Red Dragon Racing Achieves
Third Place National Class Finish In 2006

GOWANDA, NY – January 5, 2007.  Local All-Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) team, Red Dragon Racing, concluded the 2006 season with an impressive third place national points finish in the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts (SEP) class. In only his third year of competitive motorcycle drag racing, team owner, racer and Seneca Nation native, Kevin Seneca was honored at the AHDRA awards banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada last November. The team is sponsored by Gowanda Harley-Davidson’s Service Department, who also take an active role as their race engine developer and tuner.

“I’d like to thank my sponsor Gowanda Harley-Davidson for helping me to keep the 2001 Harley-Davidson CVO Dyna Wide Glide Switchblade running strong,” remarks Seneca. “I’d also like to thank Seneca Niagara Hotel and Casino, Papa’s Place I & II. Lastly, I’d like to thank my crew who all pitch in so everything runs smooth during qualifying and eliminations.”

Seneca stood a top the highest spot on the podium three times in 2006. First at the Arizona Bike Week Nationals in April, then at the S&S Mid West Nationals in Earlville, Iowa in July, and then shortly thereafter at the Team Lotus Motors Harley-Davidson Midwest Nationals in Woodburn, Oregon in August. “My race weekend at Woodburn was exceptional,” Kevin stated in the October 2006 issue of Speed magazine. “The weather was absolutely perfect and the SEP 11.50 index was full of the elite racers. I started from the 14th qualifying spot and made it to the show. After reviewing the ladder I again knew it would be an interesting afternoon of racing. I just took one round at a time, and at the end of the day achieved another winner’s circle appearance.”

“Kevin did an awesome job this year,” says Gowanda Harley-Davidson Service Manager, Shawn Mowry. “He repeatedly put our name (Gowanda Harley-Davidson) in the winner’s circle all across the country. We are very proud of his accomplishments and look forward to building, developing and maintaining Red Dragon Racing’s race bikes for the 2007 season.”

Brian LeBarron, marketing coordinator for Gowanda Harley-Davidson (GHD) recently interviewed Kevin to get an inside look at the accomplishments of his team, competing in the All-Harley Drag Racing Association and what they have in store for 2007.

GHD: 2006 was an exciting year for Red Dragon Racing. What was your most memorable moment?
Kevin: Looking back, it has to be our 1st place SEP class finish in Phoenix at the Arizona Bike Week Nationals. It was at this track, this exact race, three years ago that I got hooked on motorcycle drag racing. It was great to come back and win with the same bike I started with. Only this time it goes a lot faster.

GHD: Red Dragon Racing picked up a third drag bike and another racer in 2006? Tell us about that.
Kevin:  We met Bruce Chandler at several of the AHDRA East Coast races in 2004 and 2005.  Our pits would be close by and we instantly hit it off. Up to this point the crew consisted of me, Crew Chief Sheila Ray and occasionally our kids, grand kids, niece and nephew.  At this time RDR had two motorcycles competing in the SEP 11.50 index and the Rucker Performance Super Gas 9.70 index. The opportunity presented itself to add Bruce and his bike to the Red Dragon Racing Team. It’s a prototype frame with Kawasaki drag racing forks and a 98ci S&S motor designed for the Super Sport 10.30 Index class.  Who better to race it than Bruce himself? In addition to Bruce, we also added another crew member Jimmy Spratz, who assists the team with transporting the bikes, unloading, set up in the pits, prep work on the bikes, and on the starting line.

The All-Harley Drag Racing Association circuit starts in March, ends in November and competes all across the country. Tell us about life on the road and in the race pits.
Kevin: It’s a blast. It’s like being a kid during the summer and going to the fairs. You just can’t wait for race weekend and getting to the show. We’ve made a lot of friends among the other teams. The pits are open to the fans and it’s great to spend time with them and answer questions.


GHD: In addition to owning the Papa’s Place Smokeshops and being newly elected as the Treasurer of the Seneca Nation, what does the 2007 AHDRA season hold for yourself and Red Dragon Racing?
Kevin: First, we’re going for a title in 2007. We used to pack up the rig and drive out for race weekend on a Wednesday night. I’m limited now to about a six hour drive. Jimmy Spratz from Perrysburg, NY started helping us in 2006 for the distant races in Arizona and Oregon. Him and Bruce Chandler would load the bikes and drive the rig out ahead of time, and then I’d fly in and join them for race weekend. It worked very well and we’ll be doing a lot more of that in 2007 to make all the races. Plus, Jimmy’s great to have in the pits to get the three bikes prepped for each race.


GHD: Keeping three drag bikes competitive takes a lot of research and development, and maintenance. How has your sponsor, Gowanda Harley-Davidson, helped you achieve such a great season in 2006?
Kevin: The whole crew at Gowanda Harley-Davidson is great. Their techs are an indispensable part of the team. They’ll troubleshoot an issue, get it fixed and have us ready for the next race. They keep the maintenance up too and that’s key to safety on the drag strip.
I race bikes and prove their work on the track. If you want high performance work done to your street bike, let Gowanda Harley-Davidson take care of it.