OUTLAW 660 While heads up outlaw competition in Ohio has remained steady over the years in terms of participation and attendance, it has battled dormant periods during its existence. Participation has risen over the last two years to reflect a rebound for this class, particularly at Dragway 42, and motorsports fans have started to flock to the track to experience the speed firsthand. THERE’S PLENTY OF BUSINESS OUT HERE “I’m a firm believer that there’s plenty of business out here to continue to grow the Outlaw 660 program,” says Chad Wright, Race Coordinator at Dragway 42. “As we keep building, competitors have continued to come back out, and we’re also attracting new racers who have never been to Dragway 42. It’s pretty exciting to see.” Dragway 42 is owned by Ron & Mary Anne Matcham and operated by track managers Gary & Gari Harper. It is in its 61st season (after a 3-year hiatus) and in its 2nd year after reopening. It features a 1/4 mile drag strip built between two lush grassy hills. The track hosts a diverse range of drag racing competition, one of the highlights being the KB Trailer Sales Outlaw 660 Heads Up Series. “Our marketing partners and racers support a lot of the track and the fans make it come full circle,” says Wright, who offers an average of $10,000 in purse money per Outlaw 660 event. “We really didn’t know what to expect when we first started this program and we’re more excited than ever to keep going.” A pair of outlaw dragsters prepare to launch off the starting line at Dragway 42 in West Salem, OH during an Outlaw 660 race.
Transcript
OUTLAW 660 By Dragway 42
Pho tos by PMJ Pho tog raphy and
NW Pho tog raphy
M E E T T H E T O P R A C E R S O F
H E A D S U P O U T L AW D R A G S T E R
C O M P E T I T I O N ; T H E B E S T K E P T
S E C R E T I N O H I O
While heads up outlawcompetition in Ohio hasremained steady over theyears in terms ofparticipation andattendance, it has battleddormant periods during itsexistence. Participationhas risen over the last twoyears to reflect a reboundfor this class, particularlyat Dragway 42, andmotorsports fans havestarted to flock to the trackto experience the speedfirsthand. THERE’S PLENTY OFBUSINESS OUT HERE “I’m a firm believer thatthere’s plenty of businessout here to continue togrow the Outlaw 660program,” says ChadWright, Race Coordinator atDragway 42. “As we keepbuilding, competitors havecontinued to come backout, and we’re alsoattracting new racers whohave never been toDragway 42. It’s prettyexciting to see.”
Dragway 42 is owned byRon & Mary AnneMatcham and operated bytrack managers Gary &Gari Harper. It is in its 61stseason (after a 3-yearhiatus) and in its 2nd yearafter reopening. It featuresa 1/4 mile drag strip builtbetween two lush grassyhills. The track hosts adiverse range of dragracing competition, one ofthe highlights being theKB Trailer Sales Outlaw 660Heads Up Series. “Our marketing partnersand racers support a lot ofthe track and the fansmake it come full circle,”says Wright, who offers anaverage of $10,000 inpurse money per Outlaw660 event. “We reallydidn’t know what to expectwhen we first started thisprogram and we’re moreexcited than ever to keepgoing.”
O U T L A W 6 6 0 | S E P 2 0 1 8
A pair of outlaw dragsters prepare to launch offthe starting line at Dragway 42 in West Salem, OHduring an Outlaw 660 race.
Roughly 600-3,000 fans attendmonthly Outlaw 660 events asspectators, a number thatfluctuates based on factorsincluding weather, time of yearand other events scheduled inthe local area. Admission isusually $10 or $15 for adults andfree for kids (12-under). BEST KEPT SECRET The outlaw dragster class mightbe Ohio's best kept secret,despite boasting all of thefeatures that makes drag racingso popular — blazing speed,roaring engines, vivid paintschemes and an array ofdragsters powered by nitrous,blowers or prochargers. Dragway42 sets the stage for the KBTrailer Sales outlaw dragstercompetitors to push the limits,bolster competition, and excitethe fans. “The support and effort from ouroutlaw dragster drivers havesurpassed my expectations.These teams are capable ofracing anywhere in the countryand they choose to compete withus...and they continue to setperformance records...that’spretty special if you ask me,”says Wright. There are 5 drivers at the core ofthe Outlaw 660 program: - Bryan Keller - Paul Molnar - Tony Mancini - Keith McLennan - Mike Knott Bryan Keller of KB Trailer Salesplays an essential role in thesuccess of the Outlaw 660 series,by contributing his support bothas the primary marketingpartner for the series as well as
a racer. After 3 straight finalappearances this year, Kellerand team were finally able to puttheir KB Trailer Sales outlawdragster in the winner circle overLabor Day weekend. After a verytough 3 rounds, Keller just edgedout Tony Mancini in the final;Keller with a 3.760 and Manciniwith a 3.761. Paul Molnar started racing in1983 right out of high school. Teaming up with one of his verygood friends and partner DavidQuesenberry, they really cuttheir teeth in heads up racingrunning the Friday Night Chaosseries in a 1948 fiat where theywon multiple events. In 1999they purchased a new funny carchassis from Bruce MaitlandRace Cars with the intention ofracing IHRA Funny Car. The weekthe car was finished, IHRAcanceled the Funny Car class.The team raced Asphalt Wars atThompson Raceway Park for afew years, but to become morecompetitive purchased a SpitzerDragster in 2011. They ultimatelywon more Asphalt Wars racesthen any other team, and to topit off, won the open bodychampionship in dramaticfashion against one of their goodfriends Bryan Keller. Their car isalso one of the fastest in thecountry running 3.60 @204mphat Virginia Motorsports Park.They continue to set records atnumerous tracks includingDragway 42, which is now theirhome track. Molnar played animportant role during thecreation of the Outlaw 660 series,and says, "The inception ofOutlaw 660 at Dragway 42 hasgiven heads up racers likemyself an amazing place to dowhat we love!
Tony Mancini with tuner AaronSipple is a powerful combinationand they consistently qualify inthe top of the field. Mancini's ETs improve with eachOutlaw 660 race and haveultimately lead to the mostexciting final round (Labor Dayrace) the series has seen to date!Look for him to continue to pushthe envelope! Koffel's Place truly representsDragway 42's past and present.The Koffel family was presentopening day with the "FlintstoneFlyer" and now the family is stillracing at the "new" Dragway 42with the "Lake Erie Monster"outlaw dragster. They feature a different Moparengine combination from the
O U T L A W 6 6 0 | S E P 2 0 1 8
Tony Mancinci
Paul Molnar
Bryan Keller
usual Hemi, with a B-1 HeadedWedge engine. Koffel's Placedesigned and produce the B-1Heads, so the primary goal of the"Lake Erie Monster" dragster is toshowcase and test variouscombinations of that engine sothey can best advise theircustomers. After 65 years of active racinginvolvement, national andinternationally, Koffel's Placeand the Koffel family still enjoythe camaraderie and spirit of theOutlaw 660 Series. "Dragway 42has historically been a fun andfriendly place to race," saysKoffel. Together, driver of 8 years, KeithMcLennan and Scott Koffel (themonster trainer), have wonmultiple championships, recordsand races. They'd like to sendout a big thank you to theirfaithful crew members, theMcLennan, Ooten, Rady, Welch,and Sansom families, and "GalFriday's," Gay, Pat, Sandy & Cindy.
"A big shout-out to theMatcham's and Dragway 42 crew,for all the work that has goneinto the Outlaw 660 Series. A finalthank you to Mom & PopKoffel...whose job it is todispense money and criticismand who started it all 60 plusyears ago!!" - Koffel Mike Knott is fairly new to theoutlaw dragster scene andwheels a 2008 Spitzer TDpowered by 471 ci. BradAnderson Hemi built by FowlerEngines, with sponsor BornImplement. Knott has made multiple semifinal appearances the first yearout with the car and clicked off abest (to date) pass of 3.83 @194after only 10 full 1/8th mile hitsin the car. Prior to battlinggremlins this year, he posted a5.92 @232 at the Norwalkdivisional (first into the 5's ontheir new track surface) on anaborted run due to enginefailure. Knott somehow managed to getthe motor back together within 3days of receiving much neededparts, then raced the Outlaw 660event over Labor Day only to discover more problems. "The issue has finally beentraced down and corrected, so Iam very excited to see how thecar will perform at the end ofSeptember with everythingworking like it should (for thefirst time in this combination'slife)," says Knott. When asked why he chooses torace the Outlaw 660 series, Knottsays, "It's about the peoplerunning next to you. You're hard
pressed to find this kind ofcamaraderie anywhere else. Thetrack is on point, the program isran extremely well, and mostimportantly we get to go fast.We're extremely blessed to havethis going for us so close tohome. I am absolutely pumped for thefinal event of the year and verymuch looking forward to thefuture of this program. Once weget this car figured out, it willundoubtedly be a force to bereckoned with." Catch these racers in actionduring the last Outlaw 660 ProMod & Outlaw Dragster event onSat., September 29. Gates open@8am with qualifying @12pmand eliminations @3pm... MEET THE FIELD It takes more than 5 to completea Quick 8 and Dragway 42 haswelcomed many talented racersto the outlaw dragster field overthe last 2 years: - Robert Pickens - Dan Norris - Nick Willis - Craig Addis - Michael Scheel - Antinora Family Racing - Robert Frigon - Dan Leech and several others! Find photos and event wrap upsat https://www.dragway42.com/outlaw-660/results/.
O U T L A W 6 6 0 | S E P 2 0 1 8
Mike Knott
Keith McLennan (Lake Erie Monster)
O U T L A W 6 6 0 | S E P 2 0 1 8
A group of racers from a variety ofclasses celebrate the reopeningand 60th year of Dragway 42. (2017)
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE "The environment alonecontributes to the success of thefacility. The track is beautifuland it’s only going to get better.The surface of the track is nearperfect and Gary Harper does anoutstanding job with track prep. Our job now is to continue toexpose Dragway 42 to morepeople. Attracting a newgeneration of drag racers iscrucial to the sport’s success,but we can also use ourenvironment to offer programsoff-track, attracting an entirelynew group of customers to ourfacility, and we have the team inplace to do it," says Wright.
Dragway 42 was named IHRADivision 3 Track of the Year andclaimed the IHRA Division 3(North Stars) Summit TeamFinals Championship atKeystone Raceway Park over theSep 21-23, 2018 weekend If you’d like to learn more or ifyou are interested in partneringwith Dragway 42 and the Outlaw660 program, please contactChad Wright, Race Coordinator [email protected] orby phone 330.942.6557. Dragway 42 9161 Rainbow Hwy. West Salem, OH W: dragway42.com
