DUNNE AND MUSI MAKE HISTORY
Thu, 2009-08-27 08:01
There's nothing like a change in divisions to ignite your drag racing career.
Joe Dunne knows all about that.
For the past three years, Dunne was trying to forge a name for himself while competing in the NHRA's Top Sportsman Class.
This season, he changed gears and began competing in the Outlaw Pro Mod events and even tried his hand in Pro Street competition.
And, he seems to be making headlines on a weekly basis.
Joe Dunne knows all about that.
For the past three years, Dunne was trying to forge a name for himself while competing in the NHRA's Top Sportsman Class.
This season, he changed gears and began competing in the Outlaw Pro Mod events and even tried his hand in Pro Street competition.
And, he seems to be making headlines on a weekly basis.
Recently at the Northeast Pro Mod race at Maryland International Raceway, Dunne made history with his 6.23-second elapsed time at 220.76 mph in qualifying. That elapsed time in his 1968 Camaro was the quickest Nitrous powerglide run in the country.
"That run run felt really good," said the 31-year-old Dunne, who began his NHRA career in 1996 by bracket racing. "No one else can say that they've run that fast in a Nitrous power glide."
Under the hood of Dunne's Camaro is a Pat Musi Performance 747-cubic-inch nitrous fuel-injected engine.
"I have a Jerry Bickel race car that worked perfect right out of the gate," said Dunne, who lives in Wolcott, Conn."Then, I had Pat Musi's horsepower behind me and just a great crew in Brian Garbus and Mark Madden. I can’t thank all those guys enough.”
Dunne’s record-setting run thrilled Musi.
“That’s proven engine in Joe’s car that we’ve run for 10 years,” Musi said.”It has been a learning curve for us because we have always been clutch guys and it has been tough to prove the point that fuel injection is here to stay. Now, Joe has proven engine combation with great equipment and he’s a great driver.”
Dunne’s next stop will be at the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod event Saturday at the Atco (N.J.) Raceway Extreme race.
“There’s going to be some pressure on us now because people know that we can go this fast,” Dunne said. “We just have to keep working harder. I also don’t have a primary sponsor for my car, but I’m looking if anybody is interested.”
Dunne passion for Pro Mods developed after just one race last season.
“A year ago, I went to one event in Atco in my old Grand Am and I was very competitive with all the guys who were racing there,” Dunne said. “That’s when I was hooked. These cars have so much horsepower and the first time I went 6.30, it was crazy.”
While Dunne forges ahead with his Camaro, Musi also has some big plans of his own in the near future.
“I’m working on a 903-cubic engine for a customer right now,” Musi said. “The engine is in a 2010 Dodge Stratus and we’re going to debut the car at a couple ADRL events this season. I’m going to drive that Dodge Stratus to see how it does. Joe has a 747-cubic inch, 10 year-old engine that he’s running, so when this 903 comes out, stand back.”
Musi is no stranger to being behind the wheel. He began racing at the age of 18 and by 1974, he was competing in Pro Stock in the NHRA and IHRA.
Musi had mild success in Pro Stock, but eventually quit racing full-time in the mid 1980s to build up his engine-building business. Then in 1996, he returned to the track full time and has since won eight Pro Street world championships.
“When I was racing it was hard to work with customers,” Musi said. “Now, I really enjoy building engines and helping other guys out. I’m 57 years old and I feel like I’m 40. This is keeping me young.”
Joe Dunne knows all about that.
For the past three years, Dunne was trying to forge a name for himself while competing in the NHRA's Top Sportsman Class.
This season, he changed gears and began competing in the Outlaw Pro Mod events and even tried his hand in Pro Street competition.
And, he seems to be making headlines on a weekly basis.
There's nothing like a change in divisions to ignite your drag racing career.
Pat Musi is no stranger to the Pro Street and Outlaw Pro Modified scene. The combination of Dunne's exceptional driving talent and Musi experience in racing has made for a stout combination. Dunne ran a 737-inch engine to run the quickest, automatic-transmission doorslammer run. Imagine what he could do with one of Musi's forthcoming 903-inch, EFI engines.
Joe Dunne knows all about that.
For the past three years, Dunne was trying to forge a name for himself while competing in the NHRA's Top Sportsman Class.
This season, he changed gears and began competing in the Outlaw Pro Mod events and even tried his hand in Pro Street competition.
And, he seems to be making headlines on a weekly basis.
Recently at the Northeast Pro Mod race at Maryland International Raceway, Dunne made history with his 6.23-second elapsed time at 220.76 mph in qualifying. That elapsed time in his 1968 Camaro was the quickest Nitrous powerglide run in the country.
"That run run felt really good," said the 31-year-old Dunne, who began his NHRA career in 1996 by bracket racing. "No one else can say that they've run that fast in a Nitrous power glide."
Under the hood of Dunne's Camaro is a Pat Musi Performance 747-cubic-inch nitrous fuel-injected engine.
"I have a Jerry Bickel race car that worked perfect right out of the gate," said Dunne, who lives in Wolcott, Conn."Then, I had Pat Musi's horsepower behind me and just a great crew in Brian Garbus and Mark Madden. I can’t thank all those guys enough.”
Dunne’s record-setting run thrilled Musi.
“That’s proven engine in Joe’s car that we’ve run for 10 years,” Musi said.”It has been a learning curve for us because we have always been clutch guys and it has been tough to prove the point that fuel injection is here to stay. Now, Joe has proven engine combation with great equipment and he’s a great driver.”
Dunne’s next stop will be at the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod event Saturday at the Atco (N.J.) Raceway Extreme race.
“There’s going to be some pressure on us now because people know that we can go this fast,” Dunne said. “We just have to keep working harder. I also don’t have a primary sponsor for my car, but I’m looking if anybody is interested.”
Dunne passion for Pro Mods developed after just one race last season.
“A year ago, I went to one event in Atco in my old Grand Am and I was very competitive with all the guys who were racing there,” Dunne said. “That’s when I was hooked. These cars have so much horsepower and the first time I went 6.30, it was crazy.”
While Dunne forges ahead with his Camaro, Musi also has some big plans of his own in the near future.
“I’m working on a 903-cubic engine for a customer right now,” Musi said. “The engine is in a 2010 Dodge Stratus and we’re going to debut the car at a couple ADRL events this season. I’m going to drive that Dodge Stratus to see how it does. Joe has a 747-cubic inch, 10 year-old engine that he’s running, so when this 903 comes out, stand back.”
Musi is no stranger to being behind the wheel. He began racing at the age of 18 and by 1974, he was competing in Pro Stock in the NHRA and IHRA.
Musi had mild success in Pro Stock, but eventually quit racing full-time in the mid 1980s to build up his engine-building business. Then in 1996, he returned to the track full time and has since won eight Pro Street world championships.
“When I was racing it was hard to work with customers,” Musi said. “Now, I really enjoy building engines and helping other guys out. I’m 57 years old and I feel like I’m 40. This is keeping me young.”
Advertisement
Categories:
