Local drag racing fans always love rooting for a hometown hero. When the NHRA rolls into Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend, the scorching desert heat will not be the only thing bringing intense energy to the starting line. Arizona native Dylan Winefsky is returning to his home track for the highly anticipated Arizona Nationals. After making impressive strides during his rookie campaign last season, the young driver is fully prepared to tackle one of the toughest classes in motorsports.
Running a competitive nitro operation takes massive dedication. As a family-run team, he and his father, Robert, spent the entire off-season improving their 12,000-horsepower Nitro Moose Funny Car. Competing against massive corporate outfits requires serious backing, and the local community stepped up in a huge way.
Several regional partners joined the program, including a blossoming relationship with Lowe’s Home Improvement. Dylan recently spent time at the Maricopa store talking with local customers. Audio Express, Robert’s Car Care, Outlaw Race Engines, Bob Jackson Body Repair, and Queen Creek BBQ Company also threw their crucial support behind the driver.
Staying sharp behind the wheel of a nitro-burning beast requires constant practice. Just two weeks ago, Winefsky traveled to the historic March Meet at Famoso Dragstrip to pilot an aggressive Fuel Altered machine for drag racing legend Johnny West. Wrestling that unpredictable car all the way to the final round provided incredible seat time. Winefsky noted that a Fuel Altered is about as close to a Funny Car as a driver can get when it comes to manhandling a race car. Learning directly from West gave him a massive confidence boost.
Surviving this weekend will test every single team on the property. Forecasts predict brutal temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees, forcing officials to adjust the qualifying schedule. Teams get two early shots at the track on Friday, followed by two daytime sessions on Saturday. Only the quickest 16 cars advance to Sunday eliminations. Battling extreme heat and a stacked field is a massive challenge, but Winefsky is ready to put on an unforgettable show for his Arizona fans.
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