Thu, 2 Apr 2009, 12:48 PM Western Motorsports to Unveil In-house Engine Program in Las Vegas

Courtesy of Mark Beatty

DENVER -- Western Motorsports, based in Denver, Colo., will debut its in-house engine program when V. Gaines wheels the team's Kendall Motor Oil-backed Dodge Friday at the Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev.

The transition ends a multi-year relationship between the team and Larry Morgan, which Gaines feels has been instrumental in moving his entire program closer to the pinnacle of the ultra-competitive Pro Stock elite. "Larry has been there with us for a long time and helped us earn a couple top 10 finishes," Gaines said. "Larry is and will always be a friend and a great engine builder."

The Kendall team has recognized that to be at the top of NHRA Pro Stock, it has become necessary to control all aspects of the race operation. "Being in charge of our own destiny is the goal," Gaines continued. "To move forward in anything, you have to take that chance of possibly taking a couple steps backwards. We know this will be a positive for our team in the near future."

Long-time crew chief Clyde West believes the years the team has invested included this latest step of an engine program will someday garner a Full Throttle NHRA Pro Stock Championship. "Few teams have ever won a Pro Stock championship while leasing a motor" West said. "The time is right for us to do our own engine program."

The building of the Dodge Hemi power plants will be led by veteran engine builder Joe Jolly along with Kevin, Chuck and Mario, the crew at Madcap Racing Engines is based in Lakewood, Colo. "We've been on the dyno non-stop working toward this moment," Jolly reported. "I think we are pretty close on the power needed; now it's time to go down the track."

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