Booher’s Auto-Plus Nationals Goals Include Records, Round Wins
MOHNTON, PA – The upcoming Auto-Plus Nationals will play an important role in how Illinois-based Top Alcohol Dragster team 
Booher Racing wraps up their break-out 2013 season. A win at the record-setting Reading event would keep the team’s national championship hopes alive. Driver and tuner Brandon Booher has more on his mind, though. He wants to leave Maple Grove Raceway with the title of first torque converter car in the five-twenties.
“Reaching the 5.2s is definitely one of our goals for the weekend. I would settle for another national event victory instead, but hopefully we can get both. I have to put more personal importance on the 5.2 pass. No one ever thought that a torque converter car would run in the thirties. There are very few blown cars in the country that can run in the twenties, let alone one with a torque converter,” said Brandon, who became the first torque converter-equipped race car in the 5.3-second range when he ran a 5.39 at 266 MPH in eliminations at this event in 2011.
The goal certainly isn’t out of reach. Brandon has the AB Construction entry running in the low five-thirties consistently lately, going as low as a career-best 5.320 at 275 MPH at Charlotte just weeks ago, also the site of his first national event win.
“On the other side, a win here would fuel the fire as to whether or not this team is heading out west to Vegas and Pomona. If we won out the rest of the national events, we would be a serious national title contender,” Booher added.
Brandon and his family-owned AB Construction/Torque Management team are also in regional championship contention. Though Brandon currently leads the North Central region points, challenger Bill Reichert could go around to take the title if he wins either of the two remaining Lucas Oil Series regional events, including one in Noble, Oklahoma, also held this weekend. Booher has three regional event wins on his side.
A win at the Auto-Plus Nationals will not be easy, as over twenty Top Alcohol Dragster teams from around the Midwest and east coast are entered.
“I think this year’s field could reset the record for the quickest Top Alcohol Dragster field in history,” Booher claimed. “There are 24 cars entered. A lot of those cars can run in the thirties and I could see at least four or five running in the twenties. Winning a race with a field like that would be a true accomplishment.”
TAD qualifying at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals, Oct. 4-6, at Maple Grove Raceway, is scheduled for 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Friday and 1 PM Saturday. First round of eliminations will be at 4 PM Saturday afternoon. Eliminations continue on Sunday.
