Start your 2012 season with a big win, just like Richie Stephens did!  They call him “Rocket Man” at his home track, East Alabama Motor Speedway, in Phenix City, Alabama for good reason:  he’s fast!  The Rocket Man and his crew headed to Tampa the first weekend of February for the World Street Stock Nationals at East Bay Raceway Park, and showed them what fast is, too.  After 3 nights of racing, the Rocket Man had 2 feature wins and 1 second place finish to claim the World Street Stock National Championship.  VDL is proud to be a part of this winning effort, and we send a hearty thank-you to Richie for being on top with our Holley 4412 carburetor!

Welcome to 2012!

Cobwebs in the carburetor after a long winter?

Well, it’s time to fire them up!

Check out our first tech video to learn more about your VDL carburetor:

Go to youtube.com, and find VDL Fuel Systems Tech Tips:  Pump Circuit Troubleshooting.

As we come to the close of the race season and reflect back, most of us would say 2011 has been challenging and heart pounding.  We are in changing times, on and off the race track.  At VDL, we have one foot firmly planted in the practices and procedures that have made our customers successful, while keeping the other foot flexible and proactive in this changing world.  We are steadfast and confident in our technical abilities to build winning carburetors, and will continue being progressive in our search for better ways to service and support the specific needs of each racer.  One of those support areas is our website.  We are using this media as an interactive resource for the racer by posting frequently asked questions and their answers, common tech tips, as well as new information regarding tuning and performance.  We will be posting videos for an easier-to-understand approach to carburetor tuning and welcome questions so we can stay relevant to the racer’s needs.  We are also continuing our 24 hour phone service as we realize that our product is used more after office hours and strive to be that constant resource no further away than a cell phone.

Typically, December is filled with year-ending races and trade shows for VDL.  This year we will have a little different routine because the PRI Show rescheduled their dates to the same weekend as the 44^th Snowball Derby in Pensacola, FL.  We not only participate in this race with our own house car, but also meet and work with hundreds of racers from all across the country.  Understanding our philosophy of being racers first and our preference for service over show, we have made the decision to forgo the trade show and concentrate our efforts on the racers.  The following week is the IMIS Show in Indianapolis, but as proud parents of a daughter who is a second year cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point we will be attending the Army-Navy game in Washington DC that same date.  Our desire is always to be everything and everywhere for the racers, but conflicting dates have made us choose service to our customers and this once in a lifetime trip to our nation’s capital.

2011 has been a resounding success for our customers on asphalt and dirt, down the strip and through the chicanes, over the water and off the road, and we are moving into 2012 with excitement, anticipation, and confidence.  One of the ways we plan to become more effective is to publish monthly newsletters with pertinent tuning advice and articles.  These will be posted to our website, and could also be delivered directly to you.   If you would like to receive the VDL newsletters, please send your email address through vdlfuelsystems.com.

Thank you to all the race teams across the country that keep VDL on top!

Dan and Linda VanderLey

New Rookie vs Past Rookie!

Scott Hantz was ready to win his fourth CRA championship, and it came down to the last points race , the Winchester 400 . . . but, a young rookie named Derrick Griffin thought otherwise.  Derrick set the pole, led the most laps, and then took the 2011 CRA Super Series Championship along with Rookie of the Year honors.  “This is something you dream about, but who believes you can win a championship against these guys in your rookie year?”  Griffin commented.  “I just can’t believe it, it is great, just great.”  Back in 2000, Scott Hantz won his first CRA championship as a rookie as well, and both teams made it to the top with our 750 HP carburetor!  Congratulations to Derrick Griffin and team!

CONGRATULATIONS  TO  OUR  2011  CHAMPIONS

Philip Morris

Whelen All-American National Champion

Derrick Griffin

CRA Super Series Champion

CRA Rookie of the Year

Erik Jones

JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion

Cody Coughlin

JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Rookie of the Year

Dal Wright

Myrtle Beach Speedway Limited Late Model

South Carolina

Mike Reichenberger

Norway Speedway Late Model

Michigan

DJ VanderLey

Mobile International Speedway Pro Late Model

Alabama

DJ VanderLey

Five Flags Speedway Pro Late Model

Florida

and more to come . . .

Kyle Weatherman finds victory lane at Kennedale Speedway Park in his IMCA Mod

The younger ones are getting better and faster!  The 1/4 mile dirt of Kennedale Speedway Park near Fort Worth, Texas was the site of another history-making victory.  Kyle Weatherman has posted 2 wins this past summer and is now the youngest winner in the history of IMCA SportMods.  Congratulations to Kyle, family, and crew!  VDL’s Holley 4412 / 500 cfm carburetor loves winning on dirt, no matter how young you are!

Congratulations to Kenzie Ruston for her CRA Super Series win at Lucas Oil Raceway

The wind of change is upon us with refreshing fall weather and monumental victories.  Kenzie Ruston posted fast time for the CRA Super Series Seal Wrap 100 at Lucas Oil Raceway on October 2 and then won the race, becoming the first female to win in CRA.  One of the many components of her team’s winning effort was a VDL  carburetor!  Congratulations to Kenzie and crew!