Woodburn, OR – Triple digit temperatures and high top end speeds are what Johnny Ahten will remember most about the Regional race at Woodburn Dragstrip last weekend. The mercury rose to over one hundred degrees making it uncomfortable and draining. The one interlude was the breeze from a two hundred and seventy mile per hour pass.

“Saturday’s second round of qualifying blast of 270.83 miles per hour is the fastest we have been in this car,” said Ahten. “The 5.415 elapsed time that went with it on a 140° track put us in the number two slot. It felt great because it was very difficult to get down the track. We slowed a bit in our third qualifying attempt, but the 269.38 speed showed consistency. Prior to this race we only had eight runs on this car. The two test runs and Friday resulted in tire smoke. We are starting to feel more comfortable with the way we make changes,” added Ahten.

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Woodburn, OR. – Three generations of Ahten’s will be racing this weekend at Woodburn Dragstrip for the LODRS Regional. Crew Chief Al, driver Johnny, and Johnny’s son Owen Ahten will all be in Oregon to continue the shake down and tuning of the new Stump Puller.

“It still has that new car shine, and that new car smell,” said Johnny Ahten. “We only have eight laps on it, and we hope to get two test runs in on Friday. I am patently optimistic, but we are all excited to get back to racing after the time off. Right now our goal is to win data. The round wins will come. I am expecting a hot and greasy track, and we had a great hot weather tune-up with the old car. We will have to see what transfers, and listen to what this new car wants. Making power is not a problem, and if we pick up where we left off in Vegas I will be happy.“

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Las Vegas, NV – The Ahten Racing rig pulled out of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon during eliminations and headed home. They had not qualified for the LODRS Regional race, but what they did accomplish can be considered a win. Back in January they picked up a former Top Fuel car and spent the next twelve weeks converting it to a Top Alcohol Dragster. They were at the mercy of various parts vendors and they had to prepare the old Stump Puller for Pomona and Phoenix events. At one point they had both cars in the shop and they were jumping from car to car. Johnny left the Phoenix race with only a motor in the trailer, having sold the old car. The Vegas National event saw the debut of the new ride, wrapped by One11 Ink. The Regional race was a continuation of the shakedown.

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Las Vegas, NV – Last weekend’s NHRA National event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway proved the new Stump Puller can get off the line, go straight and stop in a timely manner. Now that those main hurdles have been overcome, it’s time to go racing.

I have a list of things to refine,” said Johnny Ahten. “I am very impressed with the new car. The seating position is a little different so it’s going to take a few runs to get used to it. We used last weekend’s race as basically a test session. We will continue to sort it out and move forward. The good news is we didn’t hurt any parts and I feel confident if we calm the car down a bit we will be able to stick the tires and make some quality passes,” added Ahten.

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Las Vegas, NV – Johnny Ahten is rolling the bones this weekend in Las Vegas. Instead of throwing dice at some casino, Ahten will be trying out his luck at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a brand new ride. Entering a national event with a new car might be risky, but confidence in a proven engine combination and years of racing has the Island Renovations/Combust Filters Team feeling confident.

“Our plan is to sort out the new car during qualifying,” said Ahten. “We will work our way through the weekend and make the necessary adjustments. If all goes to the plan. I will have to see how the first burnout and launch feel. If smooth, I will run to half track and try to get a sense of the car’s track manners. I also want to make sure the chutes come out. A short field will put us in the show if all goes well. There are sure to be some new car bugs, but spirits are high. It is a former Top Fuel car that we picked up from Dote Racing. The car has seen minimal runs and has been freshened up. The new wrap is the second from One11 ink and I think it is amazing,” added Ahten.

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Chandler, AZ – As Johnny Ahten towed back to the pits after his final race at the NHRA Regional race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the realization that this would be his last in his current car came to mind. To solidify that feeling, waiting in the Ahten Racing pits was the new owner waiting to take delivery. Back at the Ahten Racing shop, a new car lays in wait. Johnny and the Island Renovations/Combust Filters will field the new car at their next race in Top Alcohol Dragster.

“We sent the old car off right with a string of five consecutive runs in the 5.30’s.” said Ahten. “Those runs made it easier to say goodbye to the old car and is a true testament to my crew. Crew Chief Al Ahten and Ahten Racing partner Howard Katano gave me a great car and Bob Ahten and Kevin Colvell did an amazing job. Dismantling the car after the race was quite a task, but there was no complaining. Having a new car back home hungry for a Nitromethane injected Hemi might have had something to do with it,” added Ahten.

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Chandler, AZ – This weekend’s NHRA Regional race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park will be the last race for Johnny Ahten in this Top Alcohol Dragster. Don’t worry, Johnny is not changing careers. The decision to sell the car has been made and a new Stump Puller is in the shop and will debut at the Vegas race.

“Our first race with this car was the November 2004 points race in Vegas, and it’s been quite a ride,” said Ahten. “The car has been to nine NHRA finals and three IHRA finals. We have been as quick as 5.15 and over 270 mph, and I will never forget her. More than just a racecar, she has been a part of our lives for many years. The car will carry on, and continue to attack the dragstrip,” added Ahten.

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Pomona, CA – Right out of the box, Johnny Ahten and his new sponsor One11 Ink gave fellow racers and fans a reason to watch. The new look Stump Puller designed and wrapped by One11 Ink showcased what the Valencia, CA company can do, and then it was Ahten’s turn to shine as he uncapped a 5.295/264.39 pass during the first qualifying session Thursday afternoon. The Pomona show and go was on at the drags.

“It was great to get back in the car, and back to running twenties,” said Ahten. “On top of running well, the reaction from the public on the wrap was fantastic. The guys from One11 Ink knocked it out of the park, and we look forward to a few new looks this year.”

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Pomona, CA – Johnny Ahten’s Stump Puller A/Fuel dragster has a new look this weekend for the 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. New sponsor One11 Ink wrapped Ahten’s car in a special wrap for the first race of the year. One11 Ink is a large format digital print company based in Valencia, CA. Their specialties include: vehicle wrap graphics, boat wraps, banners, point of purchase displays, trade show printing and much more.

“I told them to have at it and do what they do best, and it turned out amazing,” said Ahten. “I am not a loud guy, but this thing screams at you. My job now is to make sure the car screams down the track as well. The team from One11 Ink brought a bunch of guys to my shop and wrapped the car in a day. The place was crazy-busy with people everywhere. We are also preparing a new dragster for later in the year so space was tight.”

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Pomona, CA – The 2014 NHRA racing season ended in Pomona for Ahten Racing. As the crew arrived on the top end after the last qualifying pass, Johnny Ahten was standing next to his car with a look on his face that said it all. There would be no racing on Saturday, and no repeat victory, it was over.  The thing Johnny was thinking about was why. The car had the right tune up, and track conditions were optimal. The reason for tire shake had to be found, and Johnny, his crew chief Al Ahten, and team partner Howard Katano were going to find it. As the team packed up the car and headed home, the plan for the future was beginning to take shape.

“It was a heartbreaker to not qualify at our home track for the last race,” said Johnny Ahten. “Winning this race last year was amazing and we all wanted a chance to defend our title. The car experienced tire shake and we missed the cut. At the last national event in Vegas we were the number one qualifier. It just goes to show that drag racing can be tough. We have a task in front of us this off season, and we will find the answers. We know how to make the Island Renovations / Combust Filters dragster go fast. We had the quickest A/Fuel pass this year with our 5.202@269.73 run in Seattle. We qualified number one several times and went to four final rounds. The time off will allow us to review the chassis, the parts, and make the appropriate changes,” added Ahten.

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