NHRA Top Sportsman/Super Comp Racer Gary Forkner

Gary Forkner and his Top Sportsman/Super Comp race team
Gary Forkner and his Top Sportsman/Super Comp race team
Gary Forkner is a popular name in NHRA sportsman drag racing. On any given weekend you will find Gary and his team out campaigning and winning with his current Top Sportsman/Super Comp ride. But that wasn't always the case, a rocky start in 1991 with a nitrous powered 1967 Nova built for the World's Fastest Street Car Shootout ended in a wreck that completely destroyed the car during a test session. The crash happened at a non-sanctioned track where the conditions were poor. So Gary decided that if he was to race again, it would be at an NHRA track with a certified tech team, plus safety and EMS personnel.
NHRA Division 7 Super Comp and Southern California Super Comp Driver Gary Forkner
NHRA Division 7 Super Comp and Southern California Super Comp Driver Gary Forkner


Starting over, Gary purchased a used Pro Stock car, installed his own motor, transmission and electronics and entered the Super Comp category in his first race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1994. Eventually, that car was also totaled in 2001 at the Sacramento event. However, that didn't stop Gary, because in 2003 he bought a brand-new Jerry Bickel Pontiac and was back out on the trail. The Bickel car and Gary must have had good chemistry, since when it was time to purchase a new car, Gary chose another Bickel Pontiac in 2006.

For the next thirteen years, from 1994 to 2007, Gary and his team ran Super Comp in the Southern California Super Comp Association, NHRA Division 7 events, NHRA National Events and big money bracket races in Las Vegas. His numerous top-ten finishes in NHRA Division 7 Super Comp and Southern California Super Comp Association along with his many wins, including the 2009 NHRA Top Sportsman, 2010 Jegs Allstars and the 2010 K&N Shootout in Las Vegas proves that Gary has found his winning combination in Drag Racing. This winning combination includes K&N products and when we asked Gary to tell us why, he stated; "Being a Firefighter for 33 years, I use nothing but the best products. That is why I am happy to use K&N oil filters and air cleaners for my racing program".

You see, Gary has a long relationship with K&N having raced with Steve Williams, VP of K&N, for a number of years. Hanging around with Steve, Gary noticed that the K&N products were excellent and hosted an awesome racing program that really supported its racers through sponsorships and contingency programs.

In 2004 Gary received a product sponsorship and has been a part of the K&N family ever since. Gary also gets help in the pits from his wife, Marilyn and crew, Ted Carlis, Chip Rumis and Joe Roubicek. We also asked Gary about his plans for the future, "My goal is to someday run Pro Stock, and meanwhile I am looking forward to the 2011 season". If you're out at the racetracks in Division Seven, make sure you look for Gary and his Top Sportsman/Super Comp race team; he'll tell you himself why he can't race without K&N products.

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.