Sandy Wilkins of Wilkins Racing Engines

Total Seal Piston Rings is an aftermarket piston ring brand known for improving “ring seal,” which helps control combustion gases and oil consumption. Better ring seal can support higher cylinder pressure and more consistent engine performance, especially in racing or high-stress builds.

“Ring seal technology” refers to design and material choices in piston rings that improve how tightly the rings seal the cylinder. When sealing is better, less combustion gas leaks past the rings (blow-by), which can improve power consistency and reduce oil usage.

The PRI show is a major annual performance racing industry trade event where companies and engine builders showcase new parts and technologies. Mentioning it helps place the piston-ring discussion in the broader aftermarket racing community.

The NHRA Gator Nationals is a drag racing event in the NHRA series. It’s relevant here because the host references a race car’s decals tied to winning that event, connecting the brand’s piston-ring focus to real racing results.

“Horsepower” is a measure of engine power—how much work the engine can do over time. In racing and engine-building conversations, it’s often discussed alongside torque, airflow, and how efficiently the engine turns fuel into usable power.

Pro Stock is a class in NHRA drag racing where cars are built to strict rules and are designed for maximum performance in short, straight-line runs. Winning major events in Pro Stock is a big deal because it reflects both engine performance and consistent race-day setup.

Top Fuel is the premier class in NHRA drag racing, using purpose-built dragsters with extremely powerful engines. Mentioning “top fuel guys” at the same test session underscores that the event had high-level teams and serious performance development happening at once.

“Fuel cars” is a broad drag-racing term for cars that run on a specific racing fuel (often alcohol-based or other specialty fuels) rather than pump gasoline. The fuel choice affects combustion, tuning, and how components like pistons and rings are designed and cooled.

A “300 mile per hour run” refers to achieving 300 mph (or more) during a drag-racing pass, which is an extreme milestone. It requires not just power, but also aerodynamic stability, traction management, and careful gearing.

NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) is the major U.S. sanctioning body for drag racing. When the hosts say “NHRA drag racing,” they’re framing the guest’s background in a specific competitive environment with defined classes, rules, and championship points.

“Wilkins racing engines” refers to Sandy Wilkins’ engine-building operation, which is central to the episode’s theme of performance development. In racing, engine builders often focus on component selection and development work (like rings) to improve reliability and repeatability under extreme conditions.

“Restarting the engine shop” refers to bringing an engine-building business back into active production—typically involving staffing, sourcing parts, and resuming builds. For performance-focused shops, this often means getting back to cylinder heads, short blocks, and full engine assembly work.

Drift cars are built and tuned for controlled oversteer, where the driver intentionally breaks traction and maintains a slide through corners. That changes engine and drivetrain priorities—response, torque delivery, and durability under sustained high-load wheel slip.

Engine development is the process of designing, testing, and refining an engine to meet goals like power, reliability, and efficiency. It often includes iterative changes to internal components, fuel/air delivery, and sealing/clearance targets based on dyno and track data.

Go-kart racing is a common entry point into motorsports because it teaches racecraft—lines, braking points, and wheel-to-wheel awareness—at a relatively low cost. Many professional drivers and engine builders start here before moving into higher-level series.

Historic stock car racing focuses on older stock-car machinery and period-correct competition. It often emphasizes preserving original-style components and understanding how older engines and drivetrains behave under race conditions.

SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) is a major U.S. motorsports organization that runs road racing and other competition classes. Winning an SCCA championship is often a strong indicator of real driving skill and can open doors to higher-level racing.

A crew chief is the lead in charge of race-day strategy and technical coordination for a team—often including setup decisions, troubleshooting, and communicating with the engine builder and mechanics. In performance racing, the crew chief’s role can strongly influence outcomes through preparation and rapid problem-solving.

“Pro Modified” refers to a class of drag racing where cars are heavily modified for performance, often with purpose-built engines and drivetrain setups. Teams in this category focus on maximizing acceleration while managing reliability under repeated hard launches and high heat loads.

A drag strip is where cars race in a straight line over a short distance, typically emphasizing acceleration and traction. Engine builders often develop for drag use by optimizing torque curve, fueling, and durability for repeated high-load launches.

Karting is a grassroots motorsport that many professional drivers use to build core racing skills. Because karts have minimal suspension and are lightweight, drivers learn line choice, braking/throttle control, and tire management quickly.

Gear ratios determine how engine RPM translates into wheel speed. In racing, choosing the right ratios helps keep the engine in its power band for acceleration and top speed.

Tire size affects rolling circumference, which changes effective gearing and how quickly the vehicle accelerates. It also influences grip and how the kart or car loads the suspension and chassis during cornering.

Tire softeners are additives or treatments used to change tire compound behavior, typically to increase grip. In motorsports, they can help tires reach working temperature and improve traction, but they may also reduce tire life or alter wear patterns.

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) is a chemical sometimes discussed in motorsports contexts for its ability to alter tire compound behavior. The speaker connects it to tire softening, noting it was effective in their earlier work.

The “Craftsman Truck Series” is NASCAR’s top-level stock-car racing series for pickup trucks (sponsored by Craftsman at the time). Engine builders and teams tune power and durability for the heavier vehicle and the series’ specific rules and race lengths.

“Bush series” is a NASCAR series name used during sponsorship eras (commonly referring to what is now the Xfinity Series). In this context, it signals the speaker’s engine-building work moved from one NASCAR series to another with different vehicle specs and competition levels.

A “drag racing program” means a dedicated effort to build, tune, and campaign a car for quarter-mile (or similar) sprint races where acceleration and traction matter most. Engine builders often focus on power delivery, fuel/air control, and reliability under repeated high-load launches.

“Top Sportsman” is a drag racing class/category within NHRA-style competition, typically for cars that are faster than basic bracket classes but still not at the top professional categories. It’s a way to compare performance and results within a rules-defined tier, not just raw speed.

“Signal seals and fasteners” appears to refer to a supplier of sealing and fastening components used in engine builds. In high-performance engines, the right seals and hardware help maintain reliability under heat cycles, vibration, and high cylinder pressures.

“FR nine” refers to Ford’s 2009 “Coyote”/modular-family V8 concept used as a foundation for racing engine development. In this context, the speaker says they borrowed components from that engine architecture to build a new block and related parts package.

A “cup engine” is an engine built for NASCAR Cup-style competition rules and development. The speaker is referencing the Ford cup engine introduced in 2009 as the parts donor for their new block and cylinder-head/valvetrain compatibility.

The rocker system is part of the valvetrain that transfers camshaft motion to the valves. Changes in rocker geometry, ratio, and durability can strongly influence valve lift, timing, and how reliably the engine survives high-RPM racing use.

Cylinder heads are the upper engine castings that house the combustion chambers and valve gear. The speaker notes that cylinder heads from the donor engine family can be used on the new aluminum-block version, which affects airflow and combustion efficiency.

Deck height (the distance from the crankshaft centerline to the cylinder head surface) affects the engine’s geometry. A taller deck allows longer-stroke combinations, which can increase displacement and change piston speed and combustion chamber packaging.

Cubic inches (displacement) is a measure of engine size based on the volume swept by the pistons. The speaker contrasts the new block’s potential displacement with the 358 cubic-inch engines commonly used in NASCAR.

A “dyno pull” is a test run on an engine dynamometer where the engine is loaded and measured across RPM. The speaker describes performing 200 dyno pulls to validate the new block and other newly introduced components.

“D head engine” likely refers to a specific cylinder-head or engine variant used in dirt-late-model circles, but the transcript doesn’t provide enough detail to confirm the exact meaning. It’s mentioned as an alternative to the Windsor-style engine that the new design was intended to replace.

The Jeep Wrangler is a rugged off-road SUV known for its simple, capable design and strong aftermarket support. The podcast reference to a “unicorn wrangler” suggests a rare or unusual Wrangler build or configuration that stood out in a racing or shop environment. It’s discussed here as a memorable vehicle tied to hands-on work and distinctive history.

Roush Yates is a performance engine-building organization best known for racing engines and high-output builds. In the segment, Sandy explains that the engines for the project were built there before later modifications.

Twin turbos use two turbochargers (often one per bank or staged) to increase airflow and boost power. Converting an engine to twin turbos typically changes the whole fueling, cooling, and engine calibration strategy to handle higher boost and heat.

Drag racing technology refers to performance approaches developed for straight-line acceleration, where power delivery, traction, and thermal management are optimized for short, intense runs. Sandy notes they brought this kind of tech into the project to make it more powerful and effective.

Switzer Dynamics is an aftermarket performance company known for building high-performance turbo setups and supporting motorsport applications. Here, Brandon Switzer is credited with building a billet manifold specifically for the twin-turbo configuration.

A billet manifold is machined from a solid block of metal (billet) rather than cast. Billet manifolds are often used in high-boost applications because they can offer strength and precise fitment for demanding turbo plumbing.

All-wheel drive (AWD) sends power to multiple axles, improving traction and allowing more of the engine’s torque to be used effectively. Sandy describes the resulting package as “crazy” because AWD plus extreme horsepower can create unpredictable, hard-to-modulate behavior.

A cylinder head is the top part of an engine that houses the combustion chambers and valves. The “Robert Yates D” designation points to a specific cylinder-head casting/design associated with Robert Yates, used to support high-flow, high-performance builds.

Martinsville Speedway is a well-known NASCAR track, and it’s often associated with heavy braking and tight corners. Those characteristics can be tough on engines and drivetrains because the car is constantly accelerating and decelerating. That’s why “package” and durability discussions matter so much there.

Hendrick refers to Hendrick Motorsports, a top NASCAR team with extensive engine and engineering resources. The host uses it as an example of how big racing organizations provide access to vendors, expertise, and development opportunities.

Comp Cams is an aftermarket performance parts company best known for camshafts and related valvetrain components. In engine development, working with a company like Comp Cams can mean faster access to new cam profiles, engineering input, and parts designed for specific RPM and airflow targets.

The speaker contrasts large racing organizations’ development budgets and risk tolerance with smaller engine shops. In practice, big teams can absorb failures during R&D (more test engines, more funding), while small businesses must be more cautious because one expensive failure can threaten survival.

This refers to engine RPM targets—raising the operating/redline range from 10,000 to 10,500 RPM. Higher RPM generally increases power potential but also raises stress on the valvetrain, rotating assembly, and lubrication system, which is why engine builders focus on reliability at those speeds.

An endurance engine is designed to produce power reliably for long stints, not just short bursts. The requirements include heat management, component longevity, and consistent performance over many hours.

“Fresh and ups” refers to the cycle of rebuilding/refreshing an engine and then running it through subsequent “ups” (typically performance upgrades or the next rebuild stage). In racing, this frames how many runs the engine can complete between major work.

A dry sump uses an external oil reservoir and scavenge pumps to keep oil pressure stable during hard acceleration, braking, and high RPM. It’s common in racing because it reduces oil starvation risk and helps manage oil control at extreme loads.

Surface finish refers to the microscopic texture of cylinder walls and mating parts. Ring sealing depends heavily on that finish—proper surface roughness and ring material behavior can improve compression, reduce blow-by, and support durability.

Honing is the machining process used to shape and texture cylinder walls, typically after boring. This segment highlights a modern, data-driven approach: measure surface finish, adjust honing, and validate results with an in-house dyno.

“Air rings” likely refers to a ring type/fitment issue where the ring doesn’t maintain full contact with the cylinder wall, allowing air leakage past the ring. Sandy says Total Seal’s cylinder/ring approach prevents these issues, emphasizing the importance of matching ring roundness to cylinder geometry.

This refers to measuring how the flame front moves across the combustion chamber over time. Tracking flame travel speed helps explain combustion timing, efficiency, and knock tendencies, which directly affect how much boost or compression an engine can safely run.

“Trace boss” appears to refer to a surface/trace measurement system used to capture and compare geometry or surface profiles. The context is about not guessing and using instrumentation to verify what’s happening in engine-related surfaces.

Combustion analysis is measuring how the fuel burns inside an engine—things like burn rate, flame behavior, and combustion efficiency. In racing, it helps teams stop guessing and tune engines based on what the combustion process is actually doing.

“CUP teams” refers to NASCAR Cup Series teams. The speaker is describing when combustion analysis equipment became available to top-level stock-car teams and how expensive it used to be.

“Tulsa ring” appears to be a specific ring product or brand/model discussed in the context of making more power. The speaker compares ring types (gapless, nitride) and implies the ring choice affects performance at the track.

A “gas ported” piston ring is a ring design with ports that route combustion gases in a controlled way to improve ring sealing and oil control. The speaker says they use this concept in applications where you can’t gas-port the piston directly, so the ring carries the feature instead.

Summit Racing is a major U.S. retailer for performance parts and engine components. The speaker references it as a place where builders buy kit pistons for LS turbo projects.

Boost is the increased air pressure created by a turbocharger (or supercharger) compared to normal atmospheric pressure. Higher boost generally means more potential power, but it also raises stress on pistons, rings, and the combustion process, so it must be matched with supporting hardware and tuning.

Gas porting is a modification to the piston and/or rings that creates small pathways for combustion gases to be managed more effectively. The goal is usually to improve ring sealing and reduce blow-by under load.

A gas ported piston has features (ports) that allow combustion gases to be directed or vented in a controlled way. The intent is to work with ring design so the ring can maintain better sealing over time and under higher cylinder pressures.

A gas ported ring is a piston ring designed with ports (small openings) to help manage combustion gas flow. In this discussion, pairing a gas ported ring with a gas ported piston is said to improve sealing and reduce leakage past the rings.

“Shavers” appears to be a track, test location, or event where a person (“Lake”) ran the setup being discussed. It’s relevant because it provides real-world validation for the gas porting/ring sealing claims.

“Ring seals” refers to how well the piston rings prevent combustion gases from leaking into the crankcase (blow-by) and prevent oil from escaping. Better sealing typically means improved efficiency, power consistency, and potentially longer engine life under performance use.

The hosts describe building a “collective database” of test results and outcomes over many years. In engine development, this kind of documentation helps teams avoid repeating failed approaches and speeds up future design decisions.

“Maintaining your data” refers to systematically documenting test setups, results, and changes so information can be retrieved later. For engine builders, good data management is crucial because small changes in parts or machining can have big effects on performance and reliability.

A spec sheet is a detailed written record of an engine build’s configuration—parts, machining choices, clearances, and test results. In performance engine work, having a complete spec sheet helps you repeat what worked and diagnose what changed when results don’t match expectations.

A dyno is used to measure engine output under controlled conditions, typically including horsepower and torque across RPM ranges. “Dyno processes” implies they’re recording results as part of the build documentation, which makes it easier to compare builds and spot when something changed.

A valve guide seal controls oil from leaking down the valve guides into the combustion chamber. If the seal changes (wear, incorrect part, or installation issue), it can cause smoking and other drivability issues even if the rest of the engine is unchanged.

A rocker arm failure is a serious valvetrain problem because rocker arms transfer motion from the camshaft to the valve train. When a rocker arm fails, it can damage related components (like the pushrod) and can quickly turn a small issue into major engine damage.

A pushrod is the valvetrain component that transmits motion from the camshaft to the rocker arm (in pushrod-style engines). If the pushrod is damaged—especially after a rocker arm failure—it can indicate misalignment, excessive load, or internal valvetrain issues that need inspection before reassembly.

The rocker arm ratio is the mechanical advantage between the camshaft and the valve. A higher ratio typically increases valve lift for a given cam lift, which can improve breathing but may require matching valvetrain parts and clearances.

Profilometer numbers come from measuring surface finish/geometry (often on cam lobes or related components) using a profilometer. In engine building, these measurements help verify wear patterns, lobe condition, and whether parts are within spec.

RVK appears to be a specific measured value used in their cylinder-by-cylinder documentation to compare combustion or sealing consistency across cylinders. The key idea is that one cylinder having a different RVK than the others can correlate with symptoms like a puff on first start.

Zmax Dragway is a drag racing facility in the U.S., known for hosting NHRA and other drag events. Sandy being described as the most recent winner there in 2025 frames his championship-level performance in a specific venue.

“Small block” usually refers to a compact V8 engine family (most commonly Chevrolet’s small-block V8s) known for being lightweight and widely supported by aftermarket parts. In drag and bracket racing, small-blocks are popular because they’re relatively easy to build for high power and tune.

Nitrous oxide (often called “nitrous”) is an aftermarket power-add that increases oxygen availability in the combustion process. On drag cars, it’s commonly used for short bursts to boost power, but it requires careful tuning and safe setup to avoid engine damage.

IHRA is the International Hot Rod Association, another major drag racing sanctioning body (especially historically in the U.S.). Racing in IHRA events indicates a different rule set and competition structure than NHRA.

“Cordoba” in the podcast context appears to refer to a place—Cordova, Illinois—where the speaker took a small-block engine for an IHRA race. The key point is that the car/engine setup (including nitro use) was associated with that event location, not a specific production vehicle being discussed. It’s mentioned to explain the timeline and where the racing work took place.

Sandy Wilkins credits a “blue 69 Camaro” (a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro) as his best purchase. In drag racing, the car is the platform that gets repeatedly tuned and developed with different engine and transmission setups to improve performance and consistency.

A “different transmission” indicates the team changed the gearbox to match the engine’s power and the car’s traction/launch characteristics. In drag racing, transmission choice affects shift timing, how the car stays in the power band, and overall consistency.

Quarter-mile racing is drag racing over 1,320 feet, where reaction time, traction, and acceleration all matter. It also gives drivers a longer window to react and adjust strategy compared with shorter sprints, which is why Wilkins says it provides more time to make decisions.

“Top sportsmanship” here seems to describe a racing/competition culture that emphasizes respectful conduct alongside competition. The speaker contrasts it with cars that are purely track-focused, noting that the event features both race cars and show cars.

“Show cars” are vehicles built or maintained primarily for appearance—paint, bodywork, interior presentation, and overall presentation. In motorsports events, show cars may still be driven or raced, but their build priorities often differ from track-only cars.

“Chassis guys” refers to builders and fabricators who specialize in the car’s structure and dynamics—things like suspension geometry, frame/body work, and overall setup. In racing communities, these specialists are often responsible for turning a rolling shell into a competitive platform.

A chassis shop builds and modifies the car’s structural and suspension systems—things like the frame, mounting points, and geometry. In racing, chassis work is often where big performance gains come from because it controls how the car launches and stays stable under power.

Front suspension is the system that connects the front wheels to the car and controls ride height, steering behavior, and tire contact. In drag racing, unusual front-suspension designs can help with stability, weight transfer, and how the car tracks under acceleration.

A supercharged engine uses a belt-driven compressor to force more air into the cylinders, increasing power potential. Compared with nitrous, supercharging typically provides boost more continuously, which can change how the car feels and how it manages heat and traction.

“Pro charge” in this context refers to ProCharger, a brand of centrifugal superchargers used for forced induction. Centrifugal blowers build boost based on engine speed, which can make their power delivery different from nitrous or belt-driven positive-displacement superchargers.

E.T. means elapsed time—the total time it takes the car to run the drag strip (commonly measured for a specific distance like a quarter mile). In drag racing, tuning to keep E.T. consistent helps the team compare passes and predict performance across changing conditions.

The “60-foot” time is the elapsed time from the start line to 60 feet down the track, and it’s one of the most important indicators of launch quality in drag racing. Small changes in traction, tire behavior, and power delivery can swing 60-foot times significantly, which then affects overall E.T.

“Top Sportsman” is a drag racing category/class name. The speaker uses it to describe how their setup prioritizes repeatable performance (consistent E.T. and 60-foot times) rather than just maximizing peak speed.

Drag racing performance changes with weather because air density, humidity, and track conditions affect how much oxygen the engine can use and how the tires hook up. Teams “tune for the weather” by adjusting fuel/ignition and boost/nitrous strategy so the car produces consistent results despite temperature swings.

Supercomp Dragster refers to a class of drag racing where dragsters compete under specific rules and performance targets. Mentioning it here frames how teams aim for consistent E.T. across passes, similar to how Supercomp competitors tune for repeatability.

A bracket car is set up for bracket racing, where drivers try to run close to a chosen target time (“dial-in”) rather than chasing the absolute fastest pass. The car is tuned for repeatability so the team can hit the same number round after round.

In drag racing, track temperature and ambient weather strongly affect tire grip and engine performance. Cooler or warmer conditions can change how much traction you get and how consistently you can make power run after run.

“Blowing the tires off” is slang for losing traction so abruptly that the tires overheat, spin excessively, or fail to hook up. In drag racing, that usually means the car can’t put its power to the ground effectively and performance falls off.

The host describes a tight event schedule where qualifying and elimination rounds occur with little downtime. That creates a challenge for teams because they must diagnose issues quickly, adjust the car, and be ready for the next run immediately.

E2 is used as shorthand for a later elimination round (second elimination) in some drag racing schedules. The host corrects themselves from E2 to Q2, indicating the event has back-to-back sessions that can be easy to mix up.

Q2 typically refers to the second qualifying session/run in a multi-qualifier format. In drag racing, Q1/Q2/Q3 determine lane choice and/or advancement depending on the event rules.

E1 refers to the first elimination round in a drag racing event. When elimination starts right after qualifying, teams must be prepared to make changes quickly and run consistently.

Rockingham is referenced as the track/event location for the speaker’s “double divisional” race. In drag racing, track-specific events matter because rules, prep expectations, and schedules can differ.

Engine Performance Expo is an event where engine builders and performance shops showcase work and support builds. In this segment, it’s where the machinist support for the Project Pontiac build happened.

Match racing is a head-to-head format where two cars run against each other in repeated attempts to determine the winner. In drag racing culture, it often means multiple runs (like a best-of-three) so both drivers get a fair shot and fans can compare consistency.

“Door slammers” is a drag racing term for cars with full body panels and doors that slam shut—typically meaning purpose-built, high-power vehicles that still resemble production cars. The phrase is often used to describe serious, high-speed classes where traction and power delivery are the whole game.

The speaker distinguishes between divisional events and national events, noting that divisional races may receive less advertising. That difference can impact attendance, sponsorship interest, and overall visibility for teams and drivers.

The host contrasts modern social-media promotion with older radio/TV advertising. In motorsports, how events are marketed can strongly affect fan turnout and awareness, especially for niche categories like drag racing.

HRA typically refers to a specific drag-racing sanctioning/series organization. Saying you rarely see TV ads for drag racing unless it’s an HRA national event suggests that national-level events get more mainstream media coverage than local divisional races.

The guest describes having drag races playing in the shop via loudspeakers during the week. This highlights how closely many racing teams follow ongoing events and how the sport’s broadcast/announcer culture becomes part of daily shop life.

XM refers to satellite radio, and “XM sound” here is shorthand for listening to music or broadcasts through a satellite radio service. The speaker is contrasting modern access to audio content with how they used to rely on local radio for race updates.

“410 Sprint cars” refers to a class of sprint car racing where the engine displacement is typically 410 cubic inches. It’s a specific form of oval-track racing, and the hosts are contrasting how they used to hear about these events on local radio.

Anita Speedway is referenced as a local venue where racing events are announced. The mention supports the broader point that local media used to make it easier to learn about nearby motorsports.

The NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) runs drag racing events, and a “heritage race” is typically a themed meet that highlights the sport’s history and local racing culture. Chandler is a city in the Phoenix area, so this segment is about how local drag-racing events are promoted and discovered.