K&N's Dan Fletcher Get's 69th at the Third Annual O'Reilly NHRA Nationals
- Sep 29, 2010
Fletcher's resume is way up there on the list of all-time sportsman greats, along with Peter Biondo (who he once was quoted as saying was the greatest racer ever), David Rampy, Scott Richardson and Edmund Richardson - and he's still steadily pulling towards the top. At the third annual O'Reilly NHRA Nationals run at zMax Dragway, Fletcher tallied his 69th event victory. There was little time for celebration however, as he had to once again pack it up and hit the road. Not for a race though - something much more important this time.
"I loaded up as fast as humanly possible, skipping the winner's circle photos, and hauled ass 750 miles home to make my daughter's 4:30 pm soccer game Monday afternoon. She is a freshman in high school and had just gotten pulled up to Varsity on Friday. It was her first Varsity game and I wasn't going to miss it for the world."
In round six eliminations in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in Concord, North Carolina, Fletcher dialed an 11.18, and because of his great reaction time, he won with an 11.206 ET at 112.35 mph. About the win Fletcher remarked "I would have liked to have doubled-up, but I guess I'll have to settle for the semis in SS (Super Stock) and the win in Stock. Still a good day. Pretty cool to tie Kenny B (Bernstein) for seventh on the all time win list as well." Regarding his legendary, ninja-like reaction times, Fletcher says "I have a practice-tree, as do most racers, we use them to sharpen our skills as required. Honestly, I really only use it when I feel as though I'm struggling. Kind of like a baseball player taking extra batting practice when he's in a slump." Since signing his primary sponsorship agreement with K&N Engineering in January 2009 there has been virtually no slump in the three-time national champions game. But, when you work 1320 feet and eleven seconds at a time, nothing less than winning is a good day at the office. "This year is okay, I guess, you'd always like to do better," says Fletcher. "I lost in the semis in Stock at Indy a couple of weeks ago, and now the semis at Charlotte in SS, so that's a crushing financial difference for sure. I'm going to a points meet in Atco, New Jersey this weekend, and then to the Maple Grove national event the week after. Depending on how Atco goes, I might hit a few more points meets, or I may shut it down till Vegas and Pomona at the end of the year." Apart from whatever the fickle fates of racing hold in store for Fletcher down the road, he's always got his family. No doubt with being gone for over 25 weeks each year that becomes an increasing focus theme. When we asked for a couple of photos to post with his story Fletcher explained that he didn't really keep many of himself, adding, "Here are a couple from the Lebanon Valley D1 points meet winner's circle. I didn't win, but my younger boy Timothy did. It was his very first NHRA race, and indisputably the highlight of my season." Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
