Dan Carter's 1969 Camaro Z28 Reacts at NHRA Route 66 Nationals
- 21 Jul 2011
Earlier Carter's car had mechanical problems that distracted him and left him frustrated. "The lights (reaction time) were much better this weekend," Carter said. "I found and repaired a problem in the carburetor that stopped the slow response when I smash it on the start. This eased my mind and allowed me to focus on the light." His focus paid off as his reaction times were getting better round by round. Anyone who follows drag racing will be quick to agree that the sport is a game of microseconds. In fact, according to Dan, the object of the game is to be the first driver to cross the finish line, yet not be too fast. It's essential that each driver has a rapport with their car. Carter has been racing for 29 years and has been driving the same car, a 1969 Camaro Z28, throughout his entire career. Referring to the car, Carter said, "We've had it in the family since 1976." When asked about the key to his success at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Carter credited it to a suggestion made by friend and fellow driver, Dan Fletcher. "I tend to be too conservative," explained Carter. "I race not to lose, and when you do that, you often lose," he said in a laughing tone of voice. "If you take chances and push it to the limit, you win. After watching me in the first round, Fletcher basically said, if you do another 31 in the second round, you're going to lose. So I went back out there and let it rip for the remainder of the rounds." From here on out Carter is planning to race to win. He is also confident that the key to his continued success throughout the remainder of the season is focus and to be aggressive on reaction time. Carter personally performs all preventive maintenance on his car. He is acutely aware of the importance in using the best products on the market. "I use all K&N filters on my engines, explained Dan. "I've been using K&N filters ever since I can remember. I've had good luck with engines, and they're the way to go." 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. |
