NHRA drag racer Chris Bostick turned heads two weeks ago when he rolled onto the track with a parachute attached to his Pro Stock Motorcycle. As he prepares for this week’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at historic Maple Grove Raceway, the driver of the Surf Signature RV Resorts Suzuki shared why he believes this addition will potentially provide an additional measure of safety.
Bostick finished in the Top Ten in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season, earning a spot in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s version of the playoffs. The talented Pro Stock Motorcycle pilot has been reaching new milestones recently with his White Alligator Racing crew chief Tim Kulungian and they are aiming to keep that momentum going in the right direction.
Recently, NHRA updated the standards for Pro Stock Motorcycles using Vance and Hines heads, requiring those bikes to add 15 pounds to achieve better parity in the class. The heavier the bike, the more it takes to slow it down after crossing the finish line. At tracks with short shutdown areas, Bostick wants to have the option rather than taking the risk that he may not be able to slow down in time to guide the 660-pound motorcycle off of the track.
“Now that drivers are consistently going over 200 mph and we are heavier, this feels like the right time to start trying the parachute,” said Bostick. “We spoke to the Pro Stock Motorcycle committee and NHRA and decided to test it before the U.S. Nationals. The tests went well and we were allowed to operate with the parachute over the weekend. No matter how long the dragstrip is, it’s better to use it, even if you don’t need it on a particular run. Because if an unforeseen issue arises and you do need it, you’ll be glad you used it.”
“Chris really paved the way for this with a lot of the research that he’s done in the past,” added Kulungian. “He figured out the functionality. We are paying a lot of attention to the parachute every time it’s used and gathering data as we go.”
Bostick is feeling confident and ready for the race this weekend. Entering the Countdown adjusts the points and right now, the championship is very much up for grabs. He and his White Alligator Racing teammate Chase Van Sant will have their work cut out for them as the competition has been fierce in Pro Stock Motorcycle this season.
All of the exciting racing action for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will begin on Friday, September 13, with qualifying sessions at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Pep Boys NHRA Nationals will feature two more qualifying sessions on Saturday, September 14 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin on Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 a.m.
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