of her game this season. Troxel became the sixth woman in history to win a Top Fuel event at the season opener and has continued to make history with sixth straight final round appearances in Atlanta. Doug Kalitta has won four of the first eleven races this season. At this time, Troxel leads Kalitta by 48 points. Both teams trust nothing less than the legendary Clevite 77 engine bearings in the grooves of their rails.
Clevite Engine Parts sends best wishes to Cory McClenathan (“Cory Mac”), driver of the Fram Boost2 dragster. His car folded in two just behind the roll cage and burst into flames at Bristol, VA. “Mac” took a helicopter ride to the hospital for a precautionary check and was cleared to return to the track hours later. Two weeks later “Cory Mac” made it to the finals in Columbus.
In Funny Car, Ron Capps, driver of the Brut Racing Dodge Stratus, has captured five wins so far this season. Capps leads 13-time champion John Force in the point standings. Cruz Pedregon broke a win-less streak with a victory in Las Vegas.
McClenathan, Capps and Pedregon’s teams have found the winning combination with the help of Clevite 77 engine bearings and Perfect Circle piston rings.
For the latest information on Clevite Engine Parts, the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown and all aspects of Clevite’s motorsports and racing programs, visit www.motorheadheaven.com.