H  E  A  D  L  I  N  E  S

My name is Tim Smith (most people know me as Smitty), in 1997 after 6 months of being married … my wife told me to find something to do. 14 years later, here we are; Holbrook Shootout Series Index II Champion 2 years in a row.
Fast cars and hotrods have always been part of my life – my first car was a 1969 Chevy Chevelle. I am a local racer, born and raised here in Milan.
Tremendous amounts of appreciation to my wife (Denene) and daughter (Sara) for their support and commitment they have given me during the racing season. You will often find us at the track from Friday to Sunday – enjoying racing and RV’ing.
Personal thanks to Heinz Haller for years of technical support and crunch time help … and a special thanks to Heidi Adams (she knows why!).
Sponsor thanks to Dave Mullins, Napa Auto Supply. Engine builder Dan Sawicki. Lang Transmission.

Brian Robbins from St. Joseph, Michigan took the Championship away from fellow “Run What Ya Brung” racer, Todd Robertson this year. Brian has been breaking records for years around the country. He drives a 1972 Hurst Oldsmobile built by Skinny Kid Race Cars, Keith Engling. Skinny Kid Race Cars has a reputation for building race cars that win and set records. When Brian runs the car fans are usually on the edge of the seat watching. Pure excitement! Brian and Keith are masters at what they do.

Brian and his wife Patti have a son named Tyler. During the day Brian works in sales for Motor State Distributing selling aftermarket high performance automotive parts. He has been racing since 1987 and built his first supercharged race car in 1993 and has been racing since. Brian owns Robbins Racecraft where he builds race engines and flow fuel systems for other racers in his spare time.

Besides himself his crew is Keith Engling, Aaron Achors and Bob Miller. Special thanks to his sponsors Skinny Kid Race Cars, Big Stuff 3, Richard Auto Parts, NGK Spark Plugs, VP Fuel, SCE Gaskets, Cleveite Bearings, Gypsy King Tattoos, Akerly & Childs and Gates Belts.

I am from Clinton Township, an Oakland University Grad in 2010 and am now a Financial Services Rep. My dad, Steve "The Insurance Man" Smith, got me interested in racing from a young age. At 8, I started racing Junior Dragsters, mainly in Canada and occasionally at Milan Dragway. At 16, I went to Frank Hawley's Racing school and started racing full size Dragsters with my dad. In the recent years we've been traveling to several of the Big Money Bracket Races. Throughout the years he has taught me how to complete 90% of the work on my race car myself.

2003 - Grand Bend Motorplex Jr. Dragster points 2nd place
2009 - 3 wins in 6 finals and Grand Bend Top Dragster 2nd place
2010 - 5 wins in 5 finals at 3 different tracks including Grand Bend Octoberfast Champ
2011 - 3 wins in 9 finals and 2 Milan Dragway Championships.

I would like to thank my dad for all the work that he does in order for me to be able to race each weekend and also for sponsoring the Quick Series. My mom, Gwen, for all of her support throughout the years of me racing. My sister, Jessica, an engineer, for always trying to come out and support me when possible. Malarkey's for sponsoring the 8.30 class. Ken, Wendy and John for all of the work that they have done all year for the Quick Series and Diamond Race Cars, JCR Transmissions and Automotive Machine for helping me put together such a great race car.

John from Grosse Ile, Michigan has been racing since 1974 and is 59 years old.  He is the Senior VP of Operations for PKC Group, a Finland based wire harness manufacturer.  John first attended the drag races in 1963 in New Castle Pa.(Skyline Dragstrip) where they had flagman starters!!  He has competed in bracket racing with a variety of cars until becoming hooked on Top Sportsman racing in 2002. He has  won and runner upped in a number of IHRA divisional and National Events.  John said, “ My proudest moments racing were my Top Sportsman track champion in 2002 at Milan Dragway, a National event win at the 2005 Motor City Nationals (Milan Dragway) and of course this year’s T/S championship. Milan Dragway has been good to me”!
John also added, “I would like to thank Cathie, my wife of 35 years, for supporting my “HABIT” and Ron Cannatti, George Hutton for their support at the races.
A special thanks to Wendy Langlois for managing the quick series Ladders and purses and Insurance man (Steve Smith) for the title sponsorship.  Also, Thanks to all racers who supported this series.  Let’s make it bigger and better next year”!

Trace is one of those racers that when he shows up you know you will see some good racing.  Quite often Trace takes on the roll of spokesman for the racers.  He is well respected by both the racers and race officials.  Although he is an aggressive racer, his brotherhood to the fellow racers always comes first.
Here is what Trace has to say:

“I've been married to my wife Kristin since 1994 and we have two children, George (14) and Katie (11). Kristin has always been supportive of my hobby which has made it possible with two kids who stay busy with sports and other activities. George and Katie like coming to the track when their schedules allow.
I started drag racing in Fla in 1989 at Orlando Speed World and Milan has been my home track since 1993 when I moved back to northwest Ohio. I've raced "heads up" classes since 2004 starting with NMRA drag radial.
In 2004 I met Dave Zimmerman at a race in Georgia. He's been my primary sponsor since and he and his wife Sheri have become some of my best friends. During the last couple of years they've been there for 98% of my passes down the track. Without them I'm not sure I'd still be racing. Thank you Dave and Sheri for being part of my team!
My other sponsors that I'd like to thank are Mike Curcio at MCRP who builds a great engine. Dave Klaput at Proformance Trans stepped in to help me out this year with my glide and made improvements in reliability and performance. Lenny Croteau at Ultimate Converter for the awesome converters and service. Dave W at Procharger for the awesome F1R blower. My buddy Chad Doyle for hooking me up with custom machine work. Jason Lee and Patrick Barnhill at Part Time Performance. Tubing Jon for the great deals on aluminum tubing. And Jerry's Speed Shop in Toledo. Jerry and Jeff always have the fuel I need and get whatever parts I need fast. My final thank you goes out to Milan Dragway and staff for giving us a place to race. I'm proud to call Milan Dragway my home track”.

Johnnie from Howell, Michigan really stood out from the crowd this year.  He fought to the end in both classes and took the Championship in both classes.  Excellent racing!

 We contacted Johnnie and asked him for some background and here is what Johnnie had to say:

 “My car from this year is a 1986 Camaro that my dad (Johnnie Cook Sr.) and I built a couple years ago. I grew up from the time I was born until I was 18 years old at the track with my parents Pam Cook and Johnnie Cook Sr. We raced at Milan, Detroit Dragway, Central Michigan (now Mid Michigan) and also travelling into Ohio and all the way to Florida. My dad won many races including points at Milan and Detroit, races at Indy and many, many others. My Mom Pam Cook also won the points at Milan, Central Michigan and many big purse events around the country. She also won the Halloween Classic in 1989 at Norwalk. I started racing motorcycles at Central Michigan when I was 8 or so. This was what was considered Junior Racing back then unlike the Dragsters they have now. I mostly was involved in helping my dad with the multiple cars we had over the span of those years. Cleaning the cars was my responsibility and I could not wait to try to get the wrenches in my hand. My parents divorced around that time and I got out of racing but my dad has built cars, engines and pretty much everything my whole life. I bought a 1981 Camaro back in the early 2000’s to mess around with and he helped me with that and I raced that for a couple years off and on. I sold that car and bought the 1986 I have now which we built together and got it to the way it is today. My dad and I have now built a 2002 Camaro which I have had out only a few times and plan to race mostly next year. As far as sponsors it is just me and my dad, no outside sponsors of any kind. If it were not for my dad I would not be racing any of these cars or be able to keep them going, I owe it all to him. I can also say he is the best sponsor anyone could ask for. My crew other than my dad would be my girlfriend Samm Sowers and my daughter Alexis Cook. I owe special thanks to Samm as she has to put up with my racing all of the time and helps and supports me any chance she can”.

 

It is obvious that coming from this racing family has paid off.

Justin Hardy  is the new 2011 Mechanical Heating and Cooling Super Pro Champion at Milan Dragway.  Justin runs a 1995 Spitzer Dragster.
The 26 year old from Monroe, MI. started winning races in a Junior Dragster and hasn’t stopped.  Winning championships is not new to Justin.

2000 Milan Dragway Jr. Dragster Track Champion
2001 Eastern Conference Finals National Champion
2002 Division 3 Jr. Dragster Champion
2002 Halloween Classic Champion
2004-2009 Top 5 Finisher Super Pro Points Series
2006 Saturday Box Points Champion
2006 Summit Super Series Track Champion
2007-2010 Top 5 in Points series
2009 Points Series Runner-Up
2011 Super Pro Points Champion

 Thank You's from Justin:
Parents - Jeff and Laura Hardy, Grandparents - Richard and Betty Hardy,  Fiance - Cassie Grego, Tim Karoly of MotorTech Performance, Todd Zeller of Todd's Extreme Paint and Jim Harlow of Harlow Tire. 
Justin and his crew are true sportsmen and a pleasure to be in the pit area with.  Congratulations on your engagement to a lovely girl.  Cassie, welcome to the racing family!

 

Cody is 20 years old from Livonia, Michigan. He has been a very competitive racer in Open Comp this season. He has beat some of Milan Dragways best of the best racers.
We asked Cody for a little background and here is what he had to say:
“I have been involved in drag racing my whole life. I was brought to the track as an infant when my dad was driving his car and Dan Masta's blue Plymouth Arrow. I would wonder around the garage and help my dad whenever he would let me, which was pretty much all the time. When I was 10, my parents bought me my first practice tree for Christmas. My dad and I would sit around and play with that for hours.
Everything I've learned about racing and cars comes from my dad, Steve. He used to drive the race car until I turned 16 and then he gave me the 1985 Chevy Monte Carlo under certain circumstances.....get good grades, graduate from high school and not get in any trouble. He then became my crew chief.
I would like to thank my dad for all the advice and support he's given me. Thank you to Dan Masta for the education in transmissions and parts. Thank you to my mom for always coming to the track and supporting me , and for embarrassing me with her hugs and kisses when I would do good. And thank you to my girlfriend Jessy for getting up early and staying up late in the cold to watch me race”.

Karri Anne is a regular at Milan Dragway and shows everyone what a lot of Girl Power can do! She has been racing the Chevelle since mid 2006. Before that she had only bracket raced her daily driver a couple of times. In 2008 she raced at the Hot Rod Pump Gas Drags and placed 7th. The first and only woman to finish in the Top Ten. In 2009 she was the Fastest Nitrous Drag Radial car at Shakedown. In 2010 she won Pinks All Out at Norwalk in a borrowed '78 Pacer Wagon. Currently, she is the fastest nitrous drag radial car at Milan.
Her team had a rough winter after her crash last October. But they all pulled together and got the car back together. The decision to change the color has proven to be a good one. This season has been the best yet. Every goal they set for themselves was met & exceeded. We asked Karrie Anne about her Championship, she humbly said, “Winning the OLS Championship and Runner-Up in Drag Radial has been so much fun for us. We never expected to do so well”.
Karri Anne grew up in Farmington Hills. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from U of M and work as an Accountant to support the racing habit. Her and husband Matt live in Westland. “There are so many people to thank for everything we have. But without Matt (crew chief & husband) none of this would have ever have happened. Thanks to Craig, Dave, Grove, Dan, Eric, Chuck, Corey, Izy, John, Bill, Ross, Jay, Billy, Monty, Sisters In Speed, Car Chix and if I forgot anyone, I didn't mean to”, says Karri Anne. Karrie Anne is one of the favorites in the pit area among other racers. Always taking time to help others and show hospitality in her pit area.

Shaun is from Shelby Township, MI. He is 12 years old and is in the 7th grade in Utica schools.
He has been racing at Milan since he was 8 years old. When he is not racing he is playing baseball, soccer and competitive RC racing in the winter months.
Shaun would like to say, "Thanks to all my sponsors O'Riley Auto Parts, Suburban Ford, Gangster Graphics, UAW and most of all to my dad for making the car consistent through the year. It was an exciting year and I am looking forward to another exciting one next year".

Courtney from Monroe, Michigan is 13 years old and attends the 8th grade at Monroe Middle School where she is a member of the National Junior Honor Society.  She’s a starting setter on Monroe’s Red Volleyball team and plays softball as a pitcher, catcher and short stop.  Courtney still has time to be a straight A student.
Courtney started racing 6 years ago when she turned 8 years old.  Her siblings were also champions, older brother Chris was the 2005 Advanced Junior Champion and sister Corrine was the Novice Champion in 2010.
Here is what Courtney had to say, “It is finally my chance to win!  My family supports me in whatever I do and that has driven me to be the best I can be.  I put in my all and give it 210%.  I am passionate about racing.  I have loved it since I was little.  I want to be racing all of the time.  I am at Milan with my brother and Dad whenever I can to watch Chris drive his 1977 Camaro.  One day, I hope to take over the car and go rounds just like my brother.  My parents, Tim and Debbie help me through everything, especially racing.  They give me advice and help me with the planning, but once the third yellow comes on I have to put those words into actions.  Milan Dragway is like my second home!  I have made so many friends there that I want to keep forever.  Everyone there is amazing and if you need help just ask anyone.  This year, I am 2011 Quick 16 Champion and I thank my family and friends for everything”.

 
All 2011 racing champions STORIES here....
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