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2008 NHRA Houston Coverage - Junior Pippin
Saturday, March 29, 2008
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O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
Houston, Texas March 28-30
Junior Pippin
AHDRA standout Junior Pippin will be running the entire NHRA season this year with sponsorship from Pirana Z. Pippen, a six-time AHDRA champ in Pro Mod and Pro Stock, made his NHRA debut at last year’s Pomona Finals where he qualified for the field with a 7.06.
Pippen, 55, began racing cars in the 1960s, switching to Harleys in 1973. In the 1980’s he won races in IDBA’s Super Eliminator, running a Harley against racers like Dave Schultz and Paul Gast. With his AHDRA sportsman and pro wins he can now claim to have won drag races in five different decades.
“I decided that drag racing is what I like to do so I was going to do it at the highest level I could before I got to old to do it,” said Pippen who owns a trucking company in Georgia. “I am blessed man to be able to do what I love.”
The sponsorship grew out of Pippin’s relationship with Pirana Z’s owner Mark Whisnat. Pippin notes that when he was 16 years old he bought a pair of race tires for his Big Block Chevy II from Whisnat’s father, Reid.
“Pirana Z is a good match for me and they are good people,” said Pippin. “It happened so fast we hardly had enough time to wrap the bike for the Gatornationals. I just consider myself fortunate to have this opportunity.”
The Pirana Z sponsorship adds to Pippin’s three-year relationship with the Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson and Granite Mountain Harley-Davidson dealerships owned by Greg and Lori Becker. Cornwell Tools has also come on as an associate sponsor.
Pippin had discussed running a team with Chip Ellis after Ellis lost his ride on the Drag Specialties Buell and before Ellis signed with Don Schumacher Racing.
“Chip was instrumental in helping me get a handle on this bike,” said Pippin. “I told him if he didn’t get a ride then he would be riding for me. I would get another bike or let him ride this one. Either way he would have a ride.”
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