Elite partners with Patterson Racing to expand into Sportsman racing
WYNNEWOOD, OK – As Elite continues to expand its presence in professional drag racing, its support of 
competition at the Sportsman level remains an important part of its core business.
To augment its participation in the amateur ranks, Elite will merge with Patterson Racing Inc. to form Patterson-Elite Performance. The new company will continue to operate out of Patterson’s shop in Augusta, Kan., and supply high-powered, reliable performance to Sportsman racers across the country.
“This is an extension of our growing business,” Elite owner Richard Freeman said. “Patterson Racing has been a staple in the world of Sportsman racing, and we had been looking for a way to expand into every class of drag racing. This is a perfect opportunity for us.”
Patterson Racing, co-owned by the father-son team of Allan and Todd Patterson, has been building engines for 36 years since Allan formed the company in 1979. Allan Patterson has been friends with Royce Freeman, Richard’s father, for many years.
“My dad is 70 years old, and him and my mom, Barbara, have been involved in our business since the start,” Todd Patterson said. “They’re to the point where they want to back off a little bit. With this merger, it makes both of us stronger. We hope to continue to be at the top of the food chain when it comes to building Sportsman engines.”
Patterson Racing has built engines that have powered more than 100 NHRA national event winners in the Sportsman classes and supplied top-quality engine parts and machining services to customers across the U.S. and worldwide. The flagship for Patterson has been Sportsman legend David Rampy, one of the most prolific drivers in NHRA history. All of Rampy’s Competition Eliminator victories have been powered by Patterson engines.
“Our motors have been synonymous with record-setting performances and reliability over the years,” Patterson said. “This is not an end — it’s an extension, it’s new life for us. This will hopefully make our program stronger. For our Sportsman racers, they’re going to gain access to a ton of Pro Stock technology through this merger.”
The two companies are about three hours apart in the Midwest. As Elite expands its Pro Stock team, its Sportsman engine-building capability will be channeled through the Pattersons’ shop in Kansas.
“We’ve been looking to expand to Pro Mod and all the Sportsman categories, and we had to make a decision as to how to do that,” Freeman said. “This will be a full team effort by a lot of people, including everyone at Elite, to make it something really special. We have a great love for the Sportsman classes, and we can’t accomplish it all alone.”
Nick Ferri, a past Patterson Racing employee, and Jake Hairston head the Elite engine department, and the team has a plethora of talent throughout the organization, including recently hired crew chief Brian “Lump” Self. Elite won the 2014 NHRA Pro Stock championship with driver Erica Enders and has won 10 races in 2015, eight by current points leader Enders and one by rookie Drew Skillman, the leading candidate for NHRA rookie of the year. It also powered Rodger Brogdon to one victory this season
Allan Patterson will still be involved in the joint venture as a consultant. Patterson’s current engine staff of Brian Lewis, Cory Mattson, Eric Finlay, Eldon Clark, and Darren Pocock in sales have over 100 years combined experience to continue to serve customers.
Patterson Elite Performance will also continue to field a car in NHRA Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, and Stock with the Omaha Track COPO Camaro next season.
