David Theisen, an accomplished Michigan racer, has enjoyed significant success in his career, including winning the 2018 NMCA Dart NA 10.5 championship. In 2025, he achieved a third-place finish in Small Tire Pro Stock and second in All Motor at Darana Dragway. Theisen, known for flying sponsorship banners for LaFontaine Performance Center, has clocked impressive times with his Firebird, featuring a 500 cubic-inch DRCE engine, reaching speeds of 7.70 seconds at 178 mph.

This year, Theisen plans to enhance his performance by transitioning from an automatic transmission to a five-speed setup from Liberty’s, complemented by a Ram billet clutch. He expresses enthusiasm for this change, stating it provides more tunability, particularly on warmer days. The switch was facilitated by Jim Filipowski and Travis Gates, who made necessary modifications to the car while setting up the new clutch pedal.

Fellow racers Dwight Ausmus and John Langer have offered guidance to ensure Theisen’s success with the new system. As he prepares for the upcoming Small Tire Pro Stock races, including events at World Wide Technology Raceway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, he looks forward to testing before the competitive season. With humor, Theisen mentioned that his wife, Anna, would be learning clutch maintenance, reflecting his commitment to maximizing performance and readiness for the upcoming challenges on the track.



Source: dragillustrated.com