- 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
- AUSTIN PROCK SECOND IN LAS VEGAS 4-WIDE NATIONALS; WIDENS FUNNY CAR POINTS LEAD
- THE JOHN MASSINGBERD MEMORIAL AWARD PRESENTED AT DRAG STRIP MEMORIES
- Shawn Langdon Suffers First Opening-Round Loss of Season
East coast cars dominate Arizona Nitro Jam Finale
Courtesy of IHRA
TUCSON, AZ – What exactly is the definition of irony? Just ask Peter Gallen.
Traveling nearly 2,000 miles from his home in Pennsylvania to be in Arizona for the Arizona Nitro Jam, Gallen had
high hopes that the weekend would be filled with hotly contested laps against some of the best west coast racers around.
Instead, Gallen found himself in Saturday’s final racing against a man who calls Ohio home as two of the best Prostalgia Nitro Funny cars from the east duked it out in Saturday’s Arizona Nitro Jam finale with Gallen coming away a winner and setting a new national record in the process to claim the Ironman trophy in front of a capacity crowd at Nitro Jam’s debut event at Southwestern International Raceway.
“I think we actually discovered the definition of irony this evening. We came out here obviously to support the IHRA, but we also came out here to see what these west coast guys that we have heard about for so many years are really all about,” Gallen said. “Instead we ended up racing Mike (McIntire) in the final. I guess it is what it is. It is a win and we will certainly take it.”
Hamstra One Of Six Winners At ADRL CarSafe Dragpalooza VII
BAYTOWN, TEXAS (March 25, 2011) – Jason Hamstra had enough misfortune in 2010 to last a racing lifetime.
His performance on Saturday at Royal Purple Raceway was a resounding indication things may be much different in 2011.
The 2009 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Rookie of the Year appeared to be back in top form as the ADRL kicked off its 2011 season, winning an incredibly competitive Pro Extreme class with a 3.68 in the finals of CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
“It’s great to come out and do this at the first race. After a while, it’s good to see all of your hard work pay off,” Hamstra said. “After last year, we couldn’t have had any more bad luck, so this feels good to start the season this way.”
Bangshift Live From Famosa, Coverage of March Meet Continues
Live from Bakersfield – Click Here
Bakersfield, CA – BangShift.com will be broadcasting LIVE from Famoso for the conclusion of the 2011 March Meet on Saturday March 26th. We are waiting on the final schedule but expect to be LIVE by 9am. Stay tuned for more announcements, and join us Saturday for the conclusion of the 53rd March Meet. Tickets are available for Saturday if you didn’t have a Sunday ticket already. Visit Famosoraceway.com to buy your tickets, or get them at the gate starting at 7am.
Nitro Jam’s Arizona debut plays to standing room only crowd
Courtesy of IHRA
TUCSON, Ariz. (March 25, 2011) – It was glorious day at Southwestern International Raceway on Friday.
Not only were the stands packed full with fans eager to enjoy Nitro Jam’s brand of motorsports entertainment, but another day – James Day to be exact – stole the show with a big win in the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car “Duel in the Desert” Friday in Tucson, a win he was proud to dedicate to ill car owner Dale Pulde.
“It is an honor just to be asked to drive this car for Dale, but to win in this thing is like a dream come true,” Day said, eagerly grasping his brand new Ironman trophy. “This is a legendary car and it drove like a legend tonight. All I have to say is this win is for Dale who is still recovering. Hopefully this trophy will help him feel a bit better.”
Taylor Leads Lists Of Six Top Qualifiers at ADRL’s CarSafe Dragpalooza
Courtesy of ADRL
BAYTOWN, TX – Frankie Taylor’s 2010 season in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) ended in remarkable championship fashion.
His 2011 season in the ADRL is off to a good start as well.
Racing at his hometown track, Taylor, the 2010 World Champion in Pro Extreme, picked up right where he left off last October, going 3.674 at 206.76 miles per hour at Royal Purple Raceway to grab the top qualifying spot in a star-studded Pro Extreme field at ADRL CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
“To get that No. 1, we’re pretty excited,” said Taylor, who also won a race at RPR in 2010. “To go back-to-back here would be great, and to win here in front of friends and family, it would be really special again.
“But this car has a lot more in it.”
Taylor certainly grabbed everyone’s attention at the first race of the 2011 ADRL Tour, but he wasn’t alone.
ADRL Honors 2010 World Champions
Courtesy of ADRL
BAYTOWN, TX – A day before the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) kicked off its 2011 season, the world’s 
premier eighth-mile drag racing league honored its 2010 World Champions.
The ADRL held its Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala on Thursday at the Tower Club at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, recognizing its 2010 champions as well as handing out a trio of special awards on the eve of Friday’s 2011 season-opener, CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
ADRL television personality Bret Kepner hosted the event that trumpeted the 2010 “Battle For The Belts” winners and also announced the winners for Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Track of the Year.
Lagana on display as excitement builds for Arizona Nitro Jam debut
Courtesy of IHRA
TUCSON, AZ – Defending Nitro Jam Top Fuel champion Bobby Lagana Jr. and his Lucas Oil Top Fuel team were spotted all across 
Tucson on Thursday to help promote the inaugural Arizona Nitro Jam this Friday and Saturday at Southwestern International Raceway.
Lagana, who unveiled a brand new Lucas Oil sponsorship on Thursday with all new team uniforms and a new wrap which he will debut on Friday at the Arizona Nitro Jam, had his Top Fuel dragster on display at several locations across the city, culminating with a stop at Miller’s Surplus where local television, newspaper and ESPN radio were on hand to talk about the race.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be in Tucson this weekend to put on a show for the Arizona fans. We have a brand new sponsor and we are excited to begin our partnership with Lucas Oil with a good showing this weekend,” Lagana said. “This is a huge event for us and for Nitro Jam and we are glad to be a part of it. I expect a huge turnout and some great racing this Friday and Saturday.”
Spencer Hyde comfortable in Cobalt and ready for upcoming Quick 32 season
Courtesy of Quick 32
STRATFORD, ON – Quick 32 Sportsman Series racer Spencer Hyde switched his ride from a Top Dragster to a Top Sportsman entry last season, and for 2011 believes he will be ready to take on the competition.
“I feel comfortable now in the Cobalt,” Hyde noted. “Last year was a learning curve, and this year our focus will be on winning some rounds.”
After competing with a Top Dragster in the first year of Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Hyde got behind the wheel of a 2007 Chevy Cobalt Top Sportsman in 2010, and was a quick study in learning the differences between a rear-engined dragster and the front-engined Cobalt.
“It took a while to get used to,” he said. “The car reacts a lot differently. It’s been a big learning curve, but Carl (Spiering) has coached me and things have gotten much better.”
Johnny Ahten Racing Doubling the Racing Odds in Vegas
Courtesy of Athen Racing
Las Vegas, NV – The racing team of Johnny Ahten and his Family’s Clean Boost / Island Renovations Top Alcohol 
Dragster has been anticipating the next two weekends in Las Vegas since pulling out of Pomona earlier this year.
Ahten’s team has had plenty of time to plan their approach for the next two weekends of racing and are extremely excited to pick up where they left off.
“We ran an off pace 5.39, the long way down the track in Pomona” said Ahten, “after servicing the car, we were all pretty happy that not only is there plenty left in the tune up, but that all of our changes took us in the correct direction and we didn’t suffer any carnage.
Chris Demke and Maddern Racing Prepared for Double Header Rolling Into Vegas
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Las Vegas, NV – As the Pacific Division 7 Lucas Oil Racing Series Events is entering into their second race of the 2011 
Racing Season, this is the fourth event of the year for Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster.
With a National Event Win already in hand, the Peen Rite/Clean Boost Team knows the season has only just begun. This season will prove to be their most aggressive racing season to date in hopes of winning the National Championship.
“When we arrived home from Gainesville with a Wally” noted Demke, “we couldn’t wait to see our friends and family. We all gathered at a local restaurant, the Steel Pit, for a big celebration when the ESPN TV coverage came on. It was a really special event for us to share with everyone.
