- HendrickCars.com to sponsor Brittany Force’s Top Fuel dragster starting at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte
- DANIEL WILKERSON AND SCAG FORD FUNNY CAR TEAM LOOKING TO TURN THINGS AROUND AT CHARLOTTE FOUR-WIDE
- Dustin Smiley Races to Advanced Product Design $15,000 Wednesday Win at the Spring Fling
- NEOPMA Pro Mod Drivers Ready to Start 2024 Season at MIR’s Door Wars
- JUSTIN ASHLEY AND SCAG TOYOTA TEAM LOOK TO CONTINUE PROMISING START TO NHRA SEASON AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
- FOSTER LOOKING TO TAKE AQUA PROP ALL THE WAY AT CHARLOTTE FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
- MBE Tech Report
Mike Knowles Ready for 4 Wide at zMax
Grand Junction, CO – After an early, first round, exit at the season opening Gator Nationals Mike Knowles and his “Blown Money” Pro 
Modified team look to rebound when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visits zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C. this weekend. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to zMAX Dragway, April 19-21 for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
“We struggled a bit in Gainesville but, we were lucky enough to make it into the field,” said team owner/driver, Mike Knowles. “Since then, we got in some testing and made some changes. The car is getting the front half better now but we know we have some room to get better. The combination isn’t in question; it’s just a matter of fine tuning,” added Knowles.
Blake Alexander Debuting New Gates Look at 4-Wide
CONCORD, NC – Funny Car driver Blake Alexander will have a new look on his Paul Smith Racing Dodge Charger Funny Car at zMax 
Dragway this weekend. The 4-Wide Nationals will be the first of two 2013 events where longtime supporter Gates Automotive Belts and Hoses will assume the primary sponsorship role. This marks an eight-year partnership between Alexander and Gates.
“My relationship with Gates stems back to when I was getting out of Junior Dragsters at age 16. My father suggested I look for sponsorship so I could move up to a big car. I had met an executive from Gates while I was racing Junior Dragsters. I reached out to them and as fate would have it, I forged a relationship with them that has lasted around eight years now. It’s exciting to have their support from the Sportsman ranks to my second year as a professional Funny Car driver,” Blake says.
Goals are clear-cut for Coughlin and crew in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC – With five world championships and 68 national event victories to his credit, there’s not much drag racer Jeg 
Coughlin Jr. hasn’t accomplished in his illustrious career. But at this weekend’s fourth annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, Coughlin can notch a pair of “firsts,” and considering the way his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger has been running this season, he just may be able to take care of business.
“We’ve won at just about every drag strip on the schedule except zMax and the new one up in New Hampshire,” Coughlin said. “And we haven’t won a four-wide race either, so we definitely have some clear goals for this weekend’s race.”
The 42-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, has had a ripping start to the 2013 season, racing to two final rounds in the first four events and posting a 9-4 race-day record, good enough for third place in the championship standings. He currently trails leader and teammate Allen Johnson by just 24 points, or slightly more than one round of elimination action.
Nitro Harley’s dynamic duo headline Bradenton Nitro Jam
BRADENTON, FL – It doesn’t matter what bike Jay Turner is riding, he is one fast dude. As defending champion of the International Hot 
Rod Association’s Nitro Harley class, Turner has big plans in 2013 that include challenging decades-old records and continuing to pile up wins on the Nitro Jam tour. The only problem facing him this year? He doesn’t have his secret weapon anymore.
While Turner dominated the field in 2012 on his way to six wins – including five straight early in the year – and a championship to cap his season, Turner will face a bit of a tougher task this season thanks to his new riding mate, Pennsylvania native Tracy Kile, and the fact that he will be without his innovative and now legendary “Big Pig” nitro bike.
ADRL Eliminations Rained Out at SGMP, But Two National Records Set in Qualifying
Lake St. Louis, MO — Rain put a halt to the ADRL Hardee’s Georgia Drags VII on Sunday, April 14, at South Georgia Motorsports Park in 
Valdosta, Ga., but two Pro Extreme records were set during Saturday qualifying.
In the first qualifying session Alex Hossler from Canton, Ill., set the new national ET record at 3.567 seconds for the eighth mile in his ‘69 Camaro. He was the number-one qualifier. His incremental times were 60 ft: 0.904 sec.; 330 ft: 2.401. He also held the speed record at 212.29 mph until the final qualifying session when Jason Scruggs took it away.
Scruggs, Saltillo, Miss., set the national speed record at 213.54 mph in his ‘63 Corvette. It was backed up by a prior 211.76.
Meyer Back On Top in TA/D, 3 in a Row For Pomponio in TA/FC
Written by Todd Veney/Pro Sportsman Association
Dinwiddie, VA – With victories at the Lucas Oil Series event at Virginia Motorsports Park, Randy Meyer got back in the Top Alcohol 
Dragster winner’s circle after a year of final-round futility and Dan Pomponio continued his amazing success in Top Alcohol Funny Car to take over the national points lead.
Meyer nipped Canadian Dan Mercier in the Top Alcohol Dragster final in the best race of the weekend, 5.321 to 5.330. “If this was last year, I would have lost,” said Meyer, who dropped all six of his final-round appearances in 2012 – three at regional events, two at national events, and one at the Jegs Allstars race. “Maybe this year, we’ll win the close ones.”
Meyer set top speed in the final at 271.57 mph, eclipsing the 270.86 he had run in a semifinal win over No. 1 qualifier Dan Page. “I didn’t get after it as hard for the final because I was afraid of smoking the tires and beating myself like I did last year,” he said. “I really didn’t expect him to pick up a tenth and make it that close.”
NEOPMA KICKS OFF 2013 SEASON THIS WEKEND AT MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY’S DOOR WARS
Mechanicsville, MD – The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods (NEOPMA) will kick off their season opener at the “DOOR WARS” April 19th-21st 
with a new format, a 16 car qualified field with mix of Blowers, Turbos and Nitrous Pro Mods competing in the quarter mile at the famed MIR venue . You won’t want to miss some of the fastest quarter mile Pro Mods in the country.
Maryland International Raceway’s fans love doorslammer racing, and have built a great relationship with the NEOPMA for their ability to put on a great event with fast side by side quarter mile drag racing, and open access to all teams and their pits. The NEOPMA considers MIR their home track.
“I’m really thrilled that the Door Wars has been an official “1320 Pro Mod Warriors” point’s race. This is going to be an awesome weekend with a 16 car mixed field with shakedown runs on Friday night, qualifying Saturday and Sunday eliminations. Also look for a Pro Mod Shootout for non-qualifiers winner take all. I looking forward to seeing a great event with incredible side by side races “, states Royce Miller – General Manager of MIR.
Who’s in this Issue of RPM Magazine
Brandford, ON – “ROAD RUNNER…If He Catches You You’re Through!” …Yeah Right! – John Hunkins’ 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 
“Coyote Duster” – Even during our photo shoot, with snow still on the ground, John was eager to get behind the wheel for a cruise. We heard there were 13-04 cover 350reports that day of a “bright red hot rod” in the area cruising the streets while being filmed… wasn’t us!
TENNESSEE TERROR – Bo Simpson’s Low Slung Nitrous Nova Is A Heavy Hitter – First impressions mean a lot in the world of high horsepower drag racing, and it’s hard to ignore a candy orange ’69 Nova, especially when it makes lots of noise and has plenty of power to back it up.
BLUE OVAL JUG ADDICTS – The Ford Mustang is arguably the most popular platform for Outlaw Drag Racing today… and the Nitrous guys are flying in them!
STAY THE COURSE – Seven years ago, after a tough inaugural event, the Southern Outlaw Tour seemed destined to fade into the night, yet today support is growing at a record pace due to the vision and tenacity of the Tour founder, Jim Howard.
Troy Coughlin Jr. victorious at Piedmont Top Eliminator Classic
JULIAN, NC – It was another successful weekend for the JEGS Mail Order team as third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr. claimed a 
victory during the annual $50,000 Top Eliminator Classic at Piedmont Dragway.
During Friday night’s opening event, Coughlin picked up the $5,000 first-place prize after driving his JEGS Mail Order dragster to a final-round win over “Disco Dean” Karnes. Coughlin was almost perfect in the final as he left the starting line with a .000 reaction time and ran within .005 seconds of his dial-in number. Karnes was strong as well, with a combined elapsed time that was just .008 seconds from perfect.
“That might have been one of the best final rounds I’ve ever been in,” Coughlin said. “I made a great run and I needed all of it to get the win. Dean is a great racer and he lives in Fairborn [Ohio] which isn’t far from us. It was a great weekend for us ‘Ohio boys.'”
BMR Suspension 2” Lowering Springs for 1964-1972 A-Body
Seffner, FL – Improve the stance and handling capabilities of your A-Body with a set of Lowering Springs from BMR Suspension. The front 
springs lower the vehicle by 2” and have a linear spring rate of 520 pounds per inch. The rear springs also lower the vehicle by 2” and have a variable spring rate of 125-200 pounds per inch.
All BMR springs are cold wound from high tensile silicone chromium spring wire then shot-peened and computer tested for consistency. A set of BMR Lowering Springs (SP031: 67-72 models, SP033: 64-66 models) will lower the center of gravity and dramatically increase the cornering capabilities of your A-Body without sacrificing ride quality. Front springs and rear springs also sold separately. Installation time of 3-4 hours. Available in red powdercoat finish.
To preview all of BMR’s high-performance suspension parts, please visit www.bmrsuspension.com, email sales@bmrsuspension.com, or contact them at BMR Suspension, 928 Sligh Avenue, Seffner, FL 33584, 813-986-9302, Fax: 813-986-8055.
