Ken Black wished he had the budget the Pro Stock competition believed he had. The notion he’s got an unlimited budget is something he refers to as a great misnomer.

“I'm sure there are people out here that have more than I have,” explained Black, owner of the Pontiac GXP Anderson has driven to three world championships. “I'm comfortable and I do this because I love the sport.  I like to think it's not an ego thing or anything like that.  We're not financially stressed but things are a little tight right now with the economy and especially with our business in Vegas and stuff. 

“We're being a little extra careful right now.  I don't feel that in the past we've been extravagant.  We've spent our money wisely, I think.  I've spent some money on property and equipment and stuff but I consider those to be assets or investments rather than just throwing good money chasing bad.”

Ken Black wished he had the budget the Pro Stock competition believed he had. The notion he’s got an unlimited budget is something he refers to as a great misnomer.

“I'm sure there are people out here that have more than I have,” explained Black, owner of the Pontiac GXP Anderson has driven to three world championships. “I'm comfortable and I do this because I love the sport.  I like to think it's not an ego thing or anything like that.  We're not financially stressed but things are a little tight right now with the economy and especially with our business in Vegas and stuff. 

“We're being a little extra careful right now.  I don't feel that in the past we've been extravagant.  We've spent our money wisely, I think.  I've spent some money on property and equipment and stuff but I consider those to be assets or investments rather than just throwing good money chasing bad.”

For Black, the key to his success has not been in throwing untold sums of cash in chasing championships. He contends his greatest gains have been in getting key NASCAR technology at bargain basement prices. Black has also procured good manpower to supplement the equipment as well.

“You’re finding the bargains on equipment and the talent required in operating the pieces,” Black added. “It amazed me that I have become more acquainted with people in some of the NASCAR circles.”

Black marvels in amazement with the NASCAR people in love with drag racing. Case in point, KB Racing team driver Jason Line came over from Joe Gibbs Racing.

“They could care less about circle track racing,” Black said. “Drag racing is their first love.  The technology, anything's available there for me.  Machine work, the coatings, all within a small radius there.  Business has been developed around that industry there.  To me it's a very good location even though we're drag racers and not roundy round racers.”
 
Black said the key to the success has been in working their way to a complete in-house program. He said he’s winning with hard work more than abundant dollars.

“That's the way I feel about it,” Black admitted. “Even in my real work I've always felt for the past 35 years that if you provide your people with the right equipment or the right opportunities and if you have the right people then they'll take advantage of it and they'll do well which in turn I'll do well.  It's not just strictly money; it's been in the past where people have come into this sport and they’re here for a few years and then they're gone. 

“I don't know if they ran out of money or if their interest turns to something else, I don't know.  This is the beginning of my 13th year in Pro Stock and I've been drag racing since 1964 whether as a participant or a spectator during the down periods when I was doing my business and stuff.  I was basically a spectator and still followed the sport until I got to a point where I could go to this level.”

The bottom line for Black, is if he can find a bargain, he won’t deny his teams the tools to do the job.

“The equipment that we do have and I'll be the first to admit, I've spent quite a bit of money acquiring that equipment -- none of it's been given to me,” Black said. “We bought some of it new but majority of it we've got have been fire sales so to speak.  In our area some of the Cup teams have shut down their engine shops so quite a bit of good equipment became available, 25 cents to 40 cents on the dollar. 

“I felt they were a good purchase and a good investment since it's stuff that I don't have to send out.  As you well know in Pro Stock everything’s a big secret so the more you can do in house the longer you keep it to yourself.  When you have to send stuff out it seems there's always somebody that they know somebody that comes around or whatever.  The stuff gets passed on whatever you're doing so the more you can do in-house the better off you'll be.  That's one thing that's made Warren Johnson so successful over the years is that he's always been 6 months to 2 years ahead of everybody else because he pretty much does everything in house.”

 

Black pointed out his Pro Stock operation is self-sufficient thanks to full sponsorship from Summit Racing Equipment. His foray into fuel racing with Hillary Will under the Kalitta Motorsports banner could be on shaky ground in 2009 unless major sponsorship is procured.

“We’re going to need sponsorship for next year in order to operate,” Black said. “If things were like it was a couple of years ago with the economy good and business was doing good then my son and I wouldn't mind funding out of pocket for another year.  We've basically got to go out and work a little harder, Hillary is. 

“Nobody works harder than Hilary at trying to find people and approach people.  It's tough out there right now.  Everybody's kind of in a down turn, the whole economy.  Everybody's watching their dollars a little closer.  It's just a matter of finding the right company that wants the exposure in this sport with Hilary as a spokesman.  We've got a couple of deals we're working on but until the money's in the bank and the check clears then I'm not getting a bit excited about it.”