Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Tucson, AZ – The Stump Puller lived up to its name this past weekend at IHRA’s Southwestern International Dragway. The crowd screamed and yelled. But they were not running for their lives, but running to the winners circle to congratulate Johnny Ahten on his Nitro Jam win.  Ahten defeated Bill Evans to take the Ironman trophy home to Southern California. This is Ahten’s second Nitro Jam Ironman, so now his 2010 Utah Ironman has some company on the shelf.

“We were so excited to get the win for all the folks that support us,” said Ahten. “Running a Pro Fuel car is not cheap, and I really want to thank 801 Racing, Island Renovations, Fireman’s Brew, Fire Ice, Hedman Hedders, and NGK Sparkplugs. I also want to thank my Dad and Crew Chief Al Ahten, as well as crew members Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, Kevin Colvell, and Kelly Fitzgerald.”

The road to the final round was paved with a win over Cherissa Smallwood. In that round, Ahten set low elapsed time of the event with a 5.41. That kind of performance took the pressure off the team and allowed them to concentrate on the rest of the operation. In the finals against Bill Evans, there was a bit of drama on the starting line.

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Courtesy of Athen Racing

Tucson, AZ – Johnny Ahten has the perfect idea for the roadside billboards around Southwestern International Raceway. In bold letters he wants: “Run for your lives….the Stump Puller is coming!” It sounds like something from a horror movie, but in reality, the Stump Puller is actually Ahten’s Nitromethane Injected Pro Fuel Dragster.

Ahten is bringing his Island Renovations /801 Racing Team to the desert to create a bit of havoc for IHRA’s Nitro Jam. The Tucson area crowds have been warned.  Ahten is planning on leaving with the newest rendition of the Ironman, and he’s not shy about it.

“The Stump Puller is ready to rock and roll on 100% Nitro,” said Ahten. “I want to get my hands on one of the newly redesigned Ironman trophies. I’ve won the NitroJam race before, and my 2010 Utah Ironman needs some company.”

Besides winning the trophy, Ahten has some special things planned for all in attendance. He plans to unleash the sound and fury of a full load of Nitromethane. It will showcase the cackle and pop of Pro Fuel at its best.  To do this, Johnny Ahten is relying on his Crew Chief and Dad, Al Ahten. Working alongside the Ahten’s will be crew members Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, Kevin Colvell, and Kelly Fitzgerald.

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Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Phoenix, AZ – As humans we are sometimes slaves to our machines. Drag Racers depend on machines for their trade. Johnny Ahten’s Island Renovations/801 Racing Dragster had a bit of mechanical trouble this weekend at Firebird Raceway.

The team tested on Friday and netted a planned early shut-off run of 5.922. Saturday’s best qualifying run was a 5.490/237.38, which put them in the number six position. Still, there was something not quite right mechanically. The engine was telling the crew that it was lean, and needed more fuel. The decision was made to fatten it up a bit and give the engine the fuel it wanted.

The car was serviced and filled with fresh 801 Racing Revvoluton 70Wt Oil with CleanBoost Technology. Sunday’s race-day tune-up was in place as the eliminations began.  In the other lane was number three qualifier Megan McKernan. Ahten got the jump at the flash of the lights, but his machine had other ideas. Raw fuel was being pumped out of one of the cylinders, and that is not a good sign. The eventual race winner McKernan, thundered away from Ahten with a 5.393 elapsed time at 262.74 miles per hour. Even with a hole out, Ahten muscled the car to a losing, but noble 5.729@213.57.

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Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Phoenix, AZ – Johnny Ahten is going into show business. This weekend at the opening of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Firebird Raceway, Ahten has added a top hat and cane to his Top Alcohol Dragster act. Not to worry, he will still wear his firesuit and helmet when he is racing. Ahten and his Island Renovations/801 Racing Dragster are ready to put on a show for the fans, and the fellow racers. Welcome my friends to the Nitro show that never ends.

“The Regionals are like a mini national event now,” said Ahten. “Instead of just a few cars here, there are Division 7 leaders as well as a few Division 6 runners.”

Ahten brings the knowledge and data accumulated a few weeks ago at the Pomona event.  Crewchief Al Ahten has the Nitrometane injected tune-up calculated and dialed in.  It’s up to Johnny Ahten to step into the spotlight and demonstrate what the car is capable of. Every now and again, Ahten’s car is prone to attempting a high wire act when it launches the front wheels skyward.

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Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Pomona, CA  – Johnny Ahten doesn’t need a slide ruler or protractor to know how to tune his Nitromethane Injected Top Alcohol Dragster. He does rely on the people that support him and the Ahten Racing Team. This past weekend, at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Ahten did get closer to the tune up he is looking for.

“We are inching away at the tune-up,” said Ahten. “We just didn’t compensate enough on Saturday to make past that round.”

Ahten and his Island Renovations/801 Racing dragster qualified in the number seven slot after running a 5.472/261.37 in Friday’s second session. That led to a round one match up with Larry Miersch. Johnny ended up losing that round, and it was more like feet than inches.

“The track was good,” said Ahten. “We just had it set a little too lean. And it may be a motorsports cliché, but we know what it did wrong, and we know how to fix it,” added Ahten.

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Courtesu of Ahten Racing

Pomona, CA – Johnny Ahten’s Nitromethane injected Top Alcohol Dragster has gained a few pounds over the long winters break. The car is now a few ounces heaver with the addition of some new stickers. Johnny, a Fire Department Captain, is proud to announce that he has added Fireman’s Brew as a promotional partner. Fireman’s Brew is a Brewing company created by two California Firefighters after battling a brushfire. 

“I’m so excited to be working with Fireman’s Brew this weekend,” said Ahten.  “Pomona has a real sense of family with all the fellow firefighters that come out for the race.”

After the racing is finished for the day, thirsty race fans will have Fireman’s Brew on their minds.  It might be a Blonde (Pilsner style lager), or a Redhead (Amber Ale), or even a Brunette (Traditional German Style Double bock). One thing is for sure, there will be a few bottles picked up at Ralphs or Cost Plus by fans on their way home from Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

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Courtesy of Ahten Family Racing

Pomona, CA – Johnny Ahten had one thing on his mind after the Automobile Club of ­Southern California NHRA Finals. Where can he find another race? After three consecutive weekends racing, Ahten and his CleanBoost Team were physically worn out, but they wanted more.

The reason Ahten wanted another race was because they found what they were looking for.  In Las Vegas at the Big O Tires Nationals and the Division 7 race, Ahten and the team were close. They just could not put all the pieces together.  Those pieces came together during Friday’s first session.  Ahten piloted his Top Alcohol Dragster to a 5.327 elapsed time at 253.56 miles per hour.

“It’s always good to qualify in the top half of the ladder,” said Ahten. “It had more in it because at 1000ft we had at least five holes out. The early numbers were good, and it can run better.”

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Courtesy of Ahten Family Racing

Pomona, CA – Growing up in southern California, Johnny Ahten would go to the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and dream of driving an A-Fuel car. Starting Thursday, Ahten and his CleanBoost Dragster are planning on letting the whole neighborhood know about it.

“We want to make some noise,” said Ahten. “Everyone knows when the dragsters are running, In fact, they have walls and even special gates to keep the noise down a bit.”

Not wanting to sit still and remain quiet, Ahten and the team have freshened up the clutch packs, fine tuned the fuel system and have the parts ready to go some rounds.

“The car is telling us what it wants,” added Ahten. “It’s a good time of the year to run here and I know we can because it’s my home track.”

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Courtesy of Ahten Family racing

Las Vegas, NV – NHRA Top Alcohol Drag Racing is not always easy to deal with. This last weekend at the Division 7 race at

the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Johnny Ahten and his CleanBoost sponsored team realized this very fact. The plannedtesting on Thursday went well, and hopes for a long weekend were in place. Friday’s rainout was a unwelcome surprise. This meant that the team had two runs on Saturday to qualify.

“We ran a 5.520 at 205.88 on Saturday and it just wasn’t enough,” said Ahten. “Then in the last session there was a delay after an oil down. The track cooled and we went up in smoke just like a few other teams.”

The Divisional race did provide some good run data the CleanBoost Team will take into the last National race in Pomona this weekend. There Johnny and the boys plan on using what they learned, and with a slight chip on their shoulder, plan to have the upper hand.

Courtesy of Athen Family Racing

Las Vegas, NV – Johnny Ahten and his CleanBoost Racing Team are looking forward to this weekend’s Division 7 race because they have a need for speed. Video Games, movies and even rock songs all celebrate the passion for moving across the pavement.  More than just getting down the track, the goal is to do it in a timely manner.

“We want to haul ass, now more than ever,” said Ahten. “We want to get back to what we know how to do.”

Planned testing on the Thursday before the divisional is the plan of attack for the CleanBoost Team. During the past weekend’s Big O Tire’s Nationals Johnny experienced some positive results. Early numbers showed they were one of the quickest cars to the sixty foot mark. Putting that knowledge and information into practice is what has the team motivated.

“Many teams stayed in town after the nationals,” added Ahten. “It’s a stout field, and the testing will help.”

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