American Racing Royalty Win Twice in NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove
- 28 Aug 2009
Dan Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher are the fourth father and son to win at the same national racing event
Twin 1969 Chevy Camaro race cars owned by Sportsman Class racer Dan Fletcher
Thanks to K&N products, my cars outlast and out perform, said 63 time national event winner Dan Fletcher
Dan Fletcher won in Comp Eliminator and joined his son in the Winner's Circle as Thomas Fletcher took his first ever national even win in Stock Eliminator
1969 Camaro Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history
Proud father and son at Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania
Thomas Fletcher, 19, had his first ever national event win over Kevin Fogerty in Stock Eliminator in his father’s 1969 K&N Chevy Camaro. Right after that race Dan Fletcher jumped in Rick Braun’s 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt for an emotional win in Comp Eliminator and his 63rd national event win.
“It was a dream come true,” said Dan Fletcher. “My son drove my high-school car to the win. He’s a gifted talented racer. He’s smooth, like butter on the track.”
The race weekend did not start out so well for the Fletchers. “This has been a very tough year with weather on the NHRA circuit,” said Fletcher. “It rained a little and quickly turned hot, humid and nasty. The sun brought out the water on the track and we sat in the pits. Thomas got one time trial run in stock. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
When racing resumed the junior Fletcher made it to the final round and Dan and his wife held their breath. “I watched Thomas leave and I told my wife it looked decent,” said an emotional Fletcher. “Then I was standing behind her, holding onto her and I cringed when I heard the other guy ripping the gas. But, Thomas won and we jumped on the scooter and went down the end of the track, held Thomas and we all cried. It was so amazing.”
“When I got to the thousand foot mark, I figured I had a good shot at the win,” said Thomas Fletcher. “I love driving my dad’s car. I’ve been around racing all my life and this national win was a great way to thank my dad.”
There is another car in the Fletcher stable, a matching K&N 1969 Camaro that belonged to Dan’s father or Thomas’ grandfather. “The Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history,” said Dan Fletcher. “It was my dad’s car and there is a lot of sentimental value attached to it. He bought it as a race car and it was never on the street.”
Dan Fletcher won’t let Thomas drive his grandfather’s Camaro yet, he said it is a sacred vessel in the Fletcher family racing history. “If I could have won in my dad’s Camaro, it would have made our great day even better,” said Dan Fletcher. “I’m still not ready to let Thomas drive that car.”
Either way, wins-are-wins, and for the Fletchers, it’s not the passing of the torch but the passing of another racing era. That racing era includes K&N. “Thanks to K&N air filters and oil filters my engines have outlasted and outperformed,” said Fletcher. “K&N helps us keep winning in the family.”
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
