Duck Tape Racing's Michael Beard Wins Farmington Race of Champions at Farmington Dragway

Duck Tape Racing's Michael Beard and his Plymouth Turismo
Duck Tape Racing's Michael Beard and his Plymouth Turismo
Duck Tape Racing’s 1985 Plymouth Turismo has been putting up the usual numbers that eventually lead to a successful year. The first win of the year, so far, came about in the Farmington Race of Champions at Farmington Dragway. He reached two semi-final rounds this season helping tremendously in the points chase. Beard faced a few unexpected problems early this season, experiencing a flat tire at the last turn of the track during the Palm Beach Nitro Jam and a minor brake issue at Immokalee Regional Raceway, which luckily could be fixed before the first round began the next day.
Michael Beard made many changes to the Duck Tape Turismo this year, and it looks to be paying off.
Michael Beard made many changes to the Duck Tape Turismo this year, and it looks to be paying off.


Beard made some changes to the Duck Tape Turismo this year including; new racing slicks which, Beard remarks, “are two inches taller than what we're used to running on this car. With a front wheel drive combination, obviously the slicks are on the front, and this can affect both reaction time and the car's final gear ratio.” The new tires took Beard all the way to the semi-finals at the Carolina Class Racers Association S/SS Combo in Fayetteville, NC. Post race Beard mentioned, "It feels good to light a bunch of win lights, particularly right off the bat with a new combination.”
Farmington Race of Champions at Farmington Dragway
Farmington Race of Champions at Farmington Dragway


Reaction times and E.T.s remain consistent for Beard this season despite the minor set-backs. He has managed to make the necessary adjustments to stay on his game; even, "Between fixing a dragging right-rear brake drum and the swap to a lighter pair of wheels on the back of the car coupled with much lighter Mickey Thompson ET Front tires, the car is making that initial move a little quicker.” Beard feared red-lights would become common with the new set-up. He did not have much luck in Rockingham lighting a red-light almost every run and, “ went back to shallow staging, which we are required to do in Stock Eliminator racing anyway. It's a challenge, but I'm more comfortable trying to hit the tree hard than to wait on it," as he mentioned after the double header in March.

Some may have seen Beard driving his Duck Tape Volare last season to a few event winner’s circles and they will have the chance to see the car back in action soon enough. Work is currently being done on the car to get it ready for racing. The car is expected to make its first appearance of 2011 on the weekend of May 6th and will be driven by Beard himself.

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