Success in racing will be measured by wins, championships, data, and by private achievements. Achievement will be large or small, as everyone seems to be pushed in the direction of objectives and milestones. For Anthony Bongiovanni, founder, and CEO of Micro Methods in New Jersey, getting into the game of drag racing some 15 years in the past was a enjoyable and aggressive strategy to spend time along with his daughters, Genna and Michelle.
The women, who’re graduates of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League and Penn State College, have made their mark in enterprise and on the observe. And what started as a weekend pastime, has advanced into store filled with Cobra Jet Ford Mustangs constructed for Inventory and Tremendous Inventory competitors and a room filled with trophies and awards.
“I’ve all the time beloved muscle automobiles,” stated Anthony Bongiovanni, “however organized drag racing affords the joys of unmatched acceleration, pace, and the chance to constantly refine and make the race automobiles go quicker in a secure and aggressive surroundings.
“Nevertheless it’s extra than simply the pace,” Bongiovanni added, “I’m within the know-how enterprise, so I get pleasure from gathering knowledge on the dyno and implementing the information on the observe. I actually benefit from the tuning facet. We don’t all the time go faster or win for that matter, however we be taught one thing each time we run the automobiles.”
Bongiovanni is a daily on the NHRA Division 1 circuit, however he travels exterior of his dwelling division to Indiana, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan whereas competing in each NHRA and NMCA occasions.
His daughters don’t race as usually as he’d like, however they’re nonetheless concerned within the race crew. In truth, Michelle not too long ago competed within the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire.
“I began Micro Methods over 30 years in the past to jot down customized software program for companies,” stated Bongiovanni. “We wrote small functions, comparable to accounting or stock management methods to allow clients to realize effectivity inside their organizations and change into extra worthwhile and responsive. As our consumer wants started to outgrow what we might present, we turned an IBM enterprise accomplice. Right now, we combine IBM know-how options with our personal mental property to supply extra enterprise profit to our clients. IBM has been an amazing accomplice and with its robust know-how portfolio, we’ve had the power to develop our enterprise by an element of 20 over 15 years.”
He continued, “Identical to in enterprise, we’ve put a giant effort into NHRA, NMCA and NMRA sportsman racing, particularly in Inventory and Tremendous Inventory. We race supercharged Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, that are a giant hit with followers, mates, and clients who we host on the observe. The Mustangs make over 1,000 horsepower and run strong 8s at 160-plus mph,” he added.
Along with Micro Methods, the crew is backed by Useful resource 1, IPDigital, DragInsights and Optima Batteries.
“We’ve has scored just a few wins with totally different drivers and I’m happy with that,” said Bongiovanni, who’s a three-time NHRA winner himself. “And we participated in a TV present just a few years again known as Burndown Battle, the place former Humorous Automotive driver Jack Beckman competed head-to-head with a sportsman driver in two of our automobiles. We bought each Mustangs operating inside thousandths of a second and it produced an amazing episode,” he stated.
The crew has additionally obtained publicity on The Ford Motor Firm YouTube Channel, when Michelle was hand-selected to indicate off the drag racing capabilities of the 2015 Mustang.
From a know-how standpoint, Bongiovanni’s Cobra Jets use Holley EFI, Racepak software program, and he depends on Crew Chief Professional software program for climate prediction.
“I’m comfy round computer systems, which is one purpose I really like the fashionable EFI automobiles. I additionally use DragInsights.com, a brand new software to assist with statistical knowledge on the competitors and on myself. We’re continually upgrading the automobiles and we depend on Summit Racing for components, items, lubricants and all sorts of store instruments,” he added.
“Most significantly, there’s a folks factor to tug racing that’s not like every other sport. There’s continuous pleasure for followers, clients and shoppers who see every part up shut, whether or not it’s within the pits or on observe. I usually have conversations with clients the place racing is the primary subject. It’s simply an effective way to assist introduce folks to Micro Methods and it’s been rewarding to do one thing we get pleasure from as a household that has a strong enterprise objective. The analytics that goes into the automobiles, competitors, observe situations and climate, is much like issues we do technology-wise for our clients,” Bongiovanni stated.
In a decade and a half of racing, his crew, which incorporates world champion driver Dan Fletcher, has amassed quite a few wins in NHRA, NMCA, NMRA and in Bracket competitors. An enormous supporter of the game, his Micro Methods firm is a proud sponsor of NMCA’s Inventory and Tremendous Inventory classes, and he’s beforehand sponsored NHRA’s Division 1 Open Collection together with two-time Humorous Automotive champion Tony Pedregon.
“I actually loved my time within the Jr. Dragster collection,” stated Michelle Bongiovanni. My sister Genna and I did nicely, however it’s nothing like driving my Tremendous Stocker. Work prevents me from competing as usually as I’d like, however I nonetheless get on the market with my dad just a few occasions per season.”
To Anthony’s credit score, he’s scored wins in a Nationwide Open, a Divisional and the aforementioned New England Nationals. Michelle has gained in NMRA competitors they usually’ve gained dozens of Class trophies. His 2014 Cobra Jet was additionally chosen for the NHRA “Greatest Engineered” award just a few years in the past at Maple Grove Raceway.
“Drag racing is a humbling sport,” stated Anthony. “You will be on prime of your sport, have the automobiles ready completely, drive an amazing race and nonetheless lose by the smallest margin. We attempt to get pleasure from on a regular basis we get on the observe. And it’s additional particular when my daughters and spouse Bev are there. There’s nothing like the joys of turning on win lights, particularly when it’s late on Sunday,” he stated with a smile.
“It’s an amazing feeling when our crew will get a spherical win or an occasion win. We’re continually striving to be taught and enhance. That’s one thing all of the Bongiovanni drivers take with them whether or not it’s on the race observe or within the board room.”
