Virginia’s OTG Racing Celebrates Being World’s Fastest

Story by Ian Tocher

MOSELEY, VA – When Chris Patrick covered the eighth mile in 3.93 seconds at 189.76 miles per hour last month at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas, OTG Racing owner Brian Shaw pumped his fist in celebration because it meant his car had just become the quickest and fastest nitrous-oxide-boosted 1941 Willys on the planet.

“It may have only qualified us 14th, but just qualifying felt like a victory itself,” Shaw said from his Moseley, Virginia, race shop, referring to the 16-car Pro Nitrous field for the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) World Finals. “I mean, we’re out there racing against a bunch of super-slick Camaros and Corvettes, so just to get a big, old body like the Willys going that fast feels pretty good.”

Shaw credits Pat Bennett Race Cars in Amherst, Virginia, and Fulton Race Engines from Spartanburg, South Carolina, for providing the chassis and 833-cubic-inch powerplant it takes to run competitively at drag racing’s highest level. But he stresses it was a team effort that delivered the record run.

“I always knew the car was capable, but it’s important to have a skilled driver like Chris to get the job done,” Shaw said. “And we’ve got a great group of guys working on the car who come from all over the country; California, Arizona, Georgia, and of course Virginia, who labor on it and deserve a lot of credit for their dedication and hard work.

“I may pay for most things and Chris gets the lion’s share of attention at the track, but I think it’s important to emphasize that this isn’t the Brian Shaw show; it’s not the Chris Patrick show; this is a racing team where we all support each other and do our best to all pull in the same direction.

“It also really helps to have good friends like Gene Fulton and Pat Bennett and Jim Halsey to bounce ideas off of at the track,” he added. “Their knowledge and experience is invaluable when it comes to setting up and running a car like this.”  

Shaw said he hopes to keep his current team intact and re-sign Patrick for the full 2011 ADRL schedule, which begins next March at Houston with the rain-postponed World Finals.

“I was sorry to see the race get rained out because I feel pretty sure we can get this car into the 3.80s with the right conditions like we had in Dallas,” he said. “But for now I’m content to know we have the quickest and fastest Pro Nitrous Willys out there.”

OTG Racing thanks all of its sponsors and supporters, including Fulton Race Engines, Pat Bennett Race Cars, Randall’s Racing and Machine, Hudgins Tires, AED, Old River Cabinets, Engine Works, VP Racing Fuels and Cole Real Estate. To follow OTG Racing online please visit www.otgracing.com and join the OTG e-mail club for race team updates.