801 Racing
Perkins Works His Way to First Round in Vegas
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Las Vegas, NV – Long days preceded the return of Cody Perkins to the Top Alcohol Dragster class at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor 
Speedway. A string of twelve to fourteen hour days is what it took to just make a qualifying run. Their efforts were rewarded with a good qualifying position and valuable tuning data. The racing ended in the first round but not for a lack of effort and insight.
“We spent Friday getting things done,” said Perkins of not running the first qualifying session. “It was a big team effort to get everything together. We had parts that hadn’t been on the car for years. We had to work out a bunch of little issues instead of rushing and finding them out the hard way on the track.”
Friday’s second qualifying session was cancelled due to track issues so the 801 Racing Team had time to put into Saturday’s efforts. Their first trip down the quarter mile resulted in a 5.919/249.38 Early in the run there was a bit of tire shake and a quick pedal job followed. In the final qualifying session the car responded with a 5.393/263.72.
Perkins Returns to Quarter Mile Action in Vegas
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Las Vegas, NV – Cody Perkins and his 801 Racing Top Alcohol Dragster is returning to competition this weekend after a few months off. 
The time off from racing was spent tinkering in the shop, fortifying the reserves, refining the combination, and pouring over data. Making his return at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an easy choice. Perkins has more trips down the Vegas “Strip” than any other racetrack. The run data is immense and now comes the chance to put theory into practice.
“I spent a lot of time in an uncomfortable chair looking at computer data and now I can’t wait to sit in the comfy chair of my dragster,” said Perkins. “I have always liked this track. In the spring I went to the finals in TAD. Then I went to the final at the Mile High Nationals in Denver in super comp. That’s back to back National finals – a mini streak if you will. Now I’m back in the Top Alcohol Dragster and it’s time to go fast. If we have temperatures above seventy-five degrees, the car and I will love it. I can’t thank 801 Racing and the equipment service company INESCO enough for this opportunity. ”
Kristen Dennis rockets to Martin Ironman Victory
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Martin, MI – Kristen Dennis showed how it’s done this past weekend at the final Nitro Jam event of the year. Dennis and her Ladies’ First Pro Fuel Dragster not only won the race, she did it with style. Dennis recorded a track record 5.193/273.68 in her first round
and set her crew, the crowd, and the pits on fire. To top that, Dennis also successfully defended her Saturday night Martin Nitro Jam crown.
“Saturday nights must be lucky for us here in Michigan,” said Dennis. “Winning here last year was fantastic, but this year we earned it and we are going to enjoy this one even more. The fans here are so sweet, and they just kept coming. My hand was starting to cramp from signing so many hero cards. It was really great to meet so many enthusiastic race fans.”
Friday’s fans were treated to a rare event this summer in Michigan; rain. The night’s events were cancelled, and that put all the racers on edge to make it count on Saturday. The weather was cool, and the stands filled quickly. The fans were there to see Nitro, and Dennis didn’t let them down.
Demke and Maddern Racing are ready for Woodburn
Courtesy of THR5 Communications
Woodburn, OR – This weekend the Maddern Racing team are taking the Jegs AllStars Team Trophy on a little trip to Woodburn Dragstrip. The team has spent the last week sharing the trophy with various vendors, sponsors,
and landmarks in Southern California. Now it’s time to take it racing. It’s put up or shut up time.
“It’s great to be back racing on the West Coast,” said Demke. “Joey Severance, who also races in Top Alcohol Dragster, runs the show up there. When I submitted my application for the race, I received a little note back from Joey saying they already had five cars and the class was full. Needless to say, I got the joke. This weekend is serious, we are going for points. No joking or goofing around. OK, maybe just a little.”
Since the race in Joliet, the Peen Rite /OSI / 801 Racing Team has been freshening up the motors, doing a little shopping, and preparing to do more than just go rounds. The mission is to win and gain those valuable points. To do that, they will rely upon the data they have gathered, along with the knowledge base of crew chief Jerry Maddern, tuner/clutchman Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Michael Demke, and Ronald Mann. This group has been to war together. They are battle tested, still hungry, and solid as a rock.
801 Racing’s Oil helps Demke win Jegs AllStars at Route 66
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Joliet, IL – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team made a few withdrawals from the good luck bank on their way to winning the Top 
Alcohol crown at the Route 66 Jegs AllStars competition. Two motors sacrificed themselves and the rods had a little coming out party. A third was not in the greatest shape either. The post mortem autopsy showed the damage could have been much worse if not for the 801 Racing oil that ran through the veins of the aluminum monsters.
According to tuner/clutch guy Adam Rhoades, “The 801 Racing 70WT oil prevented even more rods from coming out. It could have been a total loss. We would never think of running anything else.”
The Jegs AllStars race started out with an occurrence of costly carnage. In the first round, Demke faced Karen Stalba. Demke pedaled through some spin and took the win with a 5.468/262.39 to Stalba’s 5.756/232.95. At the top end it was clear that the motor was hurt.
801 Racing’s Gaylord wins big at Salt Lake Nitro Jam
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Salt Lake City, UT – Travis Gaylord is a no frills kind of guy. Take his race car. A 1987 Ford Mustang Notchback in 
simple black, flat black to be more specific. No fancy computer gizmos, no delay boxes or throttle stops. He paints a number on the window and goes out and runs it. In fact, he did just that at Rocky Mountain Raceways to deadly accuracy.
“The car ran really well, and right on the dial in,” said Gaylord. “I also got a bit lucky, which in Drag Racing never hurts. A few bye runs made it easier, but in the end I had to run the number.”
Gaylord’s 801 Racing sponsored Mustang had plenty of people rooting for it due to the fact that it’s his home track, and the home of 801 Racing. Just about the whole gang was out there rooting him on. That can go a long way in the confidence department. In Saturday’s No Box ET final, the crowd went wild as Gaylord’s opponent, Jeff Cornick went red. Then it was time for the big show to start; the run for the contingency.
Severance and 801 Racing Take Mission Regional with Authority
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Mission, BC – Some things are given to you, and some you take. Joey Severance took all he could from Mission Raceway Park. Severance was the low qualifier, won the race, and went quick and fast doing it. Set on kill pretty much
sums the weekend up.
“We had a great weekend at Mission,” said Severance. “I was really proud of the crew and the way the car responded.”
The Regional event started out with a Friday qualifying pass of 5.367 at 267.93. That put the 801 Racing Team in the number one spot. Second round of qualifying on Saturday saw Severance lower that time with a dandy 5.352 at 270.86. Things continued to look good for the Severance Racing Top Alcohol Dragster. The number one qualifying position earned them a bye in the first round. Severance didn’t let up, snapping off a 5.332/266.85 blast down the unopposed quarter mile.
Gasparrelli Stars in Mission Regional Victory
Courtesy of 801 racing
Mission, BC – Every now and again the Drag Racing stars are all in alignment. For Steve Gasparrelli and his 801 Racing 
sponsored Top Alcohol Funny Car, last weekend the stars were not only lined up, but they were blazing. Gasparrelli not only won the race, but in the first round, he re-set both ends of the track record from the number one qualifying position. To top it off, Gasparrelli won this race last year, so add back-to-back to the prize total. Star power indeed.
“Winning the race was a real thrill”, said Gasparrelli. “We went back-to-back and set low ET and MPH records, which is even better. I believe it is because we have a feeling for this track. With all the changing weather and track conditions, it’s a testament to our team. It was cool, then hot, and then cool again, but we stayed hot all weekend.”
801 Racing’s Day Wins NitroJam in Candies & Hughes Flopper
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Photo Courtesy of IHRA
Port Allen, LA – It’s not every day when you get a phone call asking if you would like to drive a Nitro Funny Car for the weekend. That’s just what happened to 801 Racing driver James Day 
last week. Here he was wondering when would get a chance to drive again, and low and behold the call came in. The regular driver for the Candies and Hughes Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car was unable to make the IHRA Nitro Jam event and they needed someone to fill in. Day didn’t have to think twice. To make things even sweeter, Day and his new teammates went out and won the race.
“It was very special to be back in Cajun country with the Candies and Hughes car and get the win,” said Day. “This was their home track. There were people coming up to us all weekend with tales of days gone by. Things like, ‘I remember when’, or ‘I saw them do this or that.’ Every fan had a different story, and ‘how great it was to have the car back in Baton Rouge.’ It was a great connection to share.”
Demke to Start another Streak in Texas
Courtesy of 801 Racing
Baytown, TX – Chris Demke and his Peen Rite Top Alcohol Dragster are heading down to Texas to start another winning streak. A semi-final loss at the Vegas National event stopped a 2-0 start to the year. A few weeks off provided the time needed to freshen things up on the Peen Rite/801 Racing entry. The confidence from those wins at Pomona and Gainesville are still with the Team.
“The year began with two incredible wins,” said Demke. “Now we have things back together and ready to go rounds. We have a new partnership that will allow us to continue having fun and put on a great show for the fans.”
In 2009, Demke had a wild ride and put on quite a show for all in attendance. In the finals against Duane Shields, while leading the race, Demke’s Dragster made a move to the wall. With some nifty driving, Demke avoided the wall, but was now headed across the track into the other lane. Narrowly avoiding Shields, Demke saved the car but not the win. In 2010, a semi-final loss ended Team Peen’s weekend. Last year the Maddern Racing Team decided not to attend the event.
