NHRA News: Grant ready for determined Pro Stock bid (1/23/2003)

Grant ready for determined Pro Stock bid

1/23/2003

Over the past few years, Barry Grant has made only occasional appearances at NHRA events. The majority of his time has been spent aggressively building the company that bears his name in the carburetion, nitrous, fuel delivery, and air filtration markets.

With the business now clicking along smoothly, and growing ever-larger thanks to his association with NHRA drag racing through the King Demon Crown Series and the recognition the special event has raised for his products, Grant has decided to return to competition.

"I have been away from something I love nearly as much as my new wife," Grant said, "because of the commitments I have made to my company, my employees, and my customers. Now, things have stabilized in the business and I can again come back to racing."

Grant will campaign two Jerry Bickel-built Chevrolet Cavaliers, one for himself and the other for longtime crew chief Terry Adams, this season with both machines powered by Frank Iaconio engines. Adams will be driving the well-proven 2002 Cavalier that Mike Edwards drove last year, while Grant will have brand-new ride.

Pro Stock driver Terry Adams will team up with Grant once again in 2003.

"I am so pleased with the progress this entire team has been making over the winter," Grant said. "Terry put together the package with Frank, and he has built the team some very serious horsepower. At the same time Terry has put together a really superb team. He added well-known clutch specialist Chris Bell to our long-time crew of Kenny Lee and Bill Wallick. Terry worked very closely with Jerry [Bickel] and his guys to get the chassis and body package he wants and coupled with the power Frank has worked hard to develop, it appears that we are going to have a very formidable package for this year."

Winter tests in Florida seem to bear this out. With Adams at the wheel, Grant's new car has been very impressive, recording a very strong 6.73 at 204.90 mph in mid-January. It was just the 11th pass on the car and ninth pull on a new engine.

"I cannot wait for the 2003 season opener at Pomona," Grant said. "The car is exceptionally strong and I have been on a strenuous weight program to build up my strength, particularly in my legs to overcome the damage from an accident several years ago. "

Grant is quick to point out that Adams' wife Debbie is also a key member of the team. "Debbie's services are so valuable to all of us," he said. "She keeps us organized and does so many things behind the scenes to keep things from getting too frantic."

Robin Grant, Barry's new bride, is professionally involved with the performance aftermarket as an executive of new client development with the Morton-Karr Advertising Agency in Camarillo, Calif., but she splits her time between the home office in Georgia and Morton-Karr's California headquarters. Among the company's clients are American Honda, B&M Performance, Competition Cams, Turbonetics, and others. "Robin has been a great support to me with the company and the race team," Grant said. "Her passion for cars and racing are great and gives us a huge area of common ground."

Grant's competitive fires were also re-stoked by the King Demon Crown Series Last Spring, the NHRA and Barry Grant Inc. announced the King Demon Crown Series for the top eight Pro Stock qualifiers from the previous year. For the company, it was the first step into using motorsports marketing to further the awareness of the company and its Demon brand name. The first King Demon Crown race will occur in May 17 at the Matco Tools SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

The series is bringing a great deal of attention to the Demon brand name. Traffic at the Barry Grant Inc. trailer on the Manufacturers Midway has increased dramatically as fans are becoming more aware of the brand's name.

Like the Pro Stock Challenge, the King Demon Crown Series will reward the Low Qualifier at each event and the top eight qualifiers overall from the last year.

Although the King Demon Crown Series is helping his business, Grant is quick to point out that he had other motives for getting involved at such a high level. "It is a small measure I can do to repay the sport for the enjoyment and the livelihood I have enjoyed for my adult life," Grant said of the program. "I look forward to this first King Demon Crown Series event in Englishtown. I think it will be a great event for the qualified teams and the fans."

At the same time the King Demon Crown Series was unveiled, it was announced that King Demon carburetors would be legal to use in the Pro Stock classes beginning with the 2003 season. Since the announcement, numerous Pro Stock engine builders and teams have tested the carbs with initial reports showing King Demons to be more than holding their own.

While it remains to be seen how the cars running King Demons will fare in competition, Grant feels the early testing results show great promise. "We have heard from some of the teams that have worked with the Kings in testing against their proven pieces and they are very pleased with the initial results," he said. "As the teams become familiar with them, we feel they will be even more impressed."

In addition to the entry of the King Demons into the Pro Stock ranks, the new competition version of the popular Speed Demons will be allowed in certain Super Stock and Competition Eliminator classes.

"We have been very aggressive in introducing the products that are necessary to make the company meet the needs of the markets we serve," Grant said. "Our growth has been reflective of the racing heritage of our products. While we grow by bringing our products to the wider consumer market, it continues to be the involvement in many forms of racing that gives us the opportunity to pass the technology on to the broader marketplaces."

On the racing side of things, Barry Grant Inc. is involved with an ever-widening arena for the company's BG Fuel Systems and Demon Carburetors. Last year, the company was the supplier of "spec" carburetors for several classes of the American Power Boat Association. The company also continued to work with the famed International Race of Champions series, supplying Race Demon RS 390 and 675 carburetors and Rush Air Filters for the 22-car IROC fleet. Also, a significant number of leading competitors in the popular Dirt Late Model classes are finding the Race Demon RS carburetors meet their needs. Additionally, several race schools are also utilizing the consistency of the Demons in both drag racing and oval track environments.

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