Nestled in the Northwest is one of the best kept secrets in drag racing.

Frank Tamez, of Yakima, Wash., has established himself as the quickest driver in a naturally-aspirated, automatic transmission doorslammer.

"I think it's absolutely awesome to be driving the fastest car with doors," said Tamez. "I like dragsters, but there's nothing like the challenge and thrill of going this fast in a door slammer."

This past Saturday, Tamez clocked a record 6.33-second elapsed time at 221 mph down the quarter-mile during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 6 event at Pacific Raceways in Kent Wash.

Nestled in the Northwest is one of the best kept secrets in drag racing.

Frank Tamez, of Yakima, Wash., has established himself as the quickest driver in a naturally-aspirated, automatic transmission doorslammer.

"I think it's absolutely awesome to be driving the fastest car with doors," said Tamez. "I like dragsters, but there's nothing like the challenge and thrill of going this fast in a doorslammer."

This past Saturday, Tamez clocked a record 6.33-second elapsed time at 221 mph down the quarter-mile during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 6 event at Pacific Raceways in Kent Wash.

Tamez broke his old mark of 6.38 seconds at 217 mph, which he established last November at the Pro Street Car Association Streetcar Supernationals in Las Vegas.

Tamez registered his latest incredible time and speed while piloting a Jerry Bickel-built 2007 GTO with an 892-inch Sonny Leonard Hemi. Leonard is a legendary engine builder.

Prior to Tamez's record-shattering runs the old unofficial top naturally aspirated automatic equipped doorslammer time and speed was 6.53 seconds at 213 mph.

Tamez, however, remains humble even though he has the biggest and quickest naturally aspirated automatic all-motor car -- ever.

"Sonny provides all the power in the world, and this is the first motor to make 2,000 horsepower naturally aspirated," Tamez said. "The biggest challenge for us is getting the car off of the line with the 1,500 pounds of torque it has. Fortunately for us, we got lucky and found a good set-up that the car can take to get off the line. Honestly thoiugh, I would have never thought we would be able to go as fast as we've been going."

When Tamez drove his car to the starting line this past Saturday during qualifying at Pacific Raceways, it was with one purpose.

"We went there to set a record, we didn't go there to win the race," said Tamez, who was competing in the Top Sportsman class with his GTO with a delay box. "It's extremely hard to bracket race this car. I don't run at any NHRA national events because there's no class for me to run in."

The 51-year-old Tamez, who owns an Auto Max USA car dearship in Yakima, races primarily in the Pacific Street Car Association.

"When I go to races, I'm not chasing points," said Tamez, who started racing when he was 18 years old. "I race for the thrill and exhiliration. Competing in one class for one championship doesn't excite me much. The thing I like about street racing is that you get to race heads up against other cars. Bracket racing is a lot more about consistency and having your car dialed in."

Tamez's record-setting GTO will return to action July 24-26 at the Canadian National Open at Mission Raceway Park in British Columbia, Canada.

"I'm really looking forward to that race and I'm going to keep racing as long as my health allows me to race," Tamez said.

 

 

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