here - FK Rod Ends

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n TALKIN’ PERFORMANCE
BY JEF WHITE
Jeff Stacy
President of Sales and Marketing for FK Rod Ends/Fragola Performance Systems.
W
As president of sales and marketing for FK
Rod Ends/Fragola Performance Systems, Jeff
Stacy is charged with getting the word out
about their complete line of performance
aftermarket products.
Jeff Stacy
What was your first car?
A 1976 Chevrolet Malibu Classic.
What’s your dream ride?
ZR1 Corvette.
hen it comes to making connections
in the automotive performance aftermarket, Fragola Performance Systems and
FK Rod Ends have it covered.
The companies, located in Southington,
Conn., offer connections of all sorts—
Fragola the latest plumbing hoses and hose
ends, adapters, fittings and seals; and FK
complete lines of industrial, precision and
commercial rod ends, spherical bearings,
shanks and more.
Getting the word out about the companies and their complete product lines
is the job of Jeff Stacy, president of sales
and marketing. A gearhead with a racing
background and experience serving as a
spotter for well-known racers such as Clint
Bowyer and Jamie McMurray, Jeff walks
the walk when it comes to dealing with
speed shops and builders.
His messages are simple: Buy USAmade products. Demand quality. Support
the companies that support you. Find a
niche and stay true to it.
For more insight, we connected with
Jeff for a few minutes to learn a little bit
more about his background, the companies
he proudly represents and his thoughts on
the aftermarket.
PB: Hi Jeff. Thanks for sharing your
thoughts with us today. Let’s start with
what got you interested in the automotive aftermarket.
JS: My father was into racing and suggested I find a job at a speed shop while I
was in high school.
PB: Where you also into racing?
JS: I drag-raced from 1984 to 1996.
I drove street cars, NHRA Super Street,
Super Gas and Super Quick cars. I also
was a crew member on IHRA and NHRA
Pro Stock and Pro Mod cars.
I went stock car racing in 1997, working
on cars and as a spotter for Jamie McMurray
and Clint Bowyer. We won NASCAR
regional championships multiple times.
What’s on your computer/phone wallpaper?
Jeb Burton’s Camping World
Truck.
Person you’d most like to
meet?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
If I wasn’t in the performance aftermarket, I’d
probably be…
Really bored.
Stacy did a lot of drag racing in the 1980s and ’90s.
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Along with driving, he also served as a crew member on IHRA and NHRA Pro Stock and Pro Mod cars.
FK offers the latest rod ends, spherical bearings, shanks and more.
PB: How did racing put you on the
career path you’re following today?
JS: I knew that I wanted to do a job
that I loved and motorsports was a passion.
PB: Tell us about your companies
and their place in the performance
aftermarket.
JS: Fragola Performance Systems and
FK Rod Ends both manufacture parts that
are used in the racing world. FK is the leading rod end manufacturer in all forms of
motorsports. You will find our products on
weekly racers all the way to Indy cars and
Sprint Cup cars.
Fragola Performance Systems is a true
manufacturer of performance plumbing
components,
PB: What’s a typical day like for you?
JS: There is no such thing as a typical
day. The only thing that is consistent about
my day is that I am busy.
PB: What’s the best thing about your
job?
JS: I love my job, and the people that
I work with—from coworkers to customers—are my friends.
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In his racing days it was common to hang out with drivers such as future NASCAR stars Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer.
The companies’ many products are
quality-made in the U.S.
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Why does the only 4x NHRA Super Comp World
Champ trust Aeromotive to fuel his cars?
PB: What’s the biggest challenge?
JS: Educating people on the two companies. I am constantly getting the word
out that we actually do make the parts that
we sell. We don’t import parts, put them
in boxes and say we are a manufacturer.
PB: How do you see the current state of
the performance aftermarket?
JS: It is in rebound mode right now.
The industry has taken a big hit over the
last four years, but is on a path back to
prosperity.
We are also confused as an industry.
We have lost many true manufacturers of
parts. People need to do research and just
see if the parts they are buying are made in
the USA. After the last four years, buying
Made in America means more.
PB: Where do you think the industry
will be in 10 years?
JS: I see it in a good place. With the Big
Three building factory hot rods, I see the
interest in performance growing.
PB: What professional accomplishment
are you most proud of?
JS: Just being able to grow within our
industry. I swept floors in high school at
a speed shop and today I work for two of
the fastest-growing manufacturers in our
industry. It’s proof that through hard work
you can achieve your goals in the automotive aftermarket.
PB: What’s your next big goal to achieve?
JS: Continuing to work on building
brand awareness and business for the
Frogola family and all of the employees
of FK Rod Ends and Fragola Performance
Systems.
PB: Thanks Jeff. Finally, what’s your
advice for speed shops seeking long-term
success in the performance aftermarket?
JS: Try finding your niche. Don’t try to
be everything to everyone. Put the profitable A-movers on your shelf and concentrate on the parts that make you the most
money. Find quality American manufacturers and support those lines.
See for yourself... and with 22 National Event Wins and 16 Div. 5
Championships, we’ll take his word for it!
I trust Aeromotive Fuel Systems
for all my cars and highly
recommend Aeromotive to all
my customers. With proven
performance, contingency,
and the fact you can find these
guys at almost any race track...
Why would you choose anything else?”
– Gary Stinnett, Stinnett Racing Engines
A2000 Fuel Pump
P/N 11202
913.647.7300
AeromotiveInc.com
Proud Sponsor for:
Made in USA.
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