CARPENTER IN CATCH-UP MODE
Fri, 2008-07-25 16:27
Charles Carpenter has some catching up to do.
The Pro Modified icon, who was one of the founding fathers of the class
behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevrolet doorslammers, sits in 17th place
in the American Drag Racing League’s Pro Nitrous division.
Carpenter has only four races in which to accrue enough points to climb into the top eight and earn a berth into the championship determining Battle for the Belts, October 24, in Dallas, Texas.
He fired the first salvo towards that goal by reaching the final round earlier this month at the ADRL Independence Drags in Radford, Va.
“Our goal is to keep our consistency up, and go as many rounds as possible,” said Carpenter. “If we can go rounds over the course of the next couple races, we may be able to crack the top 8 and compete for a championship at the end of the year. That’s our ultimate goal.” Pro Modified icon gunning for points to get into ADRL Pro Nitrous Playoffs …
Charles Carpenter has some catching up to do.
The Pro Modified icon, who was one of the founding fathers of the class behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevrolet doorslammers, sits in 17th place in the American Drag Racing League’s Pro Nitrous division.
Carpenter has only four races in which to accrue enough points to climb into the top eight and earn a berth into the championship determining Battle for the Belts, October 24, in Dallas, Texas.
He fired the first salvo towards that goal by reaching the final round earlier this month at the ADRL Independence Drags in Radford, Va.
“Our goal is to keep our consistency up, and go as many rounds as possible,” said Carpenter. “If we can go rounds over the course of the next couple races, we may be able to crack the top 8 and compete for a championship at the end of the year. That’s our ultimate goal.”
That goal would be an impressive feat for a team that consists of no full time employees, has no primary sponsor, a shoestring budget, is four races in the hole, and campaigns a brand new race car.
“Our calling card has always been the underdog role,” Carpenter said. “Add all those things in with the fact that we are racing a brick compared to all these ultra slick cars, and you have a nice uphill fight on your hands.”
Carpenter failed to qualify at last season’s ADRL opening points earning event at the ADRL World Finals in Dallas, Texas. The ADRL’s unique point championship allows racers to begin earning points during the final event of the season and their points earned transfer over to the following season. The top eight points earners are paired together and the winner of the event is declared the champion.
Not only did Carpenter fail to qualify at that event last year, but also missed the first three events of this season while breaking in a new car. Carpenter turned to former IHRA Pro Stock world champion Mike Bell to help him get the new ’55 Chevy on the right path.
“Mike is one of the best in the business when it comes to chassis tuning, so I had confidence that he could get us straightened out,” Carpenter said. “Paul Albino from Total Induction Tuning Solutions combined his knowledge with Mike’s and we found a really consistent combination before we headed to Radford. I can’t thank those guys enough.”
Carpenter stands 263 points out of reaching the top eight in point earners. Each round in ADRL competition accounts for 100 points. When the first round of qualifying for this weekend’s ADRL U.S. Drags in Budds Creek, Md., fires off, Carpenter will be in hunting and gathering mode.
“We have had a couple weeks off to get everything freshened up and make a few changes on the car. Our goal is to go rounds at Budds Creek, but we are also shooting to break the 3-second barrier,” said Carpenter. “We are right there, and with the great atmospheric conditions and extremely well prepared track that MIR is known for, it is a great opportunity to get into the 3’s.”
MIR was the site of the debut of Carpenter’s partnership with New Hampshire based Pro Mod racer Pat Doherty, a partnership that is in its 5th successful season. Carpenter will also be flying the colors of another familiar partner this weekend. Custom Autosound, a California based manufacturer of aftermarket stereo products for 50s, 60s, and 70s classic cars, has just renewed its associate sponsorship of Charles Carpenter Racing, a partnership that is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008.
“Carl Sprague and Custom Autosound have been with me ever since we started touring the country in 1988, and it’s great to have them back again,” Carpenter said. “For a sponsorship to last for 20 consecutive years is a great honor and a testament to the loyalty of Carl and everyone at Custom Autosound. It will make this weekend even more special.”
The Pro Modified icon, who was one of the founding fathers of the class
behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevrolet doorslammers, sits in 17th place
in the American Drag Racing League’s Pro Nitrous division.Carpenter has only four races in which to accrue enough points to climb into the top eight and earn a berth into the championship determining Battle for the Belts, October 24, in Dallas, Texas.
He fired the first salvo towards that goal by reaching the final round earlier this month at the ADRL Independence Drags in Radford, Va.
“Our goal is to keep our consistency up, and go as many rounds as possible,” said Carpenter. “If we can go rounds over the course of the next couple races, we may be able to crack the top 8 and compete for a championship at the end of the year. That’s our ultimate goal.” Pro Modified icon gunning for points to get into ADRL Pro Nitrous Playoffs …
Charles Carpenter has some catching up to do.
The Pro Modified icon, who was one of the founding fathers of the class behind the wheel of his 1955 Chevrolet doorslammers, sits in 17th place in the American Drag Racing League’s Pro Nitrous division.Carpenter has only four races in which to accrue enough points to climb into the top eight and earn a berth into the championship determining Battle for the Belts, October 24, in Dallas, Texas.
He fired the first salvo towards that goal by reaching the final round earlier this month at the ADRL Independence Drags in Radford, Va.
“Our goal is to keep our consistency up, and go as many rounds as possible,” said Carpenter. “If we can go rounds over the course of the next couple races, we may be able to crack the top 8 and compete for a championship at the end of the year. That’s our ultimate goal.”
That goal would be an impressive feat for a team that consists of no full time employees, has no primary sponsor, a shoestring budget, is four races in the hole, and campaigns a brand new race car.
“Our calling card has always been the underdog role,” Carpenter said. “Add all those things in with the fact that we are racing a brick compared to all these ultra slick cars, and you have a nice uphill fight on your hands.”
Carpenter failed to qualify at last season’s ADRL opening points earning event at the ADRL World Finals in Dallas, Texas. The ADRL’s unique point championship allows racers to begin earning points during the final event of the season and their points earned transfer over to the following season. The top eight points earners are paired together and the winner of the event is declared the champion.
Not only did Carpenter fail to qualify at that event last year, but also missed the first three events of this season while breaking in a new car. Carpenter turned to former IHRA Pro Stock world champion Mike Bell to help him get the new ’55 Chevy on the right path.
“Mike is one of the best in the business when it comes to chassis tuning, so I had confidence that he could get us straightened out,” Carpenter said. “Paul Albino from Total Induction Tuning Solutions combined his knowledge with Mike’s and we found a really consistent combination before we headed to Radford. I can’t thank those guys enough.”
Carpenter stands 263 points out of reaching the top eight in point earners. Each round in ADRL competition accounts for 100 points. When the first round of qualifying for this weekend’s ADRL U.S. Drags in Budds Creek, Md., fires off, Carpenter will be in hunting and gathering mode.
“We have had a couple weeks off to get everything freshened up and make a few changes on the car. Our goal is to go rounds at Budds Creek, but we are also shooting to break the 3-second barrier,” said Carpenter. “We are right there, and with the great atmospheric conditions and extremely well prepared track that MIR is known for, it is a great opportunity to get into the 3’s.”
MIR was the site of the debut of Carpenter’s partnership with New Hampshire based Pro Mod racer Pat Doherty, a partnership that is in its 5th successful season. Carpenter will also be flying the colors of another familiar partner this weekend. Custom Autosound, a California based manufacturer of aftermarket stereo products for 50s, 60s, and 70s classic cars, has just renewed its associate sponsorship of Charles Carpenter Racing, a partnership that is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008.
“Carl Sprague and Custom Autosound have been with me ever since we started touring the country in 1988, and it’s great to have them back again,” Carpenter said. “For a sponsorship to last for 20 consecutive years is a great honor and a testament to the loyalty of Carl and everyone at Custom Autosound. It will make this weekend even more special.”
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