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Winners crowned on championship Sunday at MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals

Courtesy of IHRA

GRAND BEND, ON – In March of this year the IHRA family was devastated by the passing of Jim Weinert.  A master of track preparation, Weinert was known for his record-setting tracks, his statuesque figure and to many more, a great friend. That rang especially true for Top Fuel competitor Bobby Lagana Jr.

Weinert was like a father to the Lagana brothers and his passing was especially tough on longtime IHRA competitor Bobby. There to greet him at the head of staging before every pass over the past decade, the absence of “Big Jim” was a big void that Lagana hoped to somehow fill with a special tribute car for the Canadian portion of the 2012 Nitro Jam tour.

On Sunday Lagana ended that tour with one of the biggest wins of his Top Fuel career as he edged another longtime IHRA racer Bruce Litton for an emotional victory at the MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals at the Grand Bend Motorplex in what he calls one of the biggest healing days of his life.

“When you lose someone you are going to have hard days and you are going to have healing days. You never know when those days will come, but you know they are awaiting you. Nights like last night and today were healing days,” Lagana said. “We will never be able to replace that man, but this weekend was a healing one for everyone. The IHRA, Carrie and the boys, ourselves and even the fans that spent their hard earned money to watch us race – this was for Jim.”

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Coughlin has fruitful day at Mopar Mile-High Nationals

Courtesy of Jegs
Photo by Roger Richards

DENVER, CO – Jeg Coughlin Jr. made some serious gains on the mountain at this year’s 33rd annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday in both the Pro Stock and Stock Eliminator classes.

In Pro Stock, Coughlin and the JEGS/Mopar Dodge Avenger lost a competitive race to Greg Anderson in the first round of eliminations. In Stock, Coughlin and his JEGS.com Dodge Challenger reached the semifinals before falling to Colorado native Stephen Hagberg.

Early in the day in the Pro Stock race, Anderson’s car had a slight edge at the start and Coughlin didn’t have quite enough power to catch up at the top end.

“It’s a different breed up here at Bandimere Speedway as far as tune-ups and stuff go,” Coughlin said. “We were just a couple of rounds behind. We did pick up. It was a much cleaner run and it felt like a much better run.”

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Fans fill Motorplex during Saturday ‘Night of Fire’

Courtesy of IHRA

GRAND BEND, ON – It was a MOPAR kind of night at the MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals. It has been nearly three years since Greg Jacobsmeyer last won in Nitro Jam competition. Jacobsmeyer won the very first AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car race in IHRA Nitro Jam history back in 2010, but hasn’t been able to find victory lane since.

That is, until Saturday night.

In front of a packed house at the MOPAR sponsored race in Grand Bend, Ontario, Jacobsmeyer blasted to his best career numbers in a brand new car to claim his first win since 2010 against defending series champion Peter Gallen behind the wheel of the famous “All Star” Dodge Challenger. And he wasn’t alone.

Joining Jacobsmeyer in victory lane Saturday night was Kyle Wurtzel, who picked up his first career win in Top Fuel, Ron Hope who ran his best career numbers in Fuel Altered and Randal Andras who won in Nitro Harley.

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Coughlin seeks to double his fun at Mopar Mile-High Nationals

Courtesy of Jegs

DENVER, CO – Jeg Coughlin Jr. goes into Sunday’s racing at the 33rd annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals with a chance to win not one, but two trophies before the afternoon is over.

Coughlin put his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger into the No. 8 spot in Pro Stock and already has raced his JEGS.com Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to the quarterfinals of Stock Eliminator at Bandimere Speedway.

“Both cars are running really well,” Coughlin said. “Ninety percent of the time, racing two cars on Sunday keeps me calmer because the disciplines are so different. It makes me pay attention a little more than normal.

“It’s one of the things I enjoy about this sport is the discipline it takes to run multiple classes in the same weekend.”

In Pro Stock, Coughlin’s Avenger had a best pass of 7.010 seconds at 196.73 mph. He said the car responded well to some changes the team made during each day of qualifying.

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Sam Andreacchi returns to PMRA racing with new car for 2012 season

Courtesy of PMRA

TORONTO, ON – After a year out of Pro Modified Racing Association competition, Sam Andreacchi has returned, and this two-time PMRA event winner is ready.

”We’re looking forward to the rest of the year,” said the Toronto, Ontario racer. “So far so good.”

Andreacchi and the Wolf Racing and Andreacchi Motorsports team, headed up by Andreacchi and Domenic Calabria have just tested the waters with their new Modified so far this season, a 1969 Chevy Camaro from the shops of G-Force Race Cars. While this car has replaced the team’s former flat-black Nova-bodied Modified, Andreacchi noted that the Camaro is powered by the Nova engine and drive-train, an Al Billes Racing 526-cubic inch Brad Anderson (BAE) Supercharged Hemi with a Lenco three-speed transmission attached.

Sitting on top of the engine is a Kobelco 14-71 supercharger, and the fuel system is courtesy of Al Billes.

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JEGS champ Brown ready for summer vacation of a different variety

Courtesy of Jegs

BRISTOL, TN – Makenna Brown is all packed up and heading out to her own special version of summer camp deep in the Smoky Mountains.

The reigning National Trail Raceway track champion, who drives a Junior Dragster for Team JEGS, won’t be staying in a tent. Instead, she’ll call her race hauler home as soon as she arrives at Bristol Dragway for 10 days racing in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals.

While she will be representing JEGS and Team National Trail Raceway, Brown also gets to have the kind of fun experiences that are similar to the more traditional summer camps that 11 year old girls attend.

“I get to spend a lot of time with a bunch of different friends,” Brown said. “Of course, all the people I race with at National Trail will be there, which is always a lot of fun. I also get to meet back up with people I’ve met at this race in the past and only get to see when I’m racing in Tennessee.

“Plus, there are always new friends to be made and with people coming in from across the country. It’s going to be so much fun.”

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MICKEY THOMPSON ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF THE WESTERN MOTORCYCLE DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION’s AMSOIL STURGIS NATIONALS

Courtesy of Mickey Thompson

STOW, OH – Mickey Thompson is pleased to support the 2012 Western Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (WMDRA) Amsoil Sturgis Nationals scheduled for Aug. 7-8 at Sturgis Raceway. As a Performance Partner, Mickey Thompson will award the Top Fuel class winner a free Mickey Thompson
drive tire.

“We are pleased to support this event and the sport of motorcycle drag racing,” stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. “Dragbike competition is some of the most exciting racing around and we’re looking forward to a great event this August.”

The WMDRA was founded in 2012 by a group of professional drag racers to  support professional drag racers and promote the sport of all motorcycle drag racing, both American and metric, in the western United States. For more information, visit http://www.westernmotodrags.com/.

Demke goes to the finals at Woodburn

Courtesy of Maddern Racing

Woodburn, OR – Whenever you go fishing there are a few things that are bound to happen. Sometimes you catch your limit, and sometimes the big one gets away. At their first trip ever to Woodburn Dragway, Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team came away with a few keepers, but the catch of the day eluded them. That’s fishing, or in this case, Drag Racing.

The weekend started out with a whopper. In the first round of qualifying the Peen Rite / OSI / 801 Racing Dragster ripped off a 5.322/269.86. That blast put them in the number one qualifying position.  It also gave them the track record at Woodburn Dragway. This was the kind of statement the Team was looking to make.

They serviced the car and returned to the line in anticipation of lowering the record. In the second qualifying session, there was a tug on the line, but it wasn’t the big fish.  A wire had come loose and the car coasted down the track. Back in the pits, the wire was zip tied in place. The decision was then made to sit out the third qualifying session, as they still held the top spot.

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Garret Race Cars Dominates ADRL Pro Extreme in Michigan

Written by Ian Tocher
 
MARBLE HILL, MO — Garret Race Cars entries dominated the ADRL Pro Extreme class July 13-14, in Martin, Michigan, led by the company flagship ’63 Corvette of two-time class champion Jason Scruggs, who won the ADRL Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

After 23 Pro Extreme teams made qualifying attempts on the U.S. 131 eighth mile, Garret-built cars took three of the top five positions and made up a full quarter of the 16-car, race-day field, led by the ’69 Camaro of 2006 class champion Bubba Stanton, who ran 3.663 seconds at 205.17 miles per hour to earn the top spot. ADRL officials also presented Stanton with the Turbos by Garrett Best Engineered Car award at the West Michigan event.

“I was thrilled to see Jason win again and for Bubba to regain the kind of performance and recognition he’s used to,” said Garret Livingston, founder and president of Garret Race Cars in Marble Hill, Missouri. “All of our cars did extremely well this weekend, which is a testament to the quality of people and teams we work with at the ADRL.”

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PUBLIC DEBUT FOR RESTORED ALLARD CHRYSLER DRAGSTER

Courtesy of Allard Chrysler Action Group
Photo by Matt Woods

Santa Pod, UK – Santa Pod’s Dragstalgia meet on July 14th/15th saw the first public fire-up of Europe’s earliest dragster since 1964. After test fire-ups in the pits it was brought onto the track by the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG) team in their smart period correct overalls and IMI ties. The noise from the blown 354 Chrysler Hemi V8 in Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler was greeted with wild cheers from the crowd. Some even had tears in their eyes. They had been there to witness history being brought back to life. It almost had the feel of a religious occasion.

The car is owned by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Doug Hill, Museum Manager and Lord Montagu’s Chief Engineer was there to witness the first fire-up on nitro-methane the following day. The next day he sent this message to the ACAG who he approved to carry out this important restoration.

I think it is well worth reflecting a while what you have achieved.

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