Kent Stotz Takes AMA/ProStar
Drag Racing National Championship Crown
11/16/2005
Written by: Pete terHorst
Four-time motorcycle drag racing champion Kent Stotz stood atop
a Finals podium for the second time in as many tries with a victory
in the Pro Street Class at the AMA/Prostar Drag Racing National
Championship in Gainesville, Fla., on Sunday, November 13, 2005.
Competing on the Honda Rider’s Club of America (HRCA) Stotz
Racing-sponsored turbocharged CBR1100XX, Stotz ran a 7.358-second
pass at 196.87 mph for the overall win. Even more remarkable,
he clocked the year’s quickest ET and fastest top speed
in the AMA/Prostar class during the third round of qualifying—a
scorching 7.335 seconds at 200.08 mph.
“Even with four national championships, this is our first
victory ever in an AMA/Prostar World Finals,” said an ebullient
Stotz. “What is even more amazing is that we won the NOPI
World Finals at Norwalk in Ohio just one month ago. I am so proud
of our team and our sponsors, especially the Honda Rider’s
Club of America. This victory gives us a lot of momentum going
into our winter testing and the 2006 season.”
On October 16 at the NOPI World Finals, Stotz reeled off an even
quicker ET during a testing session—7.26 seconds at 198
mph—on his way to victory in the HRCA-sponsored Pro Street
Tire Bike class.
“We’ve had a very good year and showcased motorcycle
drag racing to thousands of first-time fans,” said Stotz
of his participation in the two sanctioned series. “Building
and winning a street-tire motorcycle with 550 horsepower is no
small feat. Now that we have worked out the bugs, we are ready
for an all-out assault on the record books next year.”
Just one year ago at the Gainesville Finals, Stotz became the
first racer to set the 200 mph record in AMA/Prostar Street Bike
Shootout competition with a 200.49 mph run in 7.256 seconds. For
2005, AMA/Prostar reworked the class rules—which effectively
slowed the bikes down—and renamed the series Pro Street.
Stotz countered with a lighter bike and major changes to the induction
and electronic control systems of the Honda, netting 65 more horsepower
(550-plus overall). The fact that this year’s CBR1100XX
is nearly as quick and fast as last year’s machine is a
testament to Stotz’s ingenuity and determination.
Stotz Racing salutes all of its sponsors for 2005: the
Honda Rider’s Club of America, Velocity Racing Turbo Systems,
Joe Rocket, Pingel Enterprise, Honda Pro Oils, Star Racing, JE
Pistons, RC Components, AirTech, Falicon Crankshaft Components,
Schaumburg Honda, and HyperPro Racing Suspension.
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