Kirk Wolf Looking For 2023 ‘Stampede Of Speed’ Repeat
Kirk Wolf has not run enough races to be part of the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship battle, but he would like to play a spoiler role in who wins the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Championship, and at the same time put together a few wins before the end of the season.
“Last year we ran great in Dallas, losing in the final round to Julie Nataas,” said Driver Kirk Wolf. “We would like to get back to the final again this year and seal the deal with a win. It’s going to be hotter this year so we are going to have to navigate the reduced power and tricky track conditions that we will most likely see most of the weekend. I’m ready to step up and I’m confident that this team can put this car back in the winner’s circle.”
Team owner Dean Dubbin was also looking at the weekend with guarded optimism, “We have been battling all year with consistency in the clutch. We have looked really good at times but we just haven’t been able to find the solid footing to make the big runs when we needed to. We need to find the confidence and the consistency we had last year in Dallas. We would all like to get back to the final and win that Cowboy Hat!” – (that comes with winning the Texas Nationals)
The NHRA Texas FallNationals also includes the 40th Annual – Jegs Allstars competition. In the Top Alcohol Dragster category, the Jegs format invites the top two teams from each of the four geographic regions across the country to compete in the Jegs-sponsored special event. The race-within-a-race scheduling could present added pressure and car maintenance issues for teams competing in the Jegs Allstars competition and the Texas Nationals. Being able to focus on just one race could be an advantage for the Dubbin Team.
“We had a great race at Texas last year,” Dubbin said. “We are going to need that kind of effort again this year if we are going to compete for the win. I have complete faith that this team will be able to do that. We are fast, there is no doubt about that – we just need a little luck to go our way – we haven’t had much of that this season, but maybe this is our weekend.”
The excitement and tension of the weekend are also heightened by the unusual Championship points standings. The National Lucas Oil Series Alcohol Dragster championship is rarely unresolved and wide-open this late in the season. The points standings and all the scenarios that could unfold are very complicated, but many teams still have a shot at the Championship, and most of those teams will be competing this weekend.
Wolf concluded, “This is a home race for me, and it could be one of the toughest and most exciting races in the history of Top Alcohol racing. The championship is on the line and everyone is going to bring their best every round, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it here in Texas!”
The DMP Awnings / Kentex Roofing Systems sponsored team will hit the Texas Motorplex track in a rare Thursday afternoon – 3:30 pm qualifying session. Qualifying will continue at noon and 3 pm on Friday, with the first round of eliminations held Saturday morning around 11 am.
This story was originally published on October 7, 2024.
The post Kirk Wolf Looking For 2023 ‘Stampede Of Speed’ Repeat first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
