Las Vegas, NV: Luke Bogacki, driver of the ThisIsBracketRacing.com Super Comp dragster and Super Gas Corvette, took home his third NHRA national event trophy of the 2012 season and the fifth of his career at last weekend’s NHRA Big O Tires Nationals in Las Vegas, NV. There, he wheeled his American Race Cars built machine to the victory with a final round triumph over Greg Boutte. Bogacki left the starting line with a near perfect .005 reaction, and held off Boutte for the win, 9.081 to 9.087 (9.05 index).
“This is another highlight to what has turned into an incredible season,” Bogacki said. “Honestly, I don’t feel like I did a great job of driving in Super Comp this weekend; but my car really pulled me through. It was nearly flawless, and I caught a lot of breaks. I don’t care what anyone says, you need that to win in this category.”
Bogacki began his march to victory with wins over Rick Beckstrom, Jodi St. Arnaud, Raquel Roper and Steve Swenson. He needed a perfect 9.050 to hold off former national event winner Justin Morgan in the quarterfinal round, and knocked off Larry Marshall in the semi-finals before squaring off with Boutte. The win marked Bogacki’s third NHRA national event crown of the season, and first in Super Comp (he earned Super Gas honors in Houston and Brainerd). In fact, the victory was his first all season in his ThisIsBracketRacing.com dragster.
“I’ve actually got the dragster sold,” Bogacki said. “I got a deposit on it this weekend in Vegas, and the new owner gets it turn-key after Pomona. My wife reminded me that I hadn’t won in that car all season. It’s been such a good car for me over the last few years, I really wanted to send it off with a victory before the season ended. I just got fortunate that it fell into place here!”
The Luke Bogacki Motorsports team will take delivery of two new American Race Cars dragsters in early December. Luke will drive a new 2013 model in Super Comp next season, and assemble the second car for his wife, Jessica, who will compete mainly at the bracket level.
The car that Luke drove to victory in Las Vegas is a 2010 model American Race Cars chassis powered by a Huntsville Engine & Performance 632 cubic inch engine. The powerplant features an aluminum block and 12* cylinder heads from BRODIX, along with Wiseco Pistons, Crane cam and lifters, a Milodon oiling system, and an APD “throttle stop” carbueretor and belt driven fuel pump. Lucas Oil lubricates the internals, which are surrounded by a J&J Performance engine diaper. The engine burns Renegade 116+ racing fuel that is exhausted through Hedman Hedders with Nitroplate coating. A BTE powerglide transmission and torque converter feed power through a Moser Engineering rear end assembly and axles to Mickey Thompson Tires thanks to an Ohlins shock. Bogacki monitors the combination with an Auto Meter multi-function data logger, and controls its speed (the car is capable of high-6-second ET’s) with a K&R Performance Engineering “Pro-Cube” Delay Box, Dixie Shift Solenoid, and Dedenbear throttle stop. The combination is topped off by a K&N hood scoop and filters, along with paint from Todd’s Extreme Paint. Additional components include ISC Racer’s Tape, an AirTek air pressure monitor, B&M Pro-Bandit shifter, and port work by Frankenstein Racing Heads. The team also enjoys support from DragRaceResults.com, Nitrous Express, and Charlie Stewart Race Cars. Nearly every component on each of the LBM team machines is available at JEGS.com.
Luke wished to recognize his major marketing partner, ThisIsBracketRacing.com, along with associate partners Tinsley Drilling and Company, C.A.R.S. Protection Plus, Bill Taylor Enterprises, Advanced Product Design, Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, and JEGS for their continued support.
This weekend, Luke will continue with week 2 of his season-ending western swing at the NHRA Division 7 LODRS event in Las Vegas. He comes into the event ranked 3rd in the NHRA standings in both Super Comp and Super Gas. The race marks the final LODRS event of the 2012 season, and Bogacki enters with a mathematical shot at the Lucas Oil Championship in Super Comp, as well as an opportunity to finish 2nd in the Super Gas chase.
“The divisional race is certainly the reason I made the trip out here,” Bogacki said. “I’ve got a shot in Super Comp, but it’s a longshot. Basically, I have to make the final round of the event, and I have to get some help in the form of the other contenders falling early in eliminations. Like I said, it’s a longshot. But it’s almost a pressure-free situation, because I’m certainly not the favorite. Regardless of the outcome, I’ve had a great season and it’s a lot of fun to get this deep into the year and still be in the championship conversation.”
After the final LODRS event of the season in Las Vegas, Bogacki plans to continue on to Pomona, CA for the season-ending AAA Auto Club NHRA Finals.
