1996 NHRA Div. 3 Champion of Champions
5 Time Kil Kare Track Champion
5 time Kil Kare Gold Card Winner
2002 National Trail Raceway's "King of the Track "
2001 National Trail Raceway Track Champion and Gold Card Winner
NHRA Div.3 ET Finals Qualifier 15 out of 17 years racing.

By Greg Billing

Staff Writer

Kil-Kare Dragway's Test and Tune sessions let Bob Nugent see how fast he could go on his 1979 LTD 1000 Kawasaki. Years later, and on a different motorcyle, Nugent still hasn't slowed at the quarter-mile dragstrip in Greene County.

The four-time track champion's drive for five — on a custom-made Kawasaki, of course — has the Trotwood resident atop the Pro Motorcycle points again. Nugent, nicknamed 'Kaw Boy' for his love of Kawasaki bikes, looks to brand another year on the sign in his hauler announcing his Kil-Kare titles. But a strong posse of riders are in pursuit, including Fairborn's Russ Withem, New Carlisle's Thomas Toler, Beavercreek's Mike McGrath, Urbana's Dave Beavers and Englewood's Burt Exman.

"It's one thing getting the points lead," Nugent said. "It's another holding on to it. I can be beat just like everyone else."

To beat Nugent is a big deal. The 46-year old won Kil-Kare Pro Bike titles in 1990, 1996, 1998 and 2003. He finished second in 1992, 1993 and 1997. He also won the National Trail Raceway track title in 2001 and in 1996 won the National Hot Rod Association's Champion of Champions in Division III, a race pitting all track champs in the D-III region comprising Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Ontario.

And it all started with that 1979 Kawasaki he rode off the showroom floor.

"I had that bike and I kept playing with it on the street," said Nugent, who has since put the bike into semi-retirement from drag racing. "I came out (to Kil-Kare) one day to see how fast it would go. I was having so much fun playing on Test and Tune days I started coming out on race days."

His current racing bike sports Nugent's trademark red, white and blue color scheme also seen on his racing jacket and helmet. About the only thing different is Nugent's approach to drag racing.

"It ain't how fast you go," Nugent said. "You gotta be comfortable with what you're riding. It's the thrill of going down the track. It's the need for speed. And that's where it's at. It's out there on the track. I don't need the speed on the street anymore. I've grown up. I get my excitement out there."