K&N Spring Fling Promoter & Racer Peter Biondo Rocks Confidently Into Remaining Season
- 28 Oct 2013
"In 2010, my partner and good friend, Kyle Seipel and I dreamed up a business plan based on something we know, and have loved for years - drag racing. Four years later, the K&N Spring Fling brand of events has grown quicker than we could have ever imagined," remarked the Maspeth, New York resident. "At this point, I can confidently say we have the biggest and most talked about bracket race on both coasts, and the best part about it is that we love what we do, which makes the long days so much easier to deal with."
Statistically, new racing events average at best 150 entrants in their first year, the K&N Spring Fling Vegas event held in April, however, had 400 cars show up. "That was the highest of the 2013 highlights for us," said Biondo the promoter. "We were blown away when that many racers piled in." At their K&N Spring Fling 20s event in Bristol, Tennessee, Biondo and Seipel turned up the heat a notch further, breaking the single class event record when 500 cars came to race. As a driver, Biondo started the year off with a $5000 Super Gas win at South Georgia Motorsports Park in his K&N backed 1963 Corvette, and two days later he ended up in the Winners Circle of the NHRA Lucas Oil Race at the same venue, this time in his Super Stock Firebird. "The one thing that especially stands out about how I opened the season is, since it was my first time racing in three months, I was having more fun than normal just being on the track. Anytime you're having fun, it's easier to perform better." "Other than that, one thing that really stands out this year is the big buck $25,000 to win event at Atco in New Jersey," continued Biondo the racer. "Going into the event, I was a little uneasy about my chances because I took two months off from racing while promoting the K&N Spring Fling events, and this style of racing is about as tough as it gets. Day one I was able to put up nine near perfect .00 reaction times in a row and made it to the final of this big event. Although I lost in the final round, I still earned $10,000 for the runner up finish, but more importantly, my confidence was back."
Indeed, Biondo's mojo had been restored to its brilliant luster in that final round, as he left the line with a .006 reaction time and ran within five-thousandths of his dial, yet it wasn't good enough as Don Butkewitz had a perfect .000 reaction time and ran dead on the dial. "It was the best I have ever driven and still came up short" added Biondo after recording 14 runs in a row with a .009 reaction time or better. "It's a testament to how competitive racing has become". "I would rank this year as 'different' more than anything," says Biondo reflecting on his overall 2013 record. "Since focusing on the K&N Spring Fling events, I haven't raced quite as much. It's like starting up any business; you have to devote time to it, and a lot of it, from the months before an event, to the months after. Yes, I have had some race wins, but not as many as compared to other years in my overall resume. The plan is to hit it hard the last two months and hopefully finish off 2013 with another win or two." "We are getting ready to hit the final leg of the year pretty hard," says the six-time US Nationals Champion Biondo Rocks. "Starting with the NHRA event in Reading, Pennsylvania, then we're going to the Million Dollar Race in Alabama, and then we are heading to NHRA events in Vegas and Pomona." |
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| Related K&N News Articles about The K&N Spring Fling 20s and Thunder Valley Nationals: The 3rd Annual K&N Spring Fling 20s a Rip-Roaring Success for Racers and Fans; Peter Biondo Wins His 45th NHRA National Event at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals; Dan Fletcher Puts Both His K&N Camaros into Finals at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals - Nearly Doubles; K&N's Mike Edwards Makes It Three NHRA Pro Stock Wins in a Row at Thunder Valley National Event |
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