FTI Performance
Wharton Automotive Group, Inc. Announces the Launch of FTI Performance Parts
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Paul Lee, President of the Wharton Automotive Group, announces the launch of FTI Performance Parts, a 
performance torque converter and automatic transmission parts warehouse. Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, FTI Performance Parts will provide high performance torque converter components as well as high performance automatic transmission components. Customer service is a primary focus with a state of the art 37,000 square ft warehouse facility. Paul Lee welcomes Greg Samuel, founder of FTI Converters, and Ken Kelly Jr. to the roster for the new business venture. FTI Performance Parts is officially open and ready for business.
With a demand for parts in the automatic transmission and torque converter market, entrepreneur Paul Lee set out to find a solution for not only his own brands, but for all manufacturers.
FTI PERFORMANCE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF 2022 NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES OPENER IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, FL – The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series opens its 2022 this weekend as part of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA 
Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The popular doorslammer class features a variety of power adders and standout drivers, setting the stage for what should be a thrilling weekend in Gainesville for the category.
The race is presented by FTI Performance and is the first of 10 events during the 2022 NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season. Jose Gonzalez is the defending event winner, and he used that victory as momentum to fuel his championship season. It was the first world title for Gonzalez, and he will begin his title defense at the Gatornationals, where he also made the quickest pass in class history a year ago by going 5.621-seconds in the opening round in his ProCharger-powered Q80 Camaro.
Gonzalez put together five wins and six final-round appearances a year ago, turning in one standout performance after another. But repeating in 2022 will be difficult against a loaded NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series lineup, one that includes two-time world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson, who won the title in 2019 and 2020, Lyle Barnett, who captured a pair of victories last year in his rookie season, multi-time world champ Rickie Smith, Mike Castellana, J.R. Gray, who won a race last year in his debut season, Khalid AlBalooshi and Justin Bond.
Krista Baldwin to Make Top Fuel Dragster Debut at the NHRA Gator Nationals
GAINESVILLE, FL – Krista Baldwin will make her first professional start in the NHRA Camping World series in a Top Fuel Dragster at the 
Gator Nationals. Krista will be piloting her grandfather’s, NHRA legend Chris “the Greek” Karamesines, Don Schumacher Racing canopy dragster backed by McLeod Racing, Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering, Composite Specialties, and Eat Sleep Race. As the newest NHRA Top Fuel pilot, Baldwin is the only third generation Top Fuel driver in the class.
Baldwin began racing at 18 years old in a front engine dragster in the Nostalgia Eliminator 1 class. In 2015 she upgraded her license to a nitro injected A/Fuel dragster. For the last 5 years, Baldwin has campaigned her McLeod Racing dragster in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing series with Anthony Dicero. This year she will drive for her grandfather, Karamesines, under the black and gold canopy dragster.
“Making the transition to Top Fuel challenged me in ways that I never thought it could,” says the 27-year-old Southern California native. “It showed me to be resilient and to stay true to who I am and what I want to do. Top Fuel is the dream and I’ve worked tirelessly for years to get to this point and I’m so proud that I get to race with my grandpa. I will admit I’m pretty nervous, but I know when the engine fires up and they close that canopy that I’ll be ready for it.”
McLeod Racing’s Paul Lee Acquires FTI Performance Converters
ANAHEIM, CA – McLeod Racing’s President, Paul Lee, has acquired FTI Performance Converters. Through the 
acquisition, Lee will be working closely with FTI Performance founders, Greg & Phaedra Samuel. With the purchase and agreement of the established driveline company, Lee & Samuel plan to continue to dominate the aftermarket and racing industry with manual, torque converters, and automatic transmission drivetrain components.
FTI Performance is no stranger to the fast-paced world of racing and aftermarket. Having started in 1992 by husband and wife duo, Greg and Phaedra, FTI flourished on its innovative designs and the ability to cater to each customer’s needs when it comes to their torque converters and transmissions. The company prides itself on its customer oriented technical support, which shares the same standards as McLeod Racing.
“Being that FTI is the leader in racing automatic and torque converter technology, it is fitting to align ourselves with McLeod, the leading performance clutch manufacturer,” says Greg Samuel. “I am excited to bring even better customer service than the unprecedented service we provide with more shipping locations to better serve our valued customers. Paul Lee of McLeod shares the same passion and love of racing and family values we do here at FTI and that makes an unbeatable team.” Greg will continue his role at FTI as Chief Technology Officer.
FTI Pro Boost Package Produces Record Setting Performances
DELAND, FL – During the 2016 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis, FTI released the new Pro Boost Transmission and Torque Converter package. This Pro Boost Package was specifically designed for high horsepower boosted applications in which the right drivetrain components are key. Paying testament to the Pro Boost package and what it has to offer, several well renowned racers have already put the FTI Pro Boost package to work, scoring new heights while dominating in their field.
Among some of the racers that have already proven what the Pro Boost Package has to offer is Lester Johnson and his Procharger powered 1955 Chevy. It was in Gainesville for the NHRA Gatornationals where the only change Lester made was in the FTI 10” billet bolt together torque converter with one of FTI’s new custom designed billet aluminum Pro Boost stators. Lester used this new FTI technology alone to jump from his previous 6.14 ET to a record setting 5.949 at 244.16MPH pass in Top Sportsman. Following up on this record setting run, Johnson backed it up with a 6.02 qualifying pass just for any nay-sayers that thought his 5.94 pass was a fluke. Johnson also made sure to extend a great thank you to the few sponsors that have helped make this incredible feat possible: FTI Performance, Procharger, Mickey Thompson, and ComSyncEFI that have helped make this 2,651lb door car so freaking fast!
