With a perfect mixture of a throwback to the start of Steve Matusek’s racing career with his Mustang to the forward-thinking approach heading into 2019, the new wrap and Pro Mod car are equal parts old-school and new-school. He added a nod to his company, Aeromotive’s 25th anniversary and a distinctive color scheme with personal touches of chrome red and chrome silver.

Matusek and Elite Motorsports have enlisted Justin Elkes and Modern Racing, as well as crew chief Shane Tecklenburg for this season. Garret Advancing Motion and TurboSmart are handling the turbocharger system.

“A lot of things we’re doing to manage the car are completely different and innovative, and nobody else is going to manage the car the way we’re going to manage it,” Matusek said. “Again, it’s back to our roots of high-tech, state-of-the-art and trying to do things nobody has ever done so we can learn. With this car, we’re definitely thinking out of the box and we’re looking to move that performance curve.”

The Pro Mods make their season debut at the NHRA Gatornationals next week.     [03/06/19]

Karen Stoffer at last year’s Gatornationals. (Adam Cranmer photo)

Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Karen Stoffer will be riding for Jerry Savoie’s White Alligator Racing (WAR) this season and also plans to make her debut in the Factory Stock Showdown.

She will ride the WAR Suzuki that LE Tonglet raced last year. Savoie will only be riding part-time this season. Stoffer’s husband, Gary, who has been her crew chief, will continue with partner Greg Underdahl and field a pair of Suzuki’s for Jimmy Underdahl and rookie Jianna Salinas, daughter of Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas.

Karen will also team with Stock Eliminator driver John Calvert to compete in the NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown, joining current and former pro drivers Leah Pritchett, Allen Johnson, Mark Pawuk, Bo Butner, and Drew Skillman in the burgeoning class.    [03/06/19]

The NOS Black Cheater Wet Nitrous Systems for 4500 Dominators have been developed specifically for 350+ cubic-inch engines with 4500-style intakes. Available for the first time in black, they use large Cheater nitrous and fuel solenoids and deliver 150, 180, 210, or even 250 extra horsepower. They provide exceptionally smooth power delivery and come with everything you need to upgrade to nitrous: a half-inch aluminum injector plate that ensures ample hood clearance, a black 10-pound bottle and the brackets to mount it, solenoids, a -6AN feed line, detailed instructions, and all the hardware for a hassle-free installation.   [03/06/19]