Pappel Family Racing from Eugene, Oregon Prepares to Race Hard in 2010

Pappel Racing Team has earned 9 Track Championships, 2 Division Six Titles and 1 National Championship.
Pappel Racing Team has earned 9 Track Championships, 2 Division Six Titles and 1 National Championship.
Ron Pappel, patriarch of Pappel Family Racing, says he caught the racing bug while working on cars in high school. Pappel's two children, Jim, 22 and Rochelle, 15 have inherited their father's talents and love of drag racing. "My kids started driving very young. Rochelle started racing a junior dragster at 8 years old and has been the highlight of our team. Jim began driving at 13 years of age in junior dragsters and now drives a Pro Class Vega," says Pappel. In addition to their racing team, Ron and his wife Karen also own and operate a car dealership in their hometown of Eugene, Oregon.
In 2009 Rochelle Papplel finished top three at Champion Raceway and Ron Pappel finished 3rd overall in Super Pro.
In 2009 Rochelle Papplel finished top three at Champion Raceway and Ron Pappel finished 3rd overall in Super Pro.


Since 2002 the Pappel Racing Team has earned many championships, but this family is not about to rest on its laurels. "During our 2009 season, we finished very well in spite of missing some points races during the season. Rochelle finished top three at Champion Raceway and I finished 3rd overall in Super Pro," says Pappel. "We are looking forward to the 2010 season. Jim will run the Vega in Pro Class at events throughout the year and I will be running the 27 Super Pro/Super Gas Roadster."

Pappel notes that his daughter Rochelle is on track for one of her best years ever, not only on the drag strip, but in school as well. She will be racing her Junior Fast Class car and will also be participating in some high school driving events in a full size car.

"Rochelle has had much success in school sports. In addition to playing varsity volley ball, she is working towards breaking the school record in the intermediate hurdles and high hurdles as well as running the anchor for the 4X relay on the varsity track team," says Pappel. He says that the team's proudest moment came when Rochelle won the 2007 NHRA Western Conference Finals championship in the 12-year-old class at Bandemere Speedway in Denver, Colorado. She was the first female Division Six driver to win a national championship in any junior dragster class. "After winning that event, Rochelle returned to be honored as the Division Six Driver of the Year," says Pappel. Nearly 600 of the top Junior Dragster racers in the country go to Bandemere Speedway once a year to compete for one of eight prestigious Wally Trophys and a National Title.

Sponsored by K&N, Pappel Racing Team has earned 9 Track Championships, 2 Division Six Titles and 1 National Championship. "I believe that having great sponsors like K&N has given our family the opportunity to drive cars equipped with outstanding safety and performance products," says Pappel. "K&N has definitely contributed to the success of our family race team."

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