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.
The crew had to rush back to their pits and replace it. Engine number one was history. On top of that, time was short. The announcer was calling the cars to the lanes as the crew was still putting things together. It was unusually quiet while the work was done. They got to the staging lanes just in time to make the call. Second round’s opponent was the red hot and multiple event winner Jim Whiteley.
They needed an advantage with the new and untested motor. Chris Demke got that edge with when he launched off the line first. The withdrawal slip at the good luck bank had been filled out and handed to the teller as Demke crossed the finish line first with a slower elapsed time of 5.332/270.81 to Whiteley’s quicker 5.323/270.16. It was on to the finals against Randy Meyer.
The Jegs AllStars Top Alcohol Dragster title and the Team Championship was the prize. The biggest withdrawal of the day happened when Randy Meyer lit the red light for leaving too soon. It sealed the victory for Chris Demke, Maddern Racing, and Division 7. Not knowing Meyer red lit, Demke raced down the track and banged the blower. Engine number two was now a mess. The team worked well into the night installing their last motor in preparations for the next day’s national event eliminations.
“Winning the Jegs AllStars was really something special, said driver Chris Demke. “This was the last time for the old Divisional system, and to get the win for 801 Racing, Peen Rite, and OSI is huge. We also secured the overall team championship for Division 7, something that had never been done. This was the win of a lifetime for all of us.”
After the Jegs AllStars commotion had subsided, it was now time to try and double-up at the National event. Sundays eliminations saw Demke dispatch of Jerry Powell in the first round with a 5.355/268.12 to Powell’s 5.499/267.32. In the second round, Demke’s 5.345/267.75 was enough to dispatch Sidnei Frigo. The semi finals saw a re-match with the previous day’s Jegs opponent Jim Whiteley. This time the luck bank account was a bit short. Whiteley’s 5.319/267.16 overpowered Demke’s 5.351/267.06. To add to the dismay, the last remaining motor was injured.
Broken parts, empty water bottles, and Jegs AllStars hats littered the Maddern Racing trailer Sunday night. The weekend’s extreme temperatures had taken a toll on the crew and equipment. The two shining rays of joy are the gleaming crystal trophy for Top Alcohol Dragster, and the Jegs AllStars Team Championship Trophy.
Both were secured with the assistance of a few pails of 801 Racing 70WT oil, and several withdrawals from the good luck bank. This week, crewmembers of Maddern Racing are in rebuilding mode. A shopping list was made of needed parts, and the jigsaw puzzle project is underway. The hardest part of the entire process is looking for way to make a deposit in the good luck bank. Donations are welcome; make them care of Chris Demke/Maddern Racing. According to bank records, 801 Racing made the first deposit.
