Rob Tucker [center] with children Shane [left] and Kristen [right], who are both licensed Pro Stock drivers.The numbers just didn’t add up for Rob Tucker.

Tucker, a former superstar ANDRA Pro Stock racer and now crew chief for his son Shane, studied every angle from which an engine lease program would be most beneficial for their U.S. tour. After a month of interviews and shopping, Tucker decided he would give building 500-inch engines a try.

Rob Tucker [center] with children Shane [left] and Kristen [right], who are both licensed Pro Stock drivers.The numbers just didn’t add up for Rob Tucker.

Tucker, a former superstar ANDRA Pro Stock racer and now crew chief for his son Shane, studied every angle from which an engine lease program would be most beneficial for their U.S. tour. After a month of interviews and shopping, Tucker decided he would give building 500-inch engines a try.

After all, he is capable of making a 400-inch engine run six-seconds by Australian rules.

“I’m really an engine guy and a mechanic by trade and I’ve always done my own motors,” Tucker explained. “When you take that into consideration, it seems to go against the grain of what I’ve done for years. I just think the sense of achievement and satisfaction of trying to do your own stuff and qualify for the best pro Stock competition made the decision for me.”

Tucker will make his competition debut at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, following a stringent testing regimen starting in Bradenton, Florida.

What remains to be seen is how the team will adjust to racing Pro Stock with 100 more cubic inches.

“I guess that’s a bit of the unknown at the moment,” said Tucker. “We did some work, working the theory on the maps and if you look at those, and go 25-percent bigger, it’s surprisingly how close it comes to the 400-inch engines we ran in Australia. I guess using what we are familiar with and then upsizing is a good start.”

The challenge, Tucker understands, will be monumental, but thanks to friends the task shouldn’t be as overwhelming as it would be alone.

“I know it isn’t going to be easy,” Tucker said. “I am going into this with my eyes wide open. I have a good bunch of guys working with me. Jamey Noonan of Noonan Racing has all of the equipment we need to help us in our bid to qualify. With his help, we have everything we need to make the transition.”

Tucker has made the decision to build the engines in Australia and then send them to the United States. He plans to establish a residence and team presence in the United States and has purchased property in Statesville, NC, just outside of Charlotte.

“We will do some stuff in the United States, as I have friends who will allow me to use their dyno,” said Tucker. “We will work out some kind of way to make it all logistically possible.”

Right now, the bulk of team operations, including engine building, will take place in Australia. And, unless a lucrative full-time deal comes along, this shouldn’t change anytime soon largely because Tucker operates a successful siding business in Australia.

The decision to leave his iconic status as head of a Pro Stock racing family in Australia to start all over in America isn’t a decision Tucker said his family decided in a whim. This has been something they have contemplated for many years.

“I guess I never wanted to die wondering, ‘what if?” admitted Tucker. “It’s been a passion to give this a try.”

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