Photo: Dom Damato

After a great season where he took home the crown at Milan Dragway in the X275 class, Trace Meyer has decided to step up his program yet again for 2013. With longtime sponsor and chassis builder Dave Zimmerman of Team Z Motorsports at the helm of the project, Meyer has a number of upgrades already in the works with more planned during the off season.

Zimmerman explained, “We have built a new K-member with a belly pan so he doesn’t need a diaper anymore, along with new A-arms and new double-adjustable struts. Chad Doyle donated a set of headers and collectors to the cause, and we also moved the intercooler tubing inside the car along with re-positioning some weight around to get the car to leave better. We’re installing our new anti-roll bar, and since we modified his 9” and rear suspension last winter, he doesn’t need weight on the front on the car anymore.

“It no longer wheelies with the new top-secret modification to the housing. Trace is stepping up his engine program this year and we want the car to be ready for the new power!” According to Zimmerman, Trace isn’t ‘washed up’ anymore and he wants to do his part to help prove that.

Meyer, for his portion of the project, is working on squaring up the powerplant, “It will still be the same 302-based, 357 cubic-inch engine with TFS Street Heats that we ran last season. Winter maintenance includes new rods, pistons, camshaft, and a compression change. With this combination I can still run the F1-X at 3,400 pounds, which is only 25 pounds heavier than last year’s minimum weight.” Since Meyer was able to crack off a personal best of 4.83 at 150 mph last season before the upgrades, he expects to be right back in the thick of things come the beginning of the season.