The Patterson shop will continue to specialize in engines for the sportsman racer. Here’s a COPO engine going together.

Two engine shops noted for expertise in Pro Stock and high-level sportsman racing will combine their talents.

Elite Motorsports of Wynnewood, Oklahoma, is merging with Patterson Racing of Augusta, Kansas, to form Patterson-Elite Performance.

“This is an extension of our growing business,” says Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports. “Patterson Racing has been a staple in the world of sportsman racing, and we had been looking for a way to expand into every class of drag racing. This is a perfect opportunity for us.”

Elite Motorsports builds engines for Pro Stock champion Erica Enders.

Both shops are well known to EngineLabs readers. We’ve featured Patterson in a buildup of a COPO engine and a dyno run of a Australian Pro Stock engine. Our recent coverage of the Pro Stock engine-rule changes and Pro Stock engine secrets featured Elite engine builder Nick Ferri.

Patterson Racing is co-owned by the father-son duo of Allan and Todd Patterson. Allan formed the company in 1979 and has known Freeman’s father for much of that time.

Patterson features a fully equipped machine and assembly shop.

“Our motors have been synonymous with record-setting performances and reliability over the years,” says the younger Patterson. “This is not an end — it’s an extension, it’s new life for us. This will hopefully make our program stronger. For our Sportsman racers, they’re going to gain access to a ton of Pro Stock technology through this merger.”

Patterson engines have won sportsman Wallys in more than 100 NHRA national events. Elite currently builds engines for reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders. The companies are located about three hours driving distance from each other. As Elite expands its Pro Stock efforts, the sportsman engine programs will be channeled to the Patterson shop.

Elite will focus on expanding its Pro Stock efforts.

“We’ve been looking to expand to Pro Mod and all the Sportsman categories, and we had to make a decision as to how to do that,” Freeman says. “This will be a full team effort by a lot of people, including everyone at Elite, to make it something really special. We have a great love for the sportsman classes, and we can’t accomplish it all alone.”

Ferri, who is a former Patterson employee, and Jake Hairston will head the Elite engine department. Allan Patterson will be consulted, as needed, while the main crew of Brian Lewis, Cory Mattson, Eric Finlay, Eldon Clark and Darren Pocock remain in the shop with Todd.