NHRA Sportsman Racing standouts Mark Buehring and Shane Heckel will be stepping up to the professional ranks as the duo will field a 2007 Chevy Cobalt in the NHRA Pro Stock class.  The Rick Jones built chassis will be powered by a Taylor Lastor prepared 500 cubic inch DRCE 2 engine.  Buehring and Heckel will split the driving duties at 14 planned events on the NHRA POWERade Series tour this season.  Buehring finished third nationally in the Super Gas (9.90 second index) category in 2005, while Heckel is a perennial heavy hitter in the Competition Eliminator category with his family's national-record holding B/Dragster (a dragster with a Pro Stock legal engine).

 

After his success in Super Gas, Buehring, from Houston, stepped up to the Top Sportsman class in his '91 Chevy Lumina that was capable of running elapsed times in the low seven-second zone at over 190 mph.  With Heckel, from nearby La Porte, Texas, having success with his Pro Stock style engine and drivetrain in a dragster, what started as casual conversation in Heckel's race shop, Ballistic Racecraft, is well on it's way to becoming a reality for the 2008 season.

 

"I'm very excited about making the move to the professional ranks," said Buehring.  "We have a steep learning curve ahead of us, but I'm confident we have the right people and equipment in place to get there."

 

"It's always been a dream of mine to compete in Pro Stock," added Heckel.  "Running a Pro Stock style engine in our Comp car keeps us on top of what's going on in the Pro Stock circles.  It's exciting to finally get a chance to compete on that level."

 

Both drivers recently upgraded their licenses in testing at Houston Raceway Park.  The team plans to test at the CSR Eastern Spring Test Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga., Mar. 7-9, and is currently slotted to make their competition debut at their home track during the O'Reilly Spring Nationals, Mar. 28-30, in Houston.

 

"We feel confident with the power that Taylor has given us, we won't be lacking much in that department," explained Heckel.  "The car isn't lacking anything either, it's all the latest trick parts.  Taylor will be assisting us at the track, and it's just a matter of all of us putting the whole package together.  It takes some time and laps to get the chassis, clutch and horsepower balanced to run with the top cars in Pro Stock.  The class is so tough these days, anyone who can qualify has a shot at winning.  We both have some learning to do driving.  It's been over 15 years since I've raced in a door car on a regular basis, and this will be Mark's first experience with a clutch and five speed car."

 

While the team has most of pieces in place to field a competitive Pro Stock team, one significant component is lacking - a major sponsor.  The team plans to compete on a part-time schedule at roughly half the races with the help of major associate sponsor Park Environmental Equipment and associates TRE Engines, Triple H Car Ports, Ballistic Racecraft, Goodridge Hoses & Fittings and DragRaceHose.com.  On the track, the team is focused on blistering the pavement while off the track, the team plans to aggressively pursue a major sponsor to help them compete for the POWERade Championship.

 

"We're confident we have the building blocks in place to field a championship caliber team," stated Buehring.  "We have the right people, the right parts and pieces to be competitive.  Not only are we committed to putting the best car we can on the track, but we are aggressively seeking marketing partners that want to be a part of the organization we are building.  The NHRA has proven itself as a great venue for Corporate America to market itself to.  We feel we're just scratching the surface of what NHRA will become.  We look forward to riding the wave of NHRA's continual growth and look forward to showcasing our marketing partners along the way."

 

Despite making the jump to the pro ranks, the team will not stray far from it's sportsman roots.  When the team's schedule allows, Heckel still plans to campaign his family's potent B/Dragster in Competition Eliminator.  Following in her father's footsteps is Heckel's 10 year old daughter, Brooke, who won the Houston Raceway Park track championship in Jr. Dragster last year.  Heckel cites he has a full plate, but isn't complaining.

 

"Just because we're running Pro Stock doesn't mean we're getting out of Comp," cited Heckel.  "That's what my family has raced nearly all my life.  Most of the racers in that class are as tough as they come and it's a real challenge to do well in that class. It will also keep my driving skills honed as the season goes on.  My daughter is really doing great in the Jr. car and she holds her end of the bargain up by doing great in school, so I will also be doing everything I can to support her in that."

 

The team will be assisted by Heckel's long time Crew Chief, Keith Crump, his parents Mike and Kathy Heckel, Brian Sandlin, wife Angie and daughter Brooke.  Buehring will bring team members Russell Bates, his father Davis, brother Danny and son Kyle. Will Hanna will handle media relations.