K&N's Furr Racing and two of their ever-growing stable of drag cars.
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After a very successful and quite memorable 2011, K&N's Michelle Furr of Galax, Virginia has set out to acquire some new goals in 2012. With a near NHRA National Event double under her belt from her outstanding performance during the O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals at zMax Dragway, where she put both her Ohio Crankshaft/K&N rides in the final, taking the win in Super Comp and runner-up in Super Street, Furr is both grateful for her past success and hopeful for her season that lies ahead.
"Winning that first Wally is so much more than I ever thought it would be in a lifetime of dreams," she reflected back on one of her most exhilarating weekends of her life. "I'm sure that memory will always make me smile and if my racing had to end tomorrow, I'm good. It would be nice to keep marking off that bucket list though, winning two Wally's at one event, a championship Wally or even the big one - driving a pro stock ride. So, we'll see what God has planned."
Some racers go years, decades and unfortunately their entire racing careers without making it to an NHRA National Event final, let alone what Furr was able to accomplish in 2011. To be able to repeat, can put added pressure on some racers, but Furr seems to be taking it in stride. "It's like the pressure is gone," she admitted. It's similar to my first year of Top Dragster in 2006 when I really wanted to join the 200 mph club. I was frustrated in qualifying, as the most I could get was 199 during the first few IHRA national events. Then at MIR that fall, I went 201 mph. It was one of those lifetime memories you keep with you. And while I can run TD now, I am really, really enjoying throttle stop racing."
It won't be too long before Madilyn will be wanting to step into one of Mom's rides.
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Furr's preparation for 2012 has included everything from freshening both her versatile 1968 Camaro SS and her 2002 Undercover dragster. Between the two cars, she will once again be seen competing in a multitude of classes from all three index or Super Classes to Top Dragster. Furr and her husband, crew chief Rick, have already hit the track to test and with new plans for the season have even sought advice from multi-time NHRA Champ Peter Biondo.
"After making a huge effort to get both our cars to NHRA National events last summer, we knew we needed to look at making some changes. With Super Street not being contested at the national events that are local to us, we just needed to regroup. Since another car wasn't a possibility and Rick wasn't too sure about making a heavy Super Street car into a Super Gas car or even if I could cut a light on .400 pro tree versus the .500 in the 10.90 class, we reached out to fellow K&N driver and promoter of the K&N Spring Fling 20's, Peter Biondo. We know Peter as a great driver and super fellow racer who was extremely helpful in his advice to us on a good 9.90 setup for the Camaro."
Drag Racing is quite the family affair for K&N's Furr Racing.
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Michelle is not the only driver to be found in Furr Racing. Daughter Madilyn and son Adiayn both compete in the ever-popular JR. Dragster program.
"Madilyn, who is twelve, was in her fourth year and Adiayn, eight, was in his first year of JR. Dragster racing last year and their programs took a back seat to allow Mom to compete at more of the NHRA National events level season," Furr explained. "So they are really ready to get going this year. It's hard to find that happy medium for all of us and what we are able to haul together in trailer at the same time. I enjoy watching them even more than competing myself. Anyone who knows me knows how competitive I am, so that's huge."
Veteran JR racer Madilyn, giving some last minute advice to the newest drag racer in the family, Adiayn.
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As much as the elder Furr's put into their NHRA Championship hopes, they double that energy for the younger drivers in the household. "Our kids are our lives," she stated. "I can't tell you how thrilled I was when they each made the choice to drive. I actually made Madi ask to drive for 2 months, when she was old enough, before we got her a JR. just to be sure it was what she wanted and not what Mom wanted. Adiayn actually didn't ever say he wanted to drive, he said he wanted to be his sister's crew chief and work on the cars like his Dad. Then in 2010, on our way home from the JR conference finals he said, 'I want to drive.' It was another one of those life memories, listening to the excitement of him and his sister talking all the way home. It was something else to listen as she began teaching him all about driving a JR dragster. We had kept her first JR, an original half scale with the wide rear tires."
"We felt it was a good car for Adiayn, who has been sliding anything with four tires sideways since he was two," she laughed. "This year we are getting ready to see if he will still fit in it, as he looks more like the size of a twelve year old, so we may be looking for a new JR. for him."
While the Furr's had hoped to get out a little earlier in the season, a few factors kept them away from the tracks until just recently, but as Furr points out they will be full throttle shortly. "With the weather for us early in the season and having the kids still in school, it makes our schedule start a little later than we may like it to. With making the various changes and missing the beginning of the NHRA Div. 2 events, we want to pick up the 2013 JEGS All-Stars events in the middle of the season with Atlanta and hopefully follow that through to making all the Div. 2 events next year and see where we are then to finish out 2013 for the All-Stars. We will be competing at the Charlotte, Bristol and Atlanta Nationals as well as taking a look at the closer Lucas events as well like Bristol, VMP, Atlanta, etc."
Michelle Furr and her K&N dragster on her way to her first NHRA National Wally in 2011.
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In addition to chasing NHRA points, the Furr's are also looking at an additional series to compete in a little closer to home. "We are excited to learn about a six race series for points at Charlotte this year," she said. "With this short of a series, we wouldn't have the normal thirteen to twenty race commitment that most tracks have for a yearly bracket series and we could compete in it without cutting into my NHRA schedule. That would also open the door for us to take my dragster and both of the kid's JRs, so we could compete together for track points as a family. It would also allow them qualify for the NHRA JR dragster conference finals, which they love. That is an awesome event for kids."
Furr shares some of the numerous changes she and her husband Rick have made to the team cars over the off-season, "We're pretty excited about the addition of the 2nd Generation K&N composite scoop that we have added to the dragster. We also have the new K&N scoop for the Camaro, too and it won't be too long before we get it installed, as well. These are going to give both cars, more cold air for their Ohio Crankshaft motors, while not only protecting them, and from what I've heard, give them more horsepower and some additional mile-per-hour. We're really looking forward to seeing the results."
The new K&N scoops are just the latest addition to the long list of K&N Engineering products the NHRA Super Comp Event champ uses on all of their team cars and daily drivers. "Our 2003 Chevy 3500 Duramax has the K&N cold air induction and it's absolutely awesome in what it does for towing," she exclaimed. "We also use K&N wrench-off filters on everything we have. The generator in the trailer even has a K&N oil filter and both of the kids JRs have K&N air filters and overflow filters. We invest a lot as a team in all of our equipment, so it is extremely important to both Rick and myself to make sure everything is protected with nothing but the best available."
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