[MrPbody]

Chad,

Butler Performance is still a good Pontiac shop, but have fallen "behind" in recent years. KRE had the "title" before we took it. They'll have it again, as soon as the snow in Ohio melts. All they need to do is put more boost in the engine they have. Jeff Kauffman's car is about 1,800 lbs. with a 565 CID engine. We feel pretty good about that, as our car is 2,455 lbs. (race weight) and has a 475 CID engine. We're DEFINITLELY making more horsepower, and so far, the engine hasn't missed a beat!

One of the reasons I believe Butler has been struggling with the top-level engines is their involvement with high technology. They have several turbocharged/electronic injected engines that are VERY powerful, but are woefully unreliable. And it seems it's always the fuel system or ignition that lets them down. Even modern FCs don't use electronic injection or turbos. And while a turbo is more efficient, it is NOT more capable. If it were, NHRA "fuel" teams would be fielding turbo cars, not blower cars. There are a handful of ProMods using them, but they haven't shown the sustained performance the nitrous or blown cars show.

Our goals aren't to be "the fastest Pontiac", though. We want to field a Pontiac-powered car in the pro ranks again, after all these years. It's not common knowledge among racers, but the last engines to give the Hemis any sh!t at the highest levels wasn't Chevy, but Pontiac. If we CAN make it go 5.90s, we could actually put it in a field of TA/FC cars. It would be the first time an iron block/wedge headed engine did so in over 20 years. Considering the gap in developement, we're closing in fast!

Jim