Ahten Family
Ahten Returns Home to Defend Pomona Finals Crown
Pomona, CA – This week Johnny Ahten pulled into the gates of the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona not as just any racer, he made his entrance as 
the defending champion in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. At last year’s final, Ahten Racing captured their first event win when Johnny defeated Jim Whitley in the final round. A year has passed and Ahten remains determined to repeat.
“There is a strong contingent of racers here for the finals,” said Ahten. “We ran well at the Vegas National event and qualified number one. Then we qualified for the eight car field out of twenty-five entries for the Regional event. We are going to build upon our strong runs and learn from our issues. I am very happy to be home. This is the busiest three weeks of our season. I am looking forward to working on the car, visiting with friends, and racing at my favorite track,” added Ahten.
Top Qualifier Ahten Goes to Vegas Final
Las Vegas, NV – Johnny Ahten went into the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with quiet confidence. He was 
sure of the ability of his car to run well, and he was right. In Friday’s lone qualifying session Ahten and his Island Renovations / Combust Filters dragster laid down a 5.306/269.03 pass that garnered the top spot. Not resting, Saturday saw Ahten go even quicker with a 5.260/265.17 blast to become the number one qualifier going into eliminations. All this was accomplished without two veteran crewmembers.
“We had some availability conflicts with two of our crewmembers, but we filled the gaps with an old friend and went number one,” said Ahten. “I want to thank Todd “Rocky” Rockwell for helping out. It was a thrash. The 5.30 run on Friday sure felt good out of the box. Saturday’s 5.26 pass was a monster. It might have even been quicker if we had all eight firing.”
Ahten Looks to Return to Finals in Vegas
Las Vegas, NV – At the spring race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Johnny Ahten went to the final round. This time around the goal 
is to return to the finals and best his runner-up spring finish. Once again it will be a challenge as a stout field will be in attendance. Another test will be racing without crew member Kevin Colvell, who was not able to make the race. Past Ahten Racing team member Todd “Rocky” Rockwell has stepped up and is ready to rock along with crew chief Al Ahten, team partner Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, and Chuck Costabile. The Vegas challenges have been accepted and the Island Renovations / Combust Filters dragster is ready. Johnny Ahten is pumped up and ready to go fast.
“We have our Vegas tune-up ready and we are so ready to go racing again,” said Ahten. “Our spring run of 5.30 tied a Vegas best for Ahten Racing and the 270 mph is also our fastest speed at this track. We are going to need it with the level of competition that is here. Not racing for over a month is difficult, and we are going to get our fill,” added Ahten.
NHRA Mission Raceway LODRS Regional Wrap-Up
majesty of the Canadian landscape was something to behold. Just a stone’s throw from the tree-lined staging lanes is the Fraser River. The 854 mile waterway is the longest river within British Columbia. Racing and Mother Nature harmoniously come together at Mission.
“It’s a beautiful track and we were treated really well by everyone at Mission,” said Ahten. “We had a great time racing in another country for the first time. Friday’s 5.483 @ 261.55 qualified us in the top spot. Everyone struggled with traction and on Saturday we smoked the tires in both qualifying attempts. We ended up in the fourth position which matched us up with Cameron Ferre in the first round. We attempted to compensate for the difficult conditions, but we went up in tire smoke against Ferre. The positive spin is after the race we were allowed to run a test session and the Island Renovations / Combust Filters sponsored dragster got down a tractionally challenged track with a respectable 5.43 @ 267. We now have a greasy/hot track tune-up in our database. Hopefully we won’t have to use it,” added Ahten.
Ahten Brings the Stump Puller to the Great White North
Mission, BC – The traveling road show continues for Ahten Racing as this weekend they are in Mission, British Columbia, Canada for 
NHRA Regional action. Just a few short weeks ago, Johnny was tearing up Pacific Raceways with several passes in the 5.20’s. Johnny is looking forward to the low altitude and cool weather in his first trip to Mission Raceway Park.
“I am really excited about this trip and I want to go fast,” said Ahten. “We know we can make the power and the car is capable of running a string of great times. It will be interesting to see just how low we can go. I am looking forward to the atmospheric conditions and cooler temperatures. We ran well in Seattle and now we have to concentrate on consistency. Fine tuning and A/Fuel Dragsters are two things that don’t always concur, but that is the task before us. The other challenging factor will be the string of west coast heavy-hitters in attendance. I have confidence in our tune-up and with the ability of my Dad Al and team partner Howard Katano to make the necessary adjustments. Bob Ahten, Kevin Colvell and Chuck Costabile will also be there to make sure everything is spot-on and ready to go fast. Mission, British Columbia better be ready for the Stump Puller, because we are planning on putting on a show,” added Ahten.
Third Final of the Year for Ahten at Seattle Regional
Kent, WA – Johnny Ahten’s performance statement at the LODRS Regional speaks volumes. Johnny not only had low ET of the 
event, but he reset the Pacific Raceways A-Fuel track record. He then parlayed his #1 qualifying performance into the final round, which was his third of the year. See a trend here? Even though Ahten fell to CleanBoost Performance Oil teammate Chris Demke in the final, the numerical threat the Island Renovations / Combust Filters Dragster displayed was more than enough to make it a memorable outing.
“I am very happy with our performance, “said Johnny Ahten. “The Stump Puller was a monster and we ran on the edge the whole time. I am so proud of my guys the way we came back from a first round loss at the Seattle National event. It’s tough to lose, but it’s not so bad when it’s to the team leading the points. This was our third final of the year and Ahten Racing is confident going into the end of the year.”
Seattle Intensifies Determination for Ahten
Kent, WA – The Ahten Racing wrap-up of the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways is not adorned with sunshine and 
lollipops. The weekend started out with tire smoke and ended with tire smoke. Motivation and determination is now front and center for Johnny Ahten and the team.
Friday’s first qualifying session saw an angry Stump Puller haze the tires. Simple enough, the track was not able to handle the power. The Ahten Racing crew returned to the pits and backed it down. With only twelve entries, getting to the top half of the ladder was the goal. For the second qualifying session the plan was to run strong but not blow the tires off. At the hit, Johnny launched skyward. Amazingly, the tires stared smoking during the wheel stand before hitting the wheelie bar.
Johnny Ahten’s Northwest Nationals Menu Plan
Kent, WA – The entry list for this weekend’s NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways is a recipe for quick times and fast 
speeds in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. Johnny Ahten and the Island Renovations / Combust Filters Team have all the ingredients they need and a plan to serve it up proper. The last few races have proved that the Stump Puller is capable of running a number. Last year Ahten Racing qualified in the second position and look to fair well again this year.
“We are going to pick up where we left off at Woodburn,” said Ahten. “Our tune-up is strong and we ran fast and hard. I look at all the trees here and am amazed at the splendor. It is a beautiful track, but I am looking to see some majestic numbers on the scoreboard. We have a good handle on the car and all I have to do is concentrate on my craft,” added Ahten.
Strong Woodburn Outing for Ahten
Woodburn, OR – A strong 5.370/261.24 qualifying effort garnered Johnny Ahten the number two qualifying position at last 
weekend’s NHRA West Regional race at Woodburn Dragstrip. That was the good news. The not so good news was the first round red light. On the other hand, the 5.33/267.37 Johnny posted after a .005 foul showed the power of the Stump Puller and Ahten Racing’s tune-up.
“After the burnout I went to stage, and I had trouble holding it in the lights. I yanked on the brake handle but it just wouldn’t hold,” said Ahten. “In retrospect, I could have of dragged the brakes harder during the burnout. My Dad and the crew gave me a great racecar and it stinks I went red. It was on a run too. I carried the wheels for 1.8 seconds and picked them up two more times in route to that 5.33 run. The weather was crazy all weekend. The rain with thunder and lightning was really something. Joey Severance and the people at Woodburn Dragstrip really worked their tails off and gave us a great racing surface. This was my first time racing here and I was really impressed,” acknowledged Ahten.
Three Generations of Ahten’s Racing take on Woodburn Dragstrip
Woodburn, OR – The smile of a nine year old, the pride of father, and the wisdom of a grandfather all converge on Woodburn 
Dragstrip this weekend for the NHRA Regional Race. Owen Ahten, Johnny’s son, is on his first road trip with the Island Renovations / Combust Filters Team. This is a trip of a lifetime for all.
“This is my first time racing at Woodburn and to do it with Owen and my Dad by my side has me super excited,” Johnny Ahten beamed. “We are on a four race western tour. First up is Woodburn, then the Seattle National event followed by the Seattle Regional race, and finishing up with the Regional race in Mission, BC. It seems like it’s been forever since we have been racing, and now we are going to feast on it because we have a bad hot rod. The tune-up is there, the pieces are in place, and we have our act together. Our secret weapon will be having my son Owen with us this weekend. We will feed off his energy and amazement. I can remember going to races with my Dad and now it’s come full circle. Now all we have to do is go out there and race smart and quick,” concluded Ahten.
