Last Sunday night Wythe Raceway hosted the 14th annual PRO LATE MODEL NATIONALS. That's when a 18 year old practically single handedly dismissed every rumor ever heard in crate late model racing in the last 14 years since FASTRAK started touring events.
Young Brent Hilton really proved that with an older car, older engine, used shocks, no fancy heads, no fancy anything really as they even enjoy working on their car outside under the carport or as father Rick referred to it "the shed" keeping it closer to home so mom could enjoy the guys company as they work on it in the evenings, you could beat the best of the best at a touring event.
"I have told people for years" said Stan Lester of FASTRAK, "you do not need to take a new engine to a engine builder to blue print. That's just ridiculous. Biggest waste of money in crate racing today period. Brent Hilton just proved it with a 2008 engine and a older car. He had the knowledge of his local track and although he didn't have the fastest lap of the race, he certainly was the most consistent. NDM Machine of Wytheville VA did his engine and even the valve springs were not shimmed all the way".
Hiltons dad/crew chief said this morning, "we bought a 2004 rocket complete including these shocks and this engine when we started FASTRAK for $12,000. Then a couple years later as Brent got a little more experience we bought this 2013 Barry Wright for $14,000 w the shocks. No engine, or transmission so we put all that stuff over on it from our 2004 Rocket and went racing. We have run that same engine for 4 years. We have it freshened up every year for the most part, but that's it. I really have spent less than $2000 on the car this season".
Here we are local team, young driver, dad crew chief, older car, older engine, used double adjustable shocks and small budget working in their yard basically -show everyone FASTRAK crate late model racing really works and it is about set up and communication between the team and the driver. All the BS everyone as been saying was just proved wrong in front of the entire world.
In speaking with Hiltons dad and crew chief this morning, we were told NDM Machine advised them to replace the valve springs and just put the engine back together. No complete rebuild, no new parts other than the mentioned springs???? Really, so its going to cost what to put it back together? Maybe $600 - $800.
Hiltons father stated this morning, "I can't imagine running with another series other than FASTRAK. My son feels safe and we are treated the same as everyone else. These people have fun racing and that makes it fun for us too. We will see everyone at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP event next weekend"
In the days of $40,000 race cars, $13,000 blue printing new engines, $10,000 worth of shocks, and lord knows what else, you can win with a lot less.
America and dirt racing loves to see a good story line about the underdog winning, but in this case It doesn't appear the Hiltons think being the underdog is an disadvantage but maybe even to their advantage as you just don't see them coming.
Young Brent Hilton really proved that with an older car, older engine, used shocks, no fancy heads, no fancy anything really as they even enjoy working on their car outside under the carport or as father Rick referred to it "the shed" keeping it closer to home so mom could enjoy the guys company as they work on it in the evenings, you could beat the best of the best at a touring event.
"I have told people for years" said Stan Lester of FASTRAK, "you do not need to take a new engine to a engine builder to blue print. That's just ridiculous. Biggest waste of money in crate racing today period. Brent Hilton just proved it with a 2008 engine and a older car. He had the knowledge of his local track and although he didn't have the fastest lap of the race, he certainly was the most consistent. NDM Machine of Wytheville VA did his engine and even the valve springs were not shimmed all the way".
Hiltons dad/crew chief said this morning, "we bought a 2004 rocket complete including these shocks and this engine when we started FASTRAK for $12,000. Then a couple years later as Brent got a little more experience we bought this 2013 Barry Wright for $14,000 w the shocks. No engine, or transmission so we put all that stuff over on it from our 2004 Rocket and went racing. We have run that same engine for 4 years. We have it freshened up every year for the most part, but that's it. I really have spent less than $2000 on the car this season".
Here we are local team, young driver, dad crew chief, older car, older engine, used double adjustable shocks and small budget working in their yard basically -show everyone FASTRAK crate late model racing really works and it is about set up and communication between the team and the driver. All the BS everyone as been saying was just proved wrong in front of the entire world.
In speaking with Hiltons dad and crew chief this morning, we were told NDM Machine advised them to replace the valve springs and just put the engine back together. No complete rebuild, no new parts other than the mentioned springs???? Really, so its going to cost what to put it back together? Maybe $600 - $800.
Hiltons father stated this morning, "I can't imagine running with another series other than FASTRAK. My son feels safe and we are treated the same as everyone else. These people have fun racing and that makes it fun for us too. We will see everyone at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP event next weekend"
In the days of $40,000 race cars, $13,000 blue printing new engines, $10,000 worth of shocks, and lord knows what else, you can win with a lot less.
America and dirt racing loves to see a good story line about the underdog winning, but in this case It doesn't appear the Hiltons think being the underdog is an disadvantage but maybe even to their advantage as you just don't see them coming.
