by Tim Glover
The 2004 Atlanta Dragway / NHRA Summit Racing Series Sportsman Champion, Chris Carlile, didn’t know drag racing existed until after he turned 16. However, after he acquired a ’65 Mustang and spent several years gradually modifying the car, he learned more about the racing world. He took out the six cylinder, swapped in a well-worn 289 V8 engine, and then added a ’59 station wagon Ford 9” rear end and a top loader four-speed transmission. He noted that many parts were difficult to adapt to his Mustang.
Carlile credits his dad, Joe, for converting him to Chevrolet power. His conversion began when he helped his dad build a 454 engine for his pickup, and Chris was very impressed with the interchangeability of parts.
About that time he met Dickey Forrester, and would talk with him 30 – 45 minutes at a time at his front doorstep about cars and racing. “When I found out you could bolt slicks on the car and go drag racing, the hook was set,” said Carlile.
Carlile’s bracket racing career began in late 1988. His first bracket car was a blue 1980 Camaro with 4.10 gears that he drove from Canton to Commerce and back home, a nearly 130 mile round trip. He raced competitively in the Sportsman class (no electronics) during 1989, and capped off an already good year by winning the NHRA Division Two 1/8 mile ET Finals. He then won his first Sportsman track championship in 1990 at Atlanta and came close to a Division Two repeat with a runner up finish in Sportsman at the 1/8 mile ET Finals.
Carlile moved up to Super Pro class (electronics equipped cars) in 1991, and raced competitively until 1995, when he took time off for a marriage. After becoming unexpectedly single again in 2002, Carlile began thinking about going back to bracket racing. He eventually returned to the track, in 2004, and was immediately competitive. Although he didn’t win any races in 2004, he did manage a few final round finishes and many late round appearances en route to winning the championship.
He prefers footbrake racing, and when he decided to go racing again, he pressed his ’68 Camaro street car into service. Four years ago, Carlile installed a 540c.i. big block engine, and for the 2004 season, he calmed it down to where it ran right on the 10 second bump. He spent much of the year making the car consistent, and credits David Young with really bringing the track surface around at the end of the season. Surprisingly, Carlile is “retiring” the Camaro again, and will campaign in 2005 with a newly purchased ’69 Camaro. He did mention his friends raced the ’68 Camaro more than he did, when it was in small block trim.
He credits many people with helping him to win the championship, especially Dickey Forrester. There were several weekends when Forrester talked Carlile into coming to the track. Carlile actually missed one race, when attending his stepdaughter’s graduation. “If it wasn’t for Dickey pushing me this year, I wouldn’t have gone to the track nearly as often,” added Carlile. He was 100 points out of the lead after missing the race, behind Rob Hogue and Greg Allen.
Carlile, who became a Christian after he married, thanked God for allowing him to be back in racing. Like he does with his business, Custom Product Research, Carlile is very focused on racing.
Other people Carlile credits for his success include Keith Crowe of Atlanta, who for over 18 years has helped Carlile with drag racing performance products. John DiMattina, his brother in law, is Carlile’s “right hand man” with the race car. He also thanked Johnny Thomas Racing Engines, and Chris Howe, who did the cylinder head porting.
Carlile has also enjoyed the camaraderie with his fellow racers and competitors, like Joe Haddon, Kim Ellington, Tom Truluck, Tommy Motes, Kenny Brown, and last, but definitely not least, “Goober” (Eric Ellington), who helped him change his transmission during the 2004 ET Finals. Carlile added, “I actually thought Rob Hogue was the more appropriate choice to be the champion. I think he was the better driver; I just had some luck.” Carlile said he would love to drive on a national event level, in the NHRA Super Stock class. Based on his past successes in drag racing, no one should doubt that he could do it!!
