“Rad Dan” Burkett feels the most alive when he’s sliding sideways. The Team AMSOIL Formula Drift Pro driver competes with unwavering enthusiasm in one of the toughest and most competitive motorsports, where overcoming adversity and continuous improvement is part of the game.
Drifting requires flawless control. Competitors enter corners at 100 mph, engage the clutch, pull the handbrake, stop the rear tires, then let the clutch out and apply wide-open throttle exiting the corner. There is no room for error with only 45 seconds to perform at your absolute best. And there isn’t a more demanding abuse of transmission, clutch, differential and engine than in a pro drift car.
The Ultimate Torture Test
The sport of drifting has evolved extremely rapidly over the last several decades. The current standard is around 1,000 horsepower at the rear wheels, while trying to produce maximum forward grip. Extreme stress is placed on all drivetrain components, and while parts have become stronger over the years, any component that isn’t regularly inspected and serviced will fail. For example, it is common to go through five clutches in a season.
Burkett is the primary fabricator, engine builder and crew chief. His car’s advanced engine management and electrical systems provide data that identifies target areas for performance improvements. His direct analysis of issues and opportunities keeps the racecar reliable and competitive. Burkett’s goal of improving performance by 15% each season often includes changes to suspension geometry for more traction, and adjusting turbos, cams and nitrous for more power.
Pushing the Limits
Race teams need to be as prepared as possible because problems arise and teach new lessons in nearly every race. Burkett’s goal is to learn these lessons and make sure the same problem can’t happen a second time. For example, the team had never experienced engine failure in 15 years of racing, until the last race of the 2025 season.
The team constantly monitors engine, coolant and oil temps, but the water pump failed and the engine overheated while warming the tires in the burnout box. Burkett noticed power was down during the race but thought it was the nitrous solenoid. Not realizing the engine was at risk, he drove the car harder to compensate for the lack of power. He managed to finish the entire lap, then noticed that the engine coolant was 300°F, the crank breather was smoking and he could smell burnt oil.
The oil pressure never dropped and the engine was still running, but loud and clunky. In the pit, they discovered there was no water in the coolant system. After reviewing the data using in-car video and ECU logs, they realized that the engine was already 244°F before they even reached the start line. The water pump was not responding to the override button, indicating it had failed. The engine had zero compression and would not restart. They didn’t have time to swap out the engine and had to drop out in the final round.
Failure Analysis
The car and its engine had completed every race around the country in 2025, burning through more than 300 tires. They tore the engine apart expecting a complete loss but found only one cylinder lost piston ring tension. The bearing looked the same as it did at the end of previous seasons and there was no damage to the bearing, rods, crank, valvetrain and cams. The team has since implemented failsafes to ensure it never happens again.
AMSOIL DOMINATOR® 15W-50 Racing Oil protected all major engine components and they were all reused in the engine rebuild. For maximum reliability under extreme stress, Burkett also makes AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR® 75W-140 Gear Lube an integral part of the car’s transmission and differential maintenance. All fluids are changed after every race and the team has seen almost no wear on engine components after each complete race season. This event reinforced the team’s belief that AMSOIL products provide the ultimate level of high-temperature protection.
AMSOIL Oil Analysis
Oil analysis was performed after each race in Dan Burkett’s 2025 season:
Viscosity, Additives, TBN — AMOIL DOMINATOR remained within specifications.
Oxidation <50 — levels >100 lead to sludge and deposits.
Nitration <5 — levels >100 indicate NOx from blow-by gases or exhaust leaks.
Fuel Dilution <0.7% — excellent for a high-power engine; >4% is common with E85.
Wear Metals 40ppm/stable — high levels can be caused by the break-in process or wear.
All tests exceeded the team’s expectations.
RAD Industries
When he’s not shredding rubber, “Rad Dan” Burkett spends his time designing and fabricating aftermarket parts. His company, RAD Industries in Crystal River, Fla., was created to continuously evolve his MKIV* Toyota* Supra* into the competitive level it’s at today. He’s built a business around aftermarket parts for the popular Toyota 2JZ* engine based on his performance expertise. RAD Industries parts are used in racecars worldwide.
