MUSI: CONSIDER THIS A WARNING
Thu, 2009-06-11 16:01
Pat Musi may not be a regular trailblazer on the NMCA Pro Street tour,
but the cagey veteran warns his detractors this past weekend
that he’s still capable of winning, inside of the car or out.
Musi, of Carteret, N.J., helped to guide first-time Pro Street racer Joe Dunne to his first national event victory at the expense of Troy Coughlin.
Along with exceptional assistance from past Pro Stock racer Joe Lepone Jr., Musi orchestrated a winning effort with Dunne delivering the goods at the end of the day.
that he’s still capable of winning, inside of the car or out.
Musi, of Carteret, N.J., helped to guide first-time Pro Street racer Joe Dunne to his first national event victory at the expense of Troy Coughlin.
Along with exceptional assistance from past Pro Stock racer Joe Lepone Jr., Musi orchestrated a winning effort with Dunne delivering the goods at the end of the day.
It would seem that Musi is content living vicariously through Dunn, with whom the eight-time world champion and 44-time national event champion, rates as a very talented and up-and-coming driver.
Musi said the performance through Dunn was sending a loud and clear message to the competition, that although he’s been dormant for a couple of season, the dog still has plenty of bite.
“I’ve been known to do that from time to time,” Musi explained, talking about his bite. “Remember Atco a couple years ago? It’s amazing how they seem to forget. Consider this win a wake-up call that we have a team that is capable of winning.”
Musi understands he may be considered arrogant, but he’s quick to point out that having a high performance standard for his team whether dating back to his days of running Pro Stock (both NHRA and IHRA), Pro Modified and Pro Street is what drove him to perform.
Sunday in Maple Grove, Musi combined those standards with a driver in Dunn, which produced a total package.
“My cars are always at the front of the pack and whether I’m tuning or driving, you can count on that fact that I’m coming,” Musi added.
Musi told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s spent the last two seasons working on his race engine business and in the spare time assisted Edelbrock on the development of their newest cylinder head line. In addition, he’s invested a considerable amount of time with engine builder Sonny Leonard in developing reliable mountain motors which displace over 900 cubic inches. He’s also used the time away from the driving cockpit to assist his customers at the track.
That same customer service, Musi admits, is what crossed his path with Dunn.
“We started working together last when he bought one of my used 755-inch used engines,” Musi explained. “The engine was a 5-inch, which it is now a 5.200 or a 5.300, and had some success with the engine but his biggest drawback was a car that couldn’t handle what the engine was putting out.”
Musi pointed out that Dunn wanted to purchase one of the new Musi/Leonard 903-inch engines, but his racing budget couldn’t absorb a new engine and car purchase. Musi instructed Dunn to purchase a new car from Jerry Bickel and they’d make the 755 work for the time being.
“We put EFI on his car and he was skeptical about the EFI system and I made a deal with him that if my way didn’t work, I’d give him his carburetors back,” Musi said. “That was an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
The recent success with Dunn, has it started Musi thinking his time might be better served outside of the car?
“Yes and no,” Musi answered. “My biggest frustration has always been having the driver screw up, but I tell you … this kid [Dunn], he’s good. I’ve seen drivers come and go, but this kid is good. There’s even more room for him to be even better. Now it has me rethinking about whether I want to drive.
“I still drive the car for Frank in Curacao; he’s getting a new car built, so I will still do some driving but not full time. I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes.”
The one thing Musi’s saying loud and clear with his actions is that he’s still got what it takes to win in Pro Street.
Joe
Dunn is a driver who Pat Musi regards as one of the up and comers in
Pro Street. He won Pro Street in his first outing last weekend in
Reading, Pa.
Musi, of Carteret, N.J., helped to guide first-time Pro Street racer Joe Dunne to his first national event victory at the expense of Troy Coughlin.
Along with exceptional assistance from past Pro Stock racer Joe Lepone Jr., Musi orchestrated a winning effort with Dunne delivering the goods at the end of the day.
Joe Dunn is a driver who Pat Musi regards as one of the up and comers in Pro Street. He won Pro Street in his first outing last weekend in Reading, Pa.
Musi, of Carteret, N.J., helped to guide first-time Pro Street racer Joe Dunne to his first national event victory at the expense of Troy Coughlin.
Along with exceptional assistance from past Pro Stock racer Joe Lepone Jr., Musi orchestrated a winning effort with Dunne delivering the goods at the end of the day.
It would seem that Musi is content living vicariously through Dunn, with whom the eight-time world champion and 44-time national event champion, rates as a very talented and up-and-coming driver.
Musi said the performance through Dunn was sending a loud and clear message to the competition, that although he’s been dormant for a couple of season, the dog still has plenty of bite.
“I’ve been known to do that from time to time,” Musi explained, talking about his bite. “Remember Atco a couple years ago? It’s amazing how they seem to forget. Consider this win a wake-up call that we have a team that is capable of winning.”
Musi understands he may be considered arrogant, but he’s quick to point out that having a high performance standard for his team whether dating back to his days of running Pro Stock (both NHRA and IHRA), Pro Modified and Pro Street is what drove him to perform.
Sunday in Maple Grove, Musi combined those standards with a driver in Dunn, which produced a total package.
An eight-time Pro Street champion, Musi proved that he can win inside or out of the car when he and Joe Lepone Jr. guided Dunne to the winner's circle last weekend.
Musi told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s spent the last two seasons working on his race engine business and in the spare time assisted Edelbrock on the development of their newest cylinder head line. In addition, he’s invested a considerable amount of time with engine builder Sonny Leonard in developing reliable mountain motors which displace over 900 cubic inches. He’s also used the time away from the driving cockpit to assist his customers at the track.
That same customer service, Musi admits, is what crossed his path with Dunn.
“We started working together last when he bought one of my used 755-inch used engines,” Musi explained. “The engine was a 5-inch, which it is now a 5.200 or a 5.300, and had some success with the engine but his biggest drawback was a car that couldn’t handle what the engine was putting out.”
Musi pointed out that Dunn wanted to purchase one of the new Musi/Leonard 903-inch engines, but his racing budget couldn’t absorb a new engine and car purchase. Musi instructed Dunn to purchase a new car from Jerry Bickel and they’d make the 755 work for the time being.
“We put EFI on his car and he was skeptical about the EFI system and I made a deal with him that if my way didn’t work, I’d give him his carburetors back,” Musi said. “That was an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
The recent success with Dunn, has it started Musi thinking his time might be better served outside of the car?
“Yes and no,” Musi answered. “My biggest frustration has always been having the driver screw up, but I tell you … this kid [Dunn], he’s good. I’ve seen drivers come and go, but this kid is good. There’s even more room for him to be even better. Now it has me rethinking about whether I want to drive.
“I still drive the car for Frank in Curacao; he’s getting a new car built, so I will still do some driving but not full time. I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes.”
The one thing Musi’s saying loud and clear with his actions is that he’s still got what it takes to win in Pro Street.
Advertisement
Categories:
