Drag Illustrated Issue 132, May 2018 | Page 40

Dirt

Musi Strengthens Relationship with Edelbrock

By Mike Carpenter

After another successful season and a run that now includes nine championships in the past five years , Pat Musi Racing Engines again has big expectations as the 2018 racing season begins .

It comes after a successful off-season that included Pat Musi Racing Engines and Edelbrock announcing an increased partnership at the Performance Racing Industry ( PRI ) trade show in Indianapolis last December . The industry giant was also revealed as a primary sponsor for Lizzy Musi and her 2018 racing season , which began at the PDRA season-opener at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson , NC .
“ We ’ re really excited that Edelbrock is going to be along for the ride with Lizzy and they really stepped up ,” Pat Musi said . “ To be involved with a company like that , it ’ s been great . They want to get into racing more and make an even bigger effort there , and the deal with Lizzy will bring more exposure . Having a company like Edelbrock behind you is a big deal .”
After a highly-successful 2017 PDRA season that included back-to-back victories to end the campaign and a third-place finish in Pro Nitrous , fan-favorite Lizzy Musi will try to claim her first PDRA world championship in 2018 . She will also debut a new Frank Brandao-owned Dodge Dart , aptly named “ King Kong 7 ,” in PDRA Pro Nitrous , with plans to debut that car at the end of April .
Additionally , Musi will make her NHRA Pro Mod debut at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in June . She will run that race and the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway , which is near Pat Musi Racing Engines ’ shop in Mooresville , N . C ., in October .
The plan will be for Musi to drive “ King Kong 6 ” with a new 903-cubic inch engine that Pat is currently building . Along with Edelbrock , Lucas Oil will also continue as a primary sponsor on Musi ’ s car , adding another level of
excitement for the 2018 season .
“ Lizzy has become a heck of a driver with a great following , and we ’ re really excited about the year ,” Pat Musi said . “ We ’ ve already had good numbers during testing in Florida and our first race at GALOT last month , and I think it ’ s going to be a heck of a year .”
Pat Musi Racing Engines ’ increased partnership with Edelbrock builds on a strong relationship that was formed more than 15 years ago . Musi has already developed state-of-the-art cylinder heads for Edelbrock that will debut in 2018 , a sign of greater involvement from the industry giant in drag racing .
“ We ’ re excited to continue our relationship with Lizzy and Pat Musi Racing Engines for 2018 . Since Edelbrock ’ s early days , Vic Sr . and Vic Jr . both have supported many forms of racing . It ’ s in our DNA . 2018 is our 80th year in business , and it ’ s amazing to look back at all of the racers we have supported . It ’ s really important to our organization to support the sportsman racer as well as the engine builder . Both are very important to the future of our industry ,” stated Steve Whipple , Edelbrock Vice President of Sales and Marketing .
Pat Musi Racing Engines will also continue to design parts and perform extensive research and development for the company , which has long excelled as a leader in the specialty performance automotive and motorcycle aftermarket .
“ Edelbrock has a lot of faith in me , which makes me feel good , and I have a lot of faith in them ,” Musi said . “ They are dedicated and want to have an even greater presence in racing . I think they are capable of doing that and I think I can help them get there . Both companies are getting stronger , and the relationship is getting stronger . It gives us credibility and it gives me confidence , and that really means a lot . We ’ ve worked together on a lot of projects and we get along great . It ’ s just a good team .” DI
PHOTOS : CHRIS SEARS , MIKE CARPENTER
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