DragStory
Race Day Products/VP Fuels Named Official Fuel Supplier of the Pro Slammers
Courtesy of Race Day Products
San Francisco, Ca – We are pleased to announce that Race Day Products/VP Racing Fuels has been named the official fuel supplier of the Pro Slammers Door Car Association.
VP Racing Fuels are known as the industry standard and are the spec fuels for the NHRA. These fuels provide you with the consistency and power needed to get down the track. Race Day Products owner, Danny Hollingsworth will provide technical support as well as special pricing for our members.
Race Day Products has been serving customers at Sacramento Raceway for many years and is the main VP dealer in Northern California. They carry more than just fuel, they also offer everything from spark plugs and oil filters to lubrication and specialty products.
Danny will be at all of our events in 2012 and if any team needs to purchase fuel you should contact him prior to the event. As always please support those that support us. For more information on Race Day Products/VP Fuels please call Danny Hollingsworth at (916) 202-7983 or online at www.racedayproduct.com
Demke Going to the Max for Gainesville Title Defense
Courtesy Maddern Racing
Gainesville, FL – Winning is good. Winning the same race two years in a row is better. That’s the task that befalls Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team this weekend at the 43rd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented
by NapaFilters.com. The Peen Rite/801 Racing Team won this race in 2011, and are ready to defend their title.
“It’s an awesome track,” quoted Chris Demke. “The close proximity of the trees gives great oxygenation, and that means more horsepower. I’m looking for some great performance out of the car.”
Before the celebratory chicken dinner can be served, there is work to be done. Travel to the east coast is the first matter. Maddern Racing is based in Southern California. Getting the car and trailer to Florida is just the beginning. Jerry and Dixie Maddern arrived early in the week and began the setup.
“My mind is back in the right place,” said Demke. “I’m just going to drive the car and not think.”
IHRA mourns the loss of Jim Weinert
Courtesy of IHRA
NORWALK, OH – Everyone knew the man with the cigar. And it is with great sadness that the IHRA family announces the passing of Jim Weinert, who died in his sleep last night.
Fans, racers, owners and anyone involved in the world of drag racing knew who Jim Weinert was and what he did. “Big Jim”, as he became known to many, was the Picasso of track prep. He was a staple on the Norwalk Raceway Park starting line for years before joining the IHRA team and managing the field operations and track preparation at every IHRA national event since the 90s. His prep work was unmatched and heralded by racers.
Roaming the starting line with an authority he earned after decades in the business, he was one of the brightest lights the world of drag racing has ever known.
On March 7, 2012, at the age of 58, that light was extinguished.
“Big Jim had an irascible nature about him that cleverly covered up the fact that he was a giant teddy bear who would do anything for anybody,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “No one could outwork Jim, but what separated him from everyone else was his loyalty. He could have easily taken his talents elsewhere for twice the money but refused because IHRA was where his friends and family were and his loyalty lie.
Mike Everitt joins Quick 32 Series for 2012 Season
Courtesy of Quick 32
STRATFORD, ON – Mike Everitt is planning on going faster this year than he ever has in drag racing.
With a new Top Dragster, Everitt will be competing in his first year of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, and he said he is looking forward to his season.
“We’ve been following the series, and to wanted to jump into it,” said Everitt, who will drive the Everitt Racing Team car. “We bought the car late last year, and only have a couple of laps on it.”
Although he has raced since 2004, the dragster will be a new experience for the former doorcar racer. He did race a slower dragster, but has not experienced the under seven-second times this car should be capable of.
“I’ve been down the track a million times,” he said, “but not in this car. We’ve got a lot to learn and we’ll have to get used to this car.”
Gray, Coughlin, Krawiec, Alexander and Reinhart on WFO Radio
Courtesy of WFO
HOLLYWOOD, FL – WFO Radio previews the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals. DSR Funny Car driver, Johnny Gray, Jeg’s Pro Mod driver Troy Coughlin, Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion Eddie Krawiec following his 200MPH run in 
testing, and Nitro rookie Blake Alexander all join Joe Castello, along with the NHRA’s Alan Reinhart, on WFO Radio NHRA Nitro, as they prepare for the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, March 8 – 11th. To listen now, go to http://www.wforadio.com/
DSR Service Central/Tire Kingdom Funny Car driver, Johnny Gray, talks about getting ready for his sponsor’s race, the importance of the Gatornationals, and the possibility of both himself and his son, Shane, who races in Pro Stock, winning the same event.
Jeg’s Pro Mod driver, Troy Coughlin checks in from testing at PBIR prior to the Get Screened America Pro Mod season opener, at the Gatornationals. Coughlin talks about his 2012 set up, the Pro Modified class, and bracket racing as a hobby.
Samantha Coughlin Livin’ the Dream in Gainesville
Courtesy of Jegs
GAINESVILLE, FL – Super Comp racer Samantha Coughlin is a bona fide national event winner who has proven to be absolutely lethal on the racetrack in her JEGS.com dragster. But when the helmet comes off, Coughlin is quick to flash a
pretty smile that usually disarms even the most hardened of opponents.
“I love to win; it’s why we race,” said Coughlin, the wife of five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. “But to me, the NHRA is more about family and friends and having fun. The relationships we’ve made out here last a lot longer than the thrill of winning a round.”
Coughlin should be plenty happy at this weekend’s 42nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals as she’ll be joined in competition by her husband, brother-in-law Troy Coughlin and brother Jason Kenny, who will pilot Jeg Jr.’s Super Comp dragster.
“It looks like Team JEGS will have plenty of representation,” Samantha said. “Jason and I will be racing Super Comp, Troy is starting his season in Pro Mod and Jeg is racing in Pro Stock and Stock. There will be yellow and black everywhere!
RPM MAGAZINE AT MEGASPEED!
Courtesy of RPM Magazine
Brandford, ON – This coming weekend (March 9-11th) MEGASPEED will take over Toronto, Ontario, Canada with wild fast cars and hot rods of all shapes and sizes, and for the 13th year in a row, RPM Magazine will be there! (Visit RPM
MAG at Booth # 123 located in the main hall)
MEGASPEED Custom Car & Truck Show is one of the largest shows in Canada and boasts a completely revamped “BRAND NEW SHOW” format that promises to be packed with serious horsepower and have something for everyone… they even have special guests Henry Winkler and Mike Holmes in the house!?
“It’s definitely like a tradition for RPM,” says Trish Biro, VP of Marketing and Customer Relations for RPM. “Emails started rolling in a few weeks back from people looking forward to seeing us there again this year, to chat and renew their subscriptions. We look forward to it, and as always will have a full compliment of staff on hand including Ian & Janis Rae, Raymond Knight, myself, RPM Editor Chris Biro, as well as RPM photographers making their rounds of the show.”
Jeg Coughlin Jr. to Chase Gatornationals Glory in Two Categories
Courtesy of Jegs
GAINESVILLE, FL – Five-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. enters this weekend’s 42nd annual Tire 
Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals with two chances at winning a coveted Wally trophy from one of the crown jewels on the NHRA schedule.
Coughlin, a 67-time national event winner, will be racing in two different categories at the Central Florida speedplant. He’ll be trying for his third Pro Stock Gatornationals victory in his new JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger, while also aiming for the winner’s circle in his Mopar Challenger Drag Pak Stock entry.
“I love the Gatornationals,” Coughlin said. “And this year I love it twice as much because we have two cars to race. It should be a lot of fun.
Jimmy Holzman Named ADRL SuperCar Showdown Technical Administrator
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – In an announcement nearly as stunning as the creation of its radical new SuperCar Showdown series, 
the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has named 25 year-old Jimmy Holzman as the Technical Director of the category which will present the world’s quickest and fastest production automobiles in national competition.
Holzman, whose youth belies an incredible drag racing career, which includes major drag racing event victories as recent as last season, will work specifically within the ADRL SuperCar Showdown series under the direction of the ADRL’s Director of Technical Services, Chris Bell.
“For this position, we needed an individual with knowledge of supercars on a global level,” said Bell, “but Jimmy Holzman brings with him an astonishing background of designing, building, racing and winning in the very cars which will compete in this class. Had we even continued looking, I doubt we could have found anybody with more experience and success with these machines than Jimmy.”
A resident of Wichita, Kansas, Holzman represents the third generation of his family’s substantial involvement in championship drag racing. Continue reading
Troy Coughlin, A Title Contender in NHRA Pro Mod class
Courtesy of Jegs
GAINESVILLE, FL – Drag racer Troy Coughlin is a pretty unassuming guy, preferring to let his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro Pro Mod car make all the statements about his team’s performance. However, this year the soft-spoken world champion from Delaware, Ohio, can’t help but make a bold statement (at least for him) about his chances in the NHRA
Pro Mod Series presented by ProCare Rx, which begins this weekend in Central Florida as part of the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.
“We have all the ingredients to win the championship,” Coughlin said. “I can’t think of a reason why we won’t be in contention at every race. I believe the team that wins it all will be the one that makes the least amount of mistakes and we have a veteran group over here so we should be in good shape.”
The main reason for Coughlin’s optimism is the addition of noted crew chief Steve Petty, who joined Team JEGS in the off-season. Petty tuned four of the last five winners on the 2011 tour, posting victories in Bristol, Indianapolis, Charlotte and Las Vegas with a trio of drivers that ran the same turbo combination Coughlin will have this year.
