For 2016, the NHRA introduced drastic changes to the Pro Stock racing class. Teams discarded their carburetors and hood scoops, replacing them with mandated cowl induction and fuel injection electronic control units. Years of development knowledge was abandoned as teams struggled in the off-season to adapt their race cars to comply with the new systems, to say nothing of the forfeiture of horsepower in their switch from carburetion.
Gray Motorsports, a top-tier team, with arguably the best group of individuals currently building engines and tuning race cars, approached Mike Androwick of Mike’s Racing Heads for advice on their new fuel injected Pro Stock program. “We sat down with Shane Gray and the guys at the engine shop and they decided the best option was to have us design and supply them with a new top-end,” says Androwick. “They felt this was their weakest area, but had a clear insight as to the way ahead and we developed it from there.”
Mike Androwick Jr at the controls of their Haas CNC machining center
Mike and his son Mike Jr wasted no time in designing and building the new parts. “It’s not often you get opportunities like this, especially the chance to work with such a talented group of individuals,” said Mike’s son. “We were committed to living up to expectation.”
Following countless hours of R&D, CAD design, CAM programming and CNC-machining, Androwick and his son handed over the newly designed top-end to Gray Motorsports. “Normally it’s a struggle to find a few horsepower in a Pro Stock engine,” explains Androwick. “However, after running our top end on the dyno, their engine guys were in a hurry to get it off and into the race car in time for the Atlanta race.”
Since the Atlanta race in mid-May, the three Gray Motorsports powered Pro Stock teams have produced three number one qualifiers, two race wins, and an impressive eleven semifinal-round appearances.
Androwick again, “Their engine guys have lots of progressive ideas as do we and we plan to put them to good use. It’s a well-used cliche, but it takes team work and collaboration to make the gains we have in such a short period of time. We consider ourselves a part of their team and they feel the same. We’ve only just scratched the surface with new fuel injection technology and we are far from done!”
Source
Mike’s Racing Heads,
Concord, North Carolina
(704) 654-6079
mikesracingheads.com
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