Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet COPO Camaro to compete at NHRA U. S. Nationals
On August 16th at Pacific Raceways in Seattle, Washington, the King Kong COPO, which is also sponsored by American Racing Wheels, Whipple Superchargers and Castrol, piloted by veteran driver Eric Reyes with Vince Porter handling the Crew Chief duties, set a record in the AA/SA (Stock Automatic) Class with a run of 9.05 seconds (149 mph).
Vasser, the 1996 IndyCar World Series Champion and co-owner of KV Racing Technology, which competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Chevrolet power, will be looking to pull-off a rare double when his NHRA teams goes to Indianapolis. In May of this year KVRT with Tony Kanaan behind the wheel powered its way to victory at the 2013 Indianapolis 500. No IndyCar team owner has ever won both the Indy 500 and a NHRA title in the same year and few have victories in two major motorsports events in the same year in Indianapolis. Vasser Jr., along with his father, Jim Vasser Sr., a long time drag racing aficionado, former racer and General Manager of Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet, operate the team.
“NHRA is a passion of mine and a tremendous marketing opportunity for the dealership," said Vasser the elder. “We formed this team a year ago and are very pleased with the progress we have made. Obviously setting a record is a big accomplishment, but having a good performance at the NHRA U. S. Nationals would be something really special."
Vasser the younger said, “I am very excited that Jimmy Vasser King Kong COPO Chevrolet is competing in one of the most prestigious racing events in the world. It would be really amazing for me to have been a part of teams that won both the Indy 500 and an NHRA title. Given my long history with Chevrolet, both on the track and with the dealership, and the relationship I have with our sponsors, American Racing Wheels, Whipple Superchargers and Castrol, it would be very special have a good performance this week."
Reyes said, “When I was 6 years old, I watched my mom and dad hand letter "world record holder" in shoe polish on the front fender of their red ‘63 Chevy impala," Reyes said. “Dad had set a record in K/SA at 16.36 seconds (82 mph). I knew as a kid I would race cars, but I never thought I would ever be a record holder. I am proud to be a part of a first class team that Jimmy and Jim have put together. The Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet King Kong COPO is living up to its name and more importantly has a greater potential than the official record that we have posted recently. The car has been as quick as 8.94. With the biggest race of the year this weekend in Indy, King Kong is at its strongest performance level thus far. I feel as though 40 years from now someone, somewhere will say,’ I was there when Eric Reyes drove Jimmy Vasser’s King Kong COPO Camaro."