Winning Top Sportsman team of Wilson & Gray ready to defend title
INGERSOLL, ON – When things are working well, leave it alone.
After winning the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship in 2013, the Top Sportsman team of Wilson & Gray plans no big changes for the upcoming season.
We’re not doing too much new, said team owner and driver Rob Gray, who along with Bill Wilson drives the 2002 Chevy Cavalier in the NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored series. We will freshen up the car a bit, but we plan on using the same set-up as last year.
Wilson and Gray share driving duties with the car, and the team has always been a solid and consistent performer in Quick 32 Sportsman Series competition. And last year the team took home the title.
Always qualifying in the top five in the 16-car Top Sportsman field last season, Wilson & Gray won three times and were overall event champions three times. The Cavalier can run down the quarter-mile in just under seven seconds at 200 mph.
The Series is comprised of a 16-car Top Dragster field, and a 16-car Top Sportsman field. Each field races against each other and the top eliminator of each side is paired in an event final with that winner declared the event champion.
Powering the Cavalier is a 706-cubic inch big block with an Enderle fuel injection system and nitrous assist. A modified Powerglide transmission sits behind the engine, which resides in a Jerry Bickle Race Cars product.
Wilson crew chiefs for the team, with Kurt Wallace, Chris Muttton, Noah Hathaway, Heather Eidbo, Les Bodin and Karyn Benner assisting.
Wilson & Gray have been a team since 1990, and have shared the driving during this period. Gray said this will continue for 2014.
We’ve been sharing the driving since year one,” he said. “Last year was a really amazing season. The car really liked the nitrous.
The 2014 season for all three series opens May 16-18 at the Grand Bend Motorplex with the running of the RPM Magazine / Lucas Oil MAYHEM at the BEND Presented By Mickey Thompson Tires.
Photo Credit: Shortall ~ www.dragracecanada.com, Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com
