(Photo: Drag Illustrated)
To a racer, seven weeks between races is a long time.
After winning your first NHRA National Event – seven weeks seems like an eternity. Dean Dubbin and the Dubbin Racing Team return to action this week and hope to keep the Norwalk winning momentum rolling at Brainerd.
Dubbin picked up the win at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals as a car owner. This week he will be back behind the wheel where he is no stranger to final rounds and winning events in a Top Alcohol Dragster. In 2018 he picked up a win at the Dallas NHRA Regional Event, appeared in another 5 final rounds, and lost a close final-round matchup against Jackie Fricke at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd.
The DMP Awnings & Kentex Roofing Systems sponsored team has plenty of winning experience throughout the organization, anchored by the father & son tuning duo of Clay and Chase Copeland. The innovative pair have raced their own injected nitro cars for decades, and Chase is one of the industry’s top chassis builders.
Dean acknowledged the benefit of the Copeland’s experience when switching from the supercharged, methanol-burning, torque converter combination to the Injected Nitro car.
“We ran both cars in 2022. That was a challenge trying to navigate between two different setups, nothing interchanged and just learning the fuel system and clutch differences is the hardest.”
“Chase & Clay Copeland have made the transition easy. So far we seem to be on the right track with the engine combination. It makes great power and we are getting the car to make consistent and aggressive runs.”
Dubbin recalled the early season success with the new car and engine combination.
“The car started out really good at Gainesville to start the season, said Dubbin. It comes right out at the Gators and goes 5.28 at 274 mph to get in a tough field in the number 6 spot. Then, first round I’m out on Brad McBride, and the chutes come out at half track and he gets around me by a few feet at the finish line. It was a sad way to lose but we all knew then we had a car that could complete in this tough class. The win in Norwalk with Kirk Wolf driving solidified the confidence of the whole team and our belief that we can compete and win against the best cars in the class.”
Dubbin hasn’t been in the seat since the Gator Nationals, but with the recent success of the car, he believes he can repeat the accomplishments of the Norwalk Race.
“We hope to unload at Brainerd and start where we left off in Norwalk – the car was perfect”.
The Dubbin Racing Team will be in competition this coming weekend at The NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd Internation Raceway – in Brainerd Minnesota. The Event times are listed below and if you can’t be there in person don’t forget to watch all the action live on NHRA.tv.
Race Notes:
You will see the #MauiStrong and “Pray For Maui” stickers on the AFuel Dragster and the Dubbin Racing Front Engine Top Dragster at Brainerd.
The fires in Maui over the past weeks have been devastating to the Island. Many families in the direct path of these fires have lost everything, including their homes and businesses.
The #MauiStrong and “Pray For Maui” vinyl stickers will be available at the DMP Awnings – Dubbin Racing Trailer.
Please join everyone at DMP Awnings & Dubbin Racing and make any donation you can in this effort to help these strong people as they go through the rebuilding of their lives.
Information will be available about organizations set up to help those affected by the fires.
Event Overview:
The NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd Internation Raceway – in Brainerd Minnesota (Tentative Schedule – Not Official)
Friday, Aug. 18 (Top Alcohol, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
Top Alcohol Qualifying Sessions (2)
(Q1): 1:15 p.m. CDT/2:15 p.m. EDT)
(Q2): 4:35 p.m. CDT/5:35 p.m. EDT)
Saturday, Aug. 19 (Top Alcohol, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
Top Alcohol Sessions Qualifying (1) & Eliminations (1)
(Q3): 11 a.m. CDT/12 p.m. EDT)
(R1): 5:20 p.m. CDT/6:20 p.m. EDT)
Sunday, Aug. 20 (Top Alcohol, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
Top Alcohol Eliminations Continued
(R2): 12:40 p.m. CDT/1:40 p.m. EDT)
(Semi-Final): 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT)
(Final): 3:40 p.m. CDT/4:40 p.m. EDT)
Stay in touch with the Dubbin – DMP Awnings Team:
Facebook – @DMPAwnings
Instagram – @DMPAwnings_
Twitter – @DMPAwnings
Racer.media – @DMPAwnings
Team Support:
DMP Awnings | Kentex Roofing Systems | Central McGowan | Noonan | NGK Spark Plugs | Goodson | Copeland Race Cars
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