- NHRA RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR ACTION-PACKED GERBER COLLISION & GLASS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS
- DRAG AND DRIVE EXHIBITION WITH ALEX TAYLOR AND TOM BAILEY RETURNS TO NHRA NATIONAL EVENT AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
- Record Setters and Race Winners Head to Virginia for PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
- Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
- Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
- Stewart, Hagan Record Final Round Performances at Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in TSR Dodge//SRT Nitro Machines
- KALITTA, TASCA AND COUGHLIN JR WIN LAS-VEGAS 4-WIDE
An In-Depth Interview with IHRA President Aaron Polburn and CEO Jason Rittenberry
Courtesy of IHRA
NORWALK, OH – During the last weekend in January one of the biggest announcements in the history of the International Hot Rod 
Association was made as the ownership group at Palm Beach International Raceway and Memphis International Raceway headed by President and CEO Jason Rittenberry acquired 100 percent of the IHRA and its assets under the new name IHRA Entertainment.
With Rittenberry and partners Michael Dezer, Joseph Lubeck and Edward Kobel at the helm big plans are in store for the IHRA and all of its series, but a lot of questions still remain. Are there other tracks on the ownership group’s radar? What does this mean for the racer and for Nitro Jam? What are the long-term plans for the company? With so many questions still on the table we decided to sit down with IHRA President and General Manager Aaron Polburn and IHRA Entertainment CEO Jason Rittenberry to ask those very questions and a few more.
New power to motivate Top Dragster of Everitt Racing in 2013
Courtesy of Quick 32
STRATFORD, ON – The Everitt Racing Team will be returning to competition in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA 
Auto Parts with some new power in its Top Dragster entry.
We’re stepping it up a bit, noted team driver and 2012 Quick 32 Sportsman Series Rookie of the Year Mike Everitt of Stratford, Ontario. We weren’t happy with our qualifying attempts last year.
So now the Mullis Race Cars chassis will house a 706-cubic inch Dart Big Chief engine, with carburetors and Speedtech nitrous assist for its second season of Quick 32 Sportsman Series racing, replacing the previous 632-cubic inch engine of last year. The car will continue to use a Hutch’s Transmission Service transmission to convey the power of the new engine to the track.
ANDY MCCOY RACE CARS TO POST $48,000 IN CONTINGENCY FOR 2013 ADRL TOUR
Courtesy of ADRL
Lake St. Louis, MO — Officials from the American Drag Racing League announced today that longtime partner and innovative chassis 
builder Andy McCoy Race Cars will return as a major sponsor for the 2013 ADRL Tour presented by Speedtech. AMRC will post $48,000 in contingency across six ADRL classes in 2013.
“Everyone at AMRC was ecstatic when the Nowling and Switzer families reacquired the ADRL,” said AMRC owner Andy McCoy. “The response from our customers has been equally enthusiastic. We all agree that under their leadership the ADRL has a very bright future.”
AMRC’s latest creation, a sleek new ’69 Chevelle body, was recently approved by the ADRL’s Technical Services Department for competition in the ADRL beginning in 2013.
Hunter Primed for Sophomore TAD Season
Courtesy of Kenny Gilmour Motorsports
POMONA, CA – This weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals marks the start of Greg Hunter’s second season in Top Alcohol Dragster 
competition. The former TAFC driver enjoyed a productive rookie season in 2012; the new driver-team combo of Greg and the Kenny Gilmour Motorsports team made progress every race weekend, steadily improving their performances. Now they’re ready to continue that trend during the new season.
“I’m really looking forward to this season after getting the first year under my belt. We got a lot of bugs worked out of the car last year and learned what it takes to run at this level. The guys are excited to get back to the track, back to turning the wrenches and working the tools. We’re expecting to have a consistent car that can go A-to-B and win some rounds this year,” said Hunter.
2012 was an exciting year for Greg. He drove the Kenny Gilmour-tuned ExactAir Top Alcohol Dragster to four round wins, including one at his debut race, the Las Vegas national event. Hunter’s career-best numbers improved after almost every race, ending with a 5.38 best at the fall Las Vegas race.
WHO’S IN THIS ISSUE OF RPM – MARCH 2013
Courtesy of RPM
Brandford, ON – 1-2 KNOCKOUT PUNCH – Kasper Racing… The Father/Son Team With The Muscle To Get It Done! Making their mark in 
the high-power fast paced world of Outlaw 10.5 Drag Racing is Tommy Kasper and his son TJ.
ORANGE JUICED – Gary Courtier’s Rise To The Top Of Nitrous Oxide Drag Racing. In 2012 Courtier entered the “5-second 1/4-mile club” in his wild nitrous injected Camaro that houses almost 900 cubic inches of power beneath it’s skin… now that adds up to a lot of horses!
THE IRS …The Other IRS – For years now Corvette owners have been dealing with the problems of getting their car’s “IRS” (independent rear suspension) to work in the unforgiving world of Drag Racing. Ohio racer Mark Carlyle has chosen to tough it out with his factory style IRS, and the results are incredible.
“EVOLUTION” – The Chevelles Of Ron Mroz & Mark Gjavenis – Fast street cars sure have gone through a lot of stages in evolution over the past two decades. True 9-second street cars were few and far between, and if you had an 8-second ride you were most likely becoming a household name.
Davis Returning to Top Sportsman Roots in 2013
Written by Ian Tocher
SUWANEE, GA — Veteran Top Sportsman drag racer Ronnie “The King” Davis is returning home this year. After spending 2012 
pursuing the inaugural ADRL Top Sportsman championship, the Suwanee, Georgia-based golf cart dealer is heading back to NHRA Division 2 competition, where he will mount a full-time campaign to win his third NHRA divisional title to go along with five previous IHRA championships.
“The competition was intense with the fast 16-car fields in the ADRL last year and I enjoyed every moment of the experience,” said Davis, who won two races before finishing third in the final point standings. “But my heart always remained with the Top Sportsman series that I helped develop and bring to NHRA back in 2002 with (retired Div. 2 director) Bill Holt. So I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and making a run for the championship again.”
Ahten Ready to Make Winternationals Memories
Courtesy of Ahten Family
Pomona, CA – It has been almost three months since Johnny Ahten raced down the quarter mile at historic Auto Club Raceway at 
Pomona. His last run was a close encounter with the centerline that resulted in a much longer than expected off season. For 2013, Johnny and his father Al Ahten have been waiting for this moment. The Winternationals are here and it’s time to hit the loud pedal on the Island Renovations/801 Racing/Fireman’s Brew Nitromethane powered dragster.
“I can’t wait to be slammed back in the seat and feel the rush,” said Ahten. “My dad and I have spent the time off pouring over data and preparing the car, but mostly we have been thinking about our last race. We have installed a new Top Fuel style windshield, a new roll bar cover, and a few tweaks here and there. We have also worked on our tuning strategy. We are all on the same page, and thirsty for some quick times.”
New Car for Defending Winternationals Champ Demke
Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
POMONA, CA – Defending Winternationals Top Alcohol Dragster champion Chris Demke returns to the Pomona fairgrounds this 
weekend with a car that most fans won’t recognize. His team isn’t quite familiar with it yet, either. The fan-favorite group recently acquired a lightly used rail similar to the one he drove to the NHRA Finals victory last year.
“It’s not brand new; it’s a 2002 Uyehara that was only campaigned for about half a season by its previous owner. He stored it away and took good care of it until (team owner) Jerry Maddern purchased it last year. We didn’t start working on it until the offseason. My crew guy, Kevin Watson, has poured his heart and soul into doing the work and Jerry really spared no expense in outfitting it. It’s a real beautiful piece. I have to commend those guys for the fabulous job they did assembling the car,” said Demke.
PSCA Makes Triumphant Return With Nor-Cal Nationals
Courtesy of PSCA
LAS VEGAS, NV – Finally, the Pacific Street Car Association has come back to Northern California.
For the first time in a decade, PSCA Presented by Chris Alston’s Chassisworks, along with the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association, will race at Sacramento Raceway Park March 22-24 in the Nor-Cal Nationals. For PSCA racers gunning for the season title, the sanction is providing 50 bonus points to every driver that enters this event.
“We’re very excited to return to Northern California,” said PSCA President Mel Roth. “Dave Smith and his staff are an amazing group who are just as thrilled as we are to put on a great show for the fans in California’s capital city. Our staff and our racers are champing at the bit to put on a great show and bring our brand of drag racing back to the area.”
Alan Johnson, Todd Lesenko, Alan Reinhart on WFO Radio
Courtesy of WFO
HOLLYWOOD, FL – Alan Johnson, Al-Anabi team manager, and owner of Alan Johnson Racing, and funny car driver Todd Lesenko join 
Joe Castello, along with the NHRA’s Alan Reinhart, on WFO Radio Nitro. To listen now, go to http://www.wforadio.com
Alan Johnson, team manager for Al-Anabi Racing, as well as owner of Alan Johnson Racing and Alan Johnson Performance Engineering stops by WFO Radio for an in-depth interview previewing the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Johnson discusses his initial attraction to mechanics and motorsports, his determination to achieve, his thoughts on his current drivers, and his preview for the 2013 O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries.
