Yes sir. The Sandflea started his new job this past Monday at Roush-Yates Engines. It was a move that surprised a lot of people and even Sandy has had to take a step back look at what has happened.
Sandy has been involved with oval track racing for many years, beginning with his first job at Charlie Long Race Engines. While drag racing, he met long time sponsor Signal Seals and Fasteners in Mooresville, NC. Sandy was involved with their day to day process for about 6 months and while there, he made many contacts in the NASCAR comminutity that eventually led to his current position.
One of the people that Sandy created a relationship with was George Gable, the general manager at Roush-Yates Engines. George has a passion for drag racing and has helped steer Roush-Yates Engines into the drag racing market. George has put together somewhat of a super team of engine builders that will build and service every type of engine. Roush-Yates Engines is known for their superior Ford engines and Sandy will have his hands in their new Pro Stock Engine. What a lot of people may not realize is Sandy has several customers that have set NHRA and IHRA records in the Super Stock class with his own Ford engines.
I think George saw in Sandy what a lot of other people have seen. That his knowledge of making anything he touches better, along with a likable personality will make him a valuable asset to the Roush-Yates team. Sandy is excited about this new venture that has unlimited possibilities. So come join us at the races to share in the excitement. Plus, with this new 5-speed and all the work that comes with it, we could probably use the help.
Don
Don
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Sandy Wilkins Joins Roush-Yates Engines as Drag Racing Program Manager
Mooresville, North Carolina based Roush-Yates Performance Engines recently announced heads-up racer and engine builder Sandy Wilkins will head up their drag racing engine program. Wilkins, a longtime drag racer, started his racing engine business in 2006 and recently expanded into lightweight wheelie bar wheels and other racing parts. Wilkins als
o has a knack for driving and has competed in IHRA and NHRA Top Sportsman and ADRL Extreme 10.5 classes. At the wheel of the Wilkins Motorsports Cavalier he has six Top Sportsman wins in twelve final rounds. In 2005, Wilkins was runner-up in IHRA Top Sportsman points and was the NHRA Division 2 Top Sportsman champion in 2003.
Sandy Wilkins Joins Roush-Yates Engines as Drag Racing Program Manager
Mooresville, North Carolina based Roush-Yates Performance Engines recently announced heads-up racer and engine builder Sandy Wilkins will head up their drag racing engine program. Wilkins, a longtime drag racer, started his racing engine business in 2006 and recently expanded into lightweight wheelie bar wheels and other racing parts. Wilkins als
o has a knack for driving and has competed in IHRA and NHRA Top Sportsman and ADRL Extreme 10.5 classes. At the wheel of the Wilkins Motorsports Cavalier he has six Top Sportsman wins in twelve final rounds. In 2005, Wilkins was runner-up in IHRA Top Sportsman points and was the NHRA Division 2 Top Sportsman champion in 2003.Photo Credit: Wilkins Motorsports
While known for his expertise in small block Chevrolet engines, Wilkins will soon be working his magic on small block Ford powerplants and heading-up Justin Humphrey’s NHRA Pro Stock engine program. Roush-Yates Engines is currently building Humphrey’s GM powerplants for the RaceRedi Motorsports GXP while developing the new Ford Pro Stock engine for a new Mustang scheduled to debut mid-year. Roush-Yates is also working with Steve Matusek on a turbocharged Pro-Modified Ford powerplant based on the 500 cubic inch Pro Stock block and heads.
While known for his expertise in small block Chevrolet engines, Wilkins will soon be working his magic on small block Ford powerplants and heading-up Justin Humphrey’s NHRA Pro Stock engine program. Roush-Yates Engines is currently building Humphrey’s GM powerplants for the RaceRedi Motorsports GXP while developing the new Ford Pro Stock engine for a new Mustang scheduled to debut mid-year. Roush-Yates is also working with Steve Matusek on a turbocharged Pro-Modified Ford powerplant based on the 500 cubic inch Pro Stock block and heads.
“I look forward to the high performance technology that Roush Yates Performance Engine Group has to offer” said Wilkins. “I always wanted to have the means to do everything I think I can with an engine. Now with the help of George Gable at Roush Yates I have the ability to develop and implement these ideas.”
George Gable, General Manager for Roush Yates Performance Engine Group, is looking forward to having Wilkins on the build team. “Sandy Wilkins is a proven engine builder that can help take our drag racing engine program to the next level” said George. ”Introducing our engine program into drag racing is something that everyone at Roush Yates Engines has worked hard to achieve and we are very proud to have Sandy Wilkins join our team.”
The addition of Wilkins to the Roush-Yates team shows that Doug Yates is serious about expanding the NASCAR engine building powerhouse into new markets. Roush-Yates employees 170 engineers and technicians who design parts, build, test, and service over 1,500 Ford racing engines a year. The company’s engines compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, NHRA Pro Stock, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model and Sprint cars.
