Drag Illustrated Issue 114, October 2016 | Page 107

TOMMY KUNDRIK
go really , really fast ,” Kundrik said . “ To be part of something that ’ s the next level , it ’ s just amazing . It ’ s awesome because I ’ m an enthusiast , I ’ m a participant , everything . We ’ ve done a lot of cool stuff .”
While the tire has revolutionized drag radial racing , Kundrik is the first to admit he ’ s relied on simple aspects , whether it ’ s common sense to see what ’ s needed , taking good ideas and running with them or good market research . With that around the world – “ to countries you wouldn ’ t think you could ever sell them to ” – but constant progression continues to be the goal . He has witnessed what he calls the “ rise and fall of Outlaw 10.5 right in front of my eyes ” and wants to continue to set the bar , whether it ’ s the next generation of radial tires or something to give the Outlaw 10.5 participants a boost .
“ The 275 Pro started it , then the 315 Pro fol- get us . That ’ s what we ’ re striving for .”
That means Kundrik will continue to live his dream , constantly looking for moments like that one magical day in Bradenton . But whenever and whatever that moment may be , he ’ s damn near positive that a drag radial tire will be involved .
“ I think it ’ s the next step ,” Kundrik said . “ I think radials are safer , they ’ re definitely faster . It ’ s the next step . You have to figure out how to make
“ IT WAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD HAVE EVER WANTED . YOU SET EVERY RECORD , YOU TOOK
OVER THE MARKET COMPLETELY , EVERYBODY ’ S HAPPY AND YOU SOLD EVERY TIRE YOU HAD .”
PHOTO : KEVIN COX
in mind , it wasn ’ t rocket science to see that drag radial racing was where his team needed to focus .
“ For radial to keep going , to where it ’ s at currently and to keep going strong for what … eight years ? It ’ s amazing . And it just keeps growing ,” Kundrik said . “ It ’ s absolutely amazing . Just to see all these guys that were anti-radial and to see what Donald has done with this deal and see where it ’ s gone – again , it ’ s amazing . To have 400 radial cars at the same property , it ’ s just amazing to see what it ’ s blown up to today .”
Kundrik now sells drag radial tires to countries
lowed it and it ’ s that much better . It ’ s going to carry us into the future ,” Kundrik said . “ You know , we have a 33x10.5x16W coming . It ’ s kind of a blip on the radar now and we ’ re getting ready to start testing that , trying to give the Outlaw 10.5 guys a boost because if we leave them alone I think they ’ ll be a 3.95-4.00 car for the next 10 years .
“ I ’ m a huge believer in the notion that competition makes the world go around . You have to have someone out there pushing you to be better , someone setting the benchmark . I would like to think we ’ re the benchmark . We ’ re the best . Come
that next tire . We make little tires very , very well . Now , we ’ ve got to learn how to make big tires really , really well , and do it in a radial . You go to that next step and maybe someday you ’ ll see a Pro Mod with a big radial on it . If that day comes then we ’ ve succeeded because you can only go up . Nobody wants to go down . They just want to go faster and if you can give somebody a tenth and two miles an hour , it ’ s going to be huge – especially if you do it just by bolting a tire on . I see the market going that way , I really do . It ’ s just a matter of time .” DI
October 2016
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