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Press Release
Spencer and Shell Racing Wins UDRA Match Race at KilKare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio
Cincinnati Based Professional Alcohol Funny Car Drag Racing Team with Blind Crew Chief scores first win of the season.
Xenia, Ohio, June 20, 1998: With the help and support of sponsors like Valvoline, Valco, Enginetech, Gates, Splitfire, Cincinnati Cadillac Plastics, Mickey Thompson, BRC, Dart, Keith Black and Cincinnati based Ramjet, the Alcohol Funny Car team headed by Jim Spencer and Dave Shell scored their first win of the year at KilKare Dragway in Xenia, Ohio. Driven by Tony Bogolo, and powered by the Spencer and Shell built JP-1 powerplant, the car scored an impressive win with a 6.42 second run at 215 mph.
Crew chief, Dave Shell, blind since age 2 by the disease retinitis pigmentosa, proved that he doesn't need to see to build and tune a winning car. Partner Jim Spencer, new to the Funny Car scene, confirmed that his impressive ability to build record breaking engines and win in Pro-Stock and Pro-Mod, both with his own cars and as crew chief for other racers, is set to continue in the Funny Car arena. Driver Tony Bogolo added another win to his impressive credentials, including wins at 3 IHRA national events.
"We were especially happy to have this win at a local track," said owner Jim Spencer. "That way, people in the area can meet with us and find out how Dave gets the job done just like any other crew chief, despite his disability. Plus, they get to meet his guide dog, Rye. The track was extremely nice, and we'll definitely be back."
The team races their car on the IHRA [International Hot Rod Association] and UDRA [United Drag Racing Association] circuits, along with match races.
Besides running an Alcohol Funny Car, the team also runs a Trans-Am on the bracket racing and IHRA sportsman circuits. Driven by team members Jimmy Spencer and Anera Shell, the team brings their love of racing to local tracks.
Spencer and Shell Racing and Machine, LLC also owns a complete automotive machine shop in the Norwood, Ohio area. There they do complete race and stock engine machining, crank balancing, aluminum welding, rod reconditioning, and valve jobs, among other automotive work.
Dave Shell also operates the Superflow 600 Flow Bench, giving him the ability to flow heads and manifolds for racers to allow them to improve their racing performance. New to the shop is a custom fuel flow bench, which will greatly enhance the flow services offered to racers.
The team can be reached by phone at 513-631-8743, or on the Internet, at email whizbank@aol.com, or on their web page at http://members.aol.com/WHIZBANK/WEB1.html.