Author - vdl

Small Block Wins Over Big Blocks

The carburetor of choice became the carburetor of a champion for Chris Raabe and his engine builder, Yves LaFrance, and it’s another big win for the VDL 80541 / 650 HP carburetor.  This carburetor isn’t just for crates anymore:   CHRIS RAABE TAKES LAFRANCE PERFORMANCE SMALL BLOCK TO VICTORY LANE AGAINST THE BIG BLOCK SUPER STARS By Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design – July 4, 2012 It was arguably one of the biggest upsets in recent memory in the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series when Napanee, Ontario racer Chris Raabe took his Lafrance Performance powered 358 Modified to victory lane against the more powerful Big Block Modified counterparts.  Raabe’s biggest win of his young career came in dominating fashion, leading 80 of the 100 laps, taking home the $6000 to win payday after beating some of the best [...]

July 11, 2012 Read more...

Looking for Drivability on a Slick Track?

Matt Fink has a secret, so don’t tell anyone.  This is his Big Block Dirt Modified #15 that won the feature May 26 at Fulton Speedway, New York – a 3/8 mile dirt oval that will changes from tacky to slick in no time as the summer days get hotter.  These beasts make 800-900 horsepower that can easily overpower a dry slick track, and the question is:  how does one keep it hooked up?  One answer lies in the driver’s hands and the crew chief’s head, and the other comes from VDL:  Matt runs our Holley 750 with the venturis bored out to 1.450.  This big-bore carburetor creates the power comparable to a 950 cfm carburetor, but it maintains the drivability of the 750.  Drivability must be a southern Alabama word because it “ain’t” in the dictionary, but to us it means throttle response that is drivable, controllable, and winable!   Matt used it all that last Saturday in May to take his first feature win, and he did it by .122 seconds!  Wish we were there to have seen that!  Congratulations!      

June 6, 2012 Read more...

VDL 4412 wins with gas or ethanol!

The singular most popular carburetor at short tracks across the country is the Holley 4412 / 500 cfm, and the best one on the market comes from LA – that’s “lower Alabama”!  The VDL crew builds this carburetor for 4 cylinder Mini-stocks to B Mods to Street Stocks to Trucks to Super Late Models; dirt and asphalt; gas, alcohol, or ethanol.  Let us do the work, and all you do is bolt it on, check your float level, and go!     This pristine Street Stock belongs to Nick Shaw of Wall Stadium in Wall Township, New Jersey.  He runs our Holley 4412 on this high-banked asphalt oval almost every Saturday night from April to October, setting the fast lap of the race and winning!  Thanks for the ride, guys.     On the other coast, Rich Harper competes at the New Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, California.  It’s another high-banked oval; and Rich picked up a big win May 5 in his Super Stock with a VDL 4412 – on ethanol!  We’re proud of ya’, Rompin’ Rich!     Our Holley 4412 wins on Late Models, too – just ask Buckshot!  Mike Bologna runs his Late Model at Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, New York, [...]

June 6, 2012 Read more...

Start the 2012 Season with a Big Win just like ….

        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!

February 20, 2012 Read more...

Understanding the Fuel Path Through Your Carburetor

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. (more…)

January 13, 2012 Read more...

Top Two Contenders in JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour

Entering the final race of the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour at Winchester, Erik Jones and Eddie Hoffman were the only drivers left that could win this inaugural Championship.  With his fast time and fourth place finish, the 15 year old Erik Jones earned the Championship and he couldn’t believe it, “To win against this competition, in the inaugural season, it is unbelievable.  This is my first championship!”  Eddie Hoffman is a long time VDL customer, and he is the best to beat!  We congratulate Erik and team, and are thrilled to find our 650 HP carburetor on top again!

November 4, 2011 Read more...

CRA Rookie Wins Championship

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!          

November 4, 2011 Read more...

You Can Get Out of the Box and Into . . .

. . . . Victory Circle, Too!  Our carburetors can be found in winners’ tech all over the country, and even into Canada and Mexico.  They run on land and over water, on the dirt or on the asphalt.  They go in circles or straight down the strip or through the chicanes.  They pull tractors, run through the mud, and off the road.  And, it has been a great season for all!  Now is the time to send in your championship wins as we begin to build our VDL Winners List.  Let’s hear from you!   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 . . .    

October 5, 2011 Read more...

Texas Youngster Wins Big with VDL!

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!

October 5, 2011 Read more...

CRA Winner Makes History with VDL!

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!

October 5, 2011 Read more...