NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

By any standard, third-generation motorcycle drag racer Brayden Davis gave a stunning performance last year — his first on the big stage of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competition. Veteran racer "Flyin’ Ryan" Oehler thinks his team has found the performance to keep Davis’s results right where Brayden — his new teammate — is used to having them.

The Flyin’ Ryan Racing/B&K Cylinder Heads Buell is Davis’ first big cubic-inch V-Twin ride, and he loves it.

“We tested this past weekend at Gainesville Raceway, and it was my first time ever riding a Buell,” said Davis. “I can honestly say it was some of the most fun I have had in a long time. The torque these bikes make is unreal, and every shift wants to carry the front tire. It definitely got my attention in a good way.”

“The bike was lifting the front wheel and spinning downtrack,” agreed Oehler. “He was fighting it, and it was fighting him.” Fighting all the way to a stout 6.81 at 198.93 on Davis’ first full pass.

“We ran some really strong numbers and mile per hour for a first outing, testing with Ryan and his team,” continued Davis. “That gives us a lot of confidence heading into the opener, and I could not be more excited about where we are as the season kicks off.”

That would be at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway, March 6-8.

“Ryan saw potential in me and knew I did not have a ride lined up for this season and was willing to help me get back out there,” said Davis. “I am thankful for the opportunity and the belief they have shown in me.”

“He’s a prodigy,” noted Oehler. “First time I’ve had a teammate that’s probably a higher caliber rider than I am. We want to see him win as badly as I want to win. In theory, he should be quicker than I am by several hundredths.”

In theory, and one would expect Davis to get much quicker with more than one full pass on this entirely new-to-him beast. But for this test session, it was Oehler who was quickest, starting with a 6.78 at 199 using the same combination he ended last year with.

It’s been a productive winter at Oehler’s Illinois shop.

“Bad Brad [Oehler’s father, Brad] works seven days a week, 12 hours a day making horsepower,” said Oehler. “We picked up big power on the dyno with our new motor. A ton of torque and a ton of horsepower. The highest accelerating motor we’ve ever had.”

With the weather looking iffy for the second scheduled day of testing, Oehler went ahead and put that new motor in at the end of day one and ran a 6.75 at 200.8. “The point was to validate the gains we’ve seen on the engine dyno.” Point made.

Oehler broke through for his first win at 2020’s COVID-19-scheduled 3 Spark Plugs Nationals race in Indianapolis, then won again at the Denso 4-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas in 2021. Since then, the results sheet has been admittedly lean for Flyin’ Ryan.

“Our team has stuck together through four years of struggles since we switched to the Gen2 motor program, looking for more durability,” said Oehler. “We’ve managed to keep El Bandido Yankee Tequila on board through all of this.

“We’ve cracked some eggs and now we should be a major threat. The development continues; this just affirms the direction we’ve taken. And S&S is helping us with parts and development. They have deep resources there in Viola.”

Having a talented rider like Davis on the team, gathering reliable, relatable data should help as well. Then there’s the added benefit of having great racing personalities like Davis and his father, Travis — and their experience — on the team.

“Brayden and his dad remind me of the relationship I have with my dad. I really want Travis to be a part of this,” said Oehler. “I want to see what we can all do together. I love Harleys, and to race them is unique and something I want to share.”

How many races Oehler gets to share that with the Davis family this season relies on the same circumstances that Davis — and every racer — always faces: funding.

“Right now, we are looking for marketing partners to help us run the full 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season,” said Davis. “As of today, Powertrain Inc. has stepped up for Gainesville, Charlotte, and Adel [South Georgia Motorsports Park]. I'm super blessed and grateful to have them back onboard and will hopefully get them a win that they very much deserve within these three races. We are working hard to put the full program together and make the most of this opportunity. I want to thank them and Ryan Oehler Racing, Mike Mullaney, and Brad Mccoy with Mccoy Motorsports for all their help with this transition.”

Davis is in the right place to learn the art of the deal.

“We are probably the most underfunded team in the class,” said Oehler, whose true privateer team always shows up looking like a million bucks. Oehler’s El Bandido Yankee Tequila sponsorship cannot be shared with Brayden, who is only 20 years old.

But Oehler has done an exceptional job of hustling together the partners to keep his operation on track for the long haul — an important part of those NHRA Rookie of the Year requirements that Oehler clearly exhibited at the time he was deprived of the award. There’s a lot here — to go along with the accumulated knowledge of his own family — for Davis to learn about how to keep his growing racing career rolling.

And to that end, Oehler thanks the many people and companies that keep his trailer rolling from track to track.

“Huge shout out to Scott Hamilton, Brad Mccoy, Mike Mullaney, Bill Anderson, Brayden Davis, Donny Philpott, and Jay Regan,” said Oehler. “There are so many great people who support this team, and I can’t thank them enough. El Bandido Yankee Tequila, Burromax, Worldwide Bearings, High Performance Lubricants, Limelite Graphics, NGK Spark Plugs, CP-Carrillo, S&S Cycle, Fast Lane Classic Cars, Silver Star Painting, MRE, Manley performance, Jesel Valve Train, Nut Scentz, AirTec, Redline Motorsports, McCoy Motorsports, Mullaney Cycle Works, Bates Leathers, Liberty's Gears, Morris Packaging, Powertrain Inc, Fire Suppression Solutions, Wanna Parlay, The Detail Specialist, High Performance Marketing, Johnstone Supply, Capitol Group, Martin One Source, Mission Foods, and NHRA. They have made all this possible, and I am very fortunate to have their support.

“And last, but not least, my beautiful wife, Laura. Thank you for being the heart of our family. I’m beyond blessed to have you by my side.”