Stotz Racing successful at
NOPI Drag Racing
Association debut in Bristol
Written by: Pete terHorst
July 13, 2005
Kent Stotz, the Honda Rider’s Club of America-sponsored
motorcycle drag racer, enjoyed a spectacular debut at the NOPI
(Number One Parts, Inc.) Drag Racing Association (NDRA) Honda
Pro Street Tire-Bike class at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee, July
9-10.
Stotz set the quickest E.T. and the highest top speed of any Pro
Street Tire-Bike competitor at a NOPI event—7.44 seconds
at 195 mph—on his way to final round. “For our first
NOPI event this season, the big CBR did very well,” said
Stotz. “With 137-degree track temperatures and very humid,
90-degree ambient air conditions, the track surface was quite
challenging. We gave it our best in the final, but we both spun
the tire and we were the runner up.”
The four-time AMA Prostar champ made major changes to the induction
and electronic control systems on the Honda “Blackbird”
after last season, netting 65 more horsepower (550-plus overall)
from the virtually-stock 1100cc mill while running the same 30
pounds of boost. Stotz also pared away 30 pounds in chassis weight,
allowing the double-X to accelerate more rapidly. “We try
to take the class to the edge every year and this year we think
the fans will be getting their money’s worth,” he
said.
Speaking of his first NOPI event, Stotz was impressed, particularly
with the thousands of fans. “These people are accustomed
to seeing high-tech import car drag-racing, and they were equally-impressed
with the power we can generate on two wheels,” said Stotz.
“They were really enthusiastic and cheered for us when we
were on the podium.”
The next stop for Stotz Racing will be at the 2005 AMA Prostar
U.S. Drag Racing Series at Norwalk Raceway Park in Norwalk, Ohio,
July 15-17. The team then returns to the NOPI circuit on July
30-31 at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tennessee. |
