MSD Ignition Blog

 The NHRA kicked off this weekend with record setting performances over the course of the four-day event! In the Top Fuel final teammates Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon met for the first time in a final with Morgan coming out on top after Langdons fueler laid over in the top end. In Funny car it was Robert Height and Matt Hagan racing for the wally with Robert Height taking it on a holeshot win. Pro Stock had Jason Line pitted against Greg Stanfield with Jason coming out on top for his 22nd career win. Congratulations to all the winners!

 MSD Driver Peter Biondo displayed a real Fire to Win when he started 2011 off collecting 3 NHRA Wallys in 2 weeks.  Driving in the Super Gas and Super Stock categories, Biondo achieved the ever so tough “Double Up” this past weekend at the Lucas Oil Division 2 race in Gainesville Fla, winning both classes at the same event.  “Doubling up at an NHRA event is something a racer dreams about.  With all the hot lapping of the late rounds, the reliability of my MSD products was vital in me sealing the deal in Gainesville”, said Peter.  This double win took place just 7 days after Peter picked up the Super Gas Wally in Bradenton Fla.  Biondo plans to try to carry this momentum into the GatorNationals in 2 weeks with his MSD equipped entries.   

Biondo runs an MSD Programmable 7-Series ignition control box as well as an MSD Advanced Power System starter and other accessories in his race winning vehicles.

 

Trevor Bayne went to Daytona, Florida as a 19-year old Sprint Cup rookie who hoped to just get into the big show. The new comer actually celebrated his birthday at the track on Saturday when he turned 20-years old. On Sunday Bayne showed he has the Fire to Win when he took his Motorcraft Ford Fusion with an MSD 6 HVC ignition system from the green flag to Victory Lane and became the youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500. Trevor also set the record for being the first person to ever win the race in their first attempt, excluding the first Daytona 500.

The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR’s preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two 150-mile races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. The finishing order in the two 150-mile races determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 held on Sunday. This year, Kurt Busch won the first qualifying race with Jeff Burton winning the second. With these finishes, Busch and Burton will start 3rd and 4th in the Sundays main event after Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon won last Sunday’s front row qualifying. All of the front runners for the big race are using MSD 6HVC ignition systems.

John Urist of Hellion Power Systems is at MSD Ignition today to install a massive turbo onto the new MSD project car, a 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L. MSD will be using the new Mustang to both develop and showcase a variety of new products for late model muscle cars. Urist is a six time NMRA Outlaw Super Street National Champion who also co-owns Hellion Power Systems and develops bolt on turbo kits for a wide range of vehicles.

Urist is on site at MSD to install the Hellion kit as the first of many modifications that are to be made to MSD’s new Pony car. The complete turbo kit, featuring a 64mm Tubonetics turbo, is a true bolt on system that is designed to be installed by a consumer. The simplicity of this kit’s installation does not hint at the power it unleashes though; with only six pounds of boost in the system the otherwise stock Mustang is expected to belt out 500+ rwhp!

Check back to this blog to find further updates on the Mustang as more modifications are done and see dyno test results for each!

After one of the worst winter storms El Paso, Texas has seen in decades MSD Ignition was forced to shut down for three days last week. We know that this has been some inconvenience to our customers as they have tried to place orders and get answers to technical questions. We apologize to anyone who was unable to reach the company during those days. We always do our best to make notice in as many places as possible when the offices are shut down, such as for holidays, but during this weather emergency we were unable to get the word out as much as we would have liked. Our offices are now fully open with no expectation of further weather interruption and we look forward to serving you.

 

MSD voluntarily shut down on Wednesday, February 2 for the safety of our employees as the snow hit the city that morning and the night before. After the snow, record breaking cold temperatures set in and the desert city realized just how unprepared it was as water pipes froze, rolling blackouts began, and natural gas line pressure ran low. With all of this happening MSD decided to remain closed on Thursday, February 3 and only work a partial day on Friday, February 4. The decision was made for MSD to shut down for the safety of our workers first and foremost. The closure also gave time to make repairs to burst pipes in our employees’ homes as well as in our manufacturing facilities. Even a week after the storm hit, El Paso is under a boil-water advisory and is just starting to get back to normal.

Parker 425-Best in the Desert Racing Association
February 4 – 5, 2011
Parker, Arizona

  

The weekend’s festivities actually started Thursday afternoon with time trials for the unlimited cars and trucks ending in Downtown Parker.  Check out our friends at Parker Motor Company, they know their trucks – from the original Class 8 to the Beaver’s Trophy/Trick Truck!

  

Popular off-road names like Rob MacCachren, Steve Sourapas, Robby Gordon, TJ Flores and Pat Dean were out in full force just a short two weeks after the desert opener – SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge…

  

  

  

  

  

Friday was a full day for the teams with Tech Inspection, along with plenty of spectators checking out a packed parking lot for Contingency at the Blue Water Casino just off the gorgeous Colorado River!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Saturday – Race Day…looking at 3 hour laps (for the faster guys) all we could say was at least it was a sweet day!  Realizing what the rest of the country was going through, race conditions were dry – 75 degrees – and a light breeze…we had perfect race conditions!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

You’ll notice there was a lot of dust.  By the time racers got into their 2^nd and 3^rd laps of their race the last 1/3 of the 150 mile loop had gotten really chewed up.  An already rough course got progressively rougher and those with limited suspension saw slower lap times…  Desert Racing is one of 3D with miles and miles of whoops, wash-outs, rocks to boulders and attrition of all sorts!  If your interested in more info, see www.BitD.com for details and final results!

  

Special thanks to Jim Conner – it was a fun weekend!
See ya at the races!
Ed/MSD

MSD Ignition will be closed February 2nd and 3rd due to inclement weather. We should be able to resume normal operating hours Friday, February 4th, 2011.