K&N's Steve Williams Wins at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series 40th Anniversary Event

17 May 2010

This marks Steve Williams' second final round win at the Ignitor event - he also won back in 2007 and was runner-up in 2008

Built on an old farmstead just northwest of Boise, Idaho, Firebird Raceway recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor, making it now the longest-running NHRA major drag racing event in the Pacific Northwest. It was 75-year-old general manager, Bill New, that decided on the name "Ignitor" for his inaugural event in 1971.

Next up for Steve Williams is the notorious Western Swing

This season-opening event marked the second stop in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series for Top Fuel, and nearly 400 racers showed up for the opening stop in the Division 6 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

In the Super Comp Final, Round 6 Eliminations it was K&N's own Vice President of Research and Development, Steve Williams taking the victory on a double breakout, as both drivers had identical lights.

Steve Williams took the victory on a double breakout, as both drivers had identical lights

"We race on a 9.20 index at this track," explains Williams. "This means we are trying to cover the 1320 feet in exactly 9.200 seconds. These races are won and lost by thousands of a second and sometimes ten-thousandths. That's called the margin of victory. Winning By one-thousandth of a second is about two and a half inches."

"A double break out is when both cars ran under the index, and the car that runs the least amount under the 9.20 standard is the winner. Identical lights means both cars left the starting line at the exact moment, to the thousandth of a second. In this case both cars left 25-thousandth after the green light came on. The goal is to leave at the exact time the green light comes on, and not before, because that would be a red light, and you lose."

Williams has been to the final round twice before, he won the event three years ago, and was runner-up in 2008.

"I always enjoy going to Boise, because my wife's mom and dad retired up there, and Shelby gets to ride the horses and see grandma and grandpa," says Williams.

"There is always a little extra confidence too that you feel when you go to the same race tracks that you have won at in previous years, and additionally, you have a lot of information regarding varying conditions already stored away. The race is always tough though, because it's still catching some rain, and even snow at times, so the tuning is a little tricky."

We wondered how much of Williams' personal racing insights carried over into product development.

"There is never a time that we aren't trying to improve our cars and products. I listen to other racers, and their needs, and also look for new opportunities to solve problems that people have at the track. It's a great class room. Most people would not guess that there are teachers and students, and they all share information, and compete together."

Next up for Williams is the notorious Western Swing - Seattle, Washington, Sonoma, California, then Topeka, Kansas and Indy. The Western Swing is often crucial to title hopes in the NHRA.

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