Maddern Racing
Demke and Maddern Racing looking forward to Topeka
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Topeka, KS – After an early exit from the Houston race, the Maddern Racing Team were given a homework assignment. Their task was to head back to the shop and work on their race car. It sure beats calculus or writing a twelve page essay
on African tree frogs. This weekend at Heartland Park Topeka, they will present their findings to the class, the Top Alcohol Dragster class that is.
“I am looking forward to going fast,” said Maddern Racing driver Chris Demke. “The boys have been working hard on the combination, and I am confident the car will respond.”
Finding more horsepower and a few hundredths is not the easiest thing. The first step is to go through the car and perform the regular maintenance. Then the thinking caps are donned. Crew Chief Jerry Maddern, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, and Ronald Mann all had a task to complete. Each had his own idea, but together they combined their thoughts and discussed their options. Lending a hand in the support process are newly added team members Operational Solutions, along with big brothers Peen Rite and 801 Racing. The amazing discovery and big solution remains a closely guarded secret. The final grade will be proof enough.
Maddern Racing Early Exit Will Make Them Stronger
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Baytown, TX – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team left the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals with a homework assignment. After being schooled in the second round of eliminations by Mark Taliaferro, the team is going
into research and destroy mode.
“We just got beat,” said Demke. “It happens, and we are not happy about it. Now we are going to have to find a few more hundredths. Our quest for more horsepower is on. I know the Maddern Racing brain trust will find what we need.”
The Texas weekend started out with several solid qualifying runs. Friday’s first session 5.420/270.22 was good but the Peen Rite/OSI/801 Racing Team wanted more. The second session on Friday saw them step up to a 5.328/271.84. It was a move in the right direction. Saturday’s final qualifying time of 5.448/267.32 was not an improvement.
Demke’s Vegas Trip not as Rewarding as Expected
Courtesy of
Las Vegas, NV – Chris Demke went to Vegas to do what he had already done. Beat Jim Whitely, and win a National event. 
Unfortunately he did neither. Demke had beaten Whiteley the previous weekend in the Regional final, but a timing malfunction at the finish negated the run.
The re-run was scheduled for the third round of qualifying at the National event. The outcome did not go as planned. Then during National eliminations, after two consecutive National event wins, Demke was once again deprived of pleasure by Mr. Whiteley.
“Although the weekend didn’t go as we wanted, it’s still Vegas and we had a good time,” said Demke. “You have to hand it to Jim Whiteley, he had the field covered and beat my butt. I spun, shook, and pedaled, but I couldn’t catch him.”
Demke and Maddern Racing play the right tune to Gatornationals Victory
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Photo courtesy of Roger Richards
Gainesville, FL – Chris Demke and his merry band of brothers did it again. The Maddern Racing Team not only repeated as event champs at the Gatornationals, but they also went back to back at National events. The sweet supercharged
music from the Peen Rite/801 Racing Dragster had everyone doing the winner’s circle dance.
Winning a race is often related to qualifying well. After Friday’s first session, Demke was in the #1 spot with a 5.309 at 270.64 mph. The second qualifying session saw the team turn the knobs to eleven and the resulting shake and spin left them with a third place slot. Saturday’s one and only qualifying session was huge. Demke blasted out a 5.250 at 271.13, which is the third best run by a blown alcohol dragster. In fact, the Maddern Team owns three of the top five elapsed times by a blown dragster. Just the way the team wanted it going into eliminations.
“The crew gave me a monster of a car,” said Demke. “It gave me so much confidence, they are a dream team. It was great to rip off those nice numbers and find the edge.”
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.”
Demke and Maddern Racing Looking to Next Race after First Round Loss
Courtesy of Maddern racing
Chandler, AZ – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing team entered the Regional race this last weekend at Firebird Raceway with the car to beat. They knew this because they had just won the season opening race in Pomona, and they had a great tune-up. Funny thing happened on the way to the trophy. They lost in the first round to eventual event runner-up Joey Severance.
“We knew we had a race day tune-up,” said Demke. “The similar conditions and good track prep had us confident and feeling strong.”
The reason for this was two great runs in qualifying that garnered the Peen Rite/801 Racing Team the number on qualifying spot. With a pair of 5.33’s, they had recorded their second and third best times at Firebird Raceway. Race day paired Demke against number eight qualifier Joey Severance.
Demke Looking to Get it Started at the Winternationals
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Pomona, CA – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Peen Rite sponsored Top Alcohol Dragster have waited long enough. Days have been marked off the calendar, parts ordered, cleaned, and massaged. Strategies have been mulled
over and plans have been made. The winter layoff is over, and it’s time to go racing. Thursday February 9th is a day to be celebrated as it marks the start of the2012 racing season.
“Pomona is Drag Racing in Southern California,” said Demke. “The season starts and ends here, which is something special. This is also our home track and I like racing here because friends and family can feel the thrill of Drag Racing.”
Jerry Maddern and his Racing Team started racing at Pomona in 1993. At the 50th Anniversary race in 2010, Chris Demke notched his first National event win. He started out as a spectator at Pomona in 1971. This weekend, Demke is looking to leave a few others watching from the starting line.
Chris Demke Looking at Pomona for Redemption
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Pomona, Ca. — Chris Demke and The Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster Team is hoping that the swinging pendulum gremlins are still gambling in Las Vegas so they can finish off their 2011 drag racing year in fine fashion.
“As a team, you always strive to be the best” said Demke, “we went from winning, to a DNQ in Vegas at the Nationals and the Division 7 finale.
“Luckily, we are true veterans of this sport and look forward to rising to the “rebound” occasion here at our home track in Pomona. It looks like we’re going to have some rain, but the forecast has improved significantly since Monday and I’m sure all the fans will get plenty of racing action.”
Maddern Racing enters this event in the 5th position within the Top Alcohol Dragster Champion National Points Championship Series and is based in Sun Valley, California.
Chris Demke and Maddern Racing Win Vegas
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Photo Courtesy of Roger Richards
Las Vegas, NV – Chris Demke, driver of the Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster finished off their weekend in the 
Winner’s circle last weekend at the 11th Annual BIG O Tires NHRA National Event in Las Vegas. This marks the teams 2nd National event win in 2012 and their 4th Event Win for the year.
“Since we are in the running for the Division 7 Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster Championship“ noted Demke, “we really wanted to utilize the National Event for testing to make sure the dragster was ready for the this weekends upcoming event.
“We were consistent all weekend, no tire shake, no carnage, just good passes every lap. We ran a softer tune up on Friday for the first two qualifiers just to make sure we had everything back in order after running Reynolds, Georgia a few weeks before. Saturday, we tuned her up and began eliminations from the #4 qualifying position.
Chris Demke and Maddern Racing Back in Action In Las Vegas
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Las Vegas, NV – With an aggressive 2011 racing schedule winding down for Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster Team, they go into this weekends 12th Annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals in the 5th place within the Lucas Oil National Championship race.
The Peen Rite/Clean Boost Team has worked diligently preparing for the last few races of the year and is ready for the task at hand, good racing.
“We’ve traveled a lot more this year than some years in the past” noted Demke, “our last three races, we finished with semi final appearances. It’s been good to keep us leading our Pacific Division 7 points chase, now we are hoping to move up a notch or two in the National Points.
“Weather is slated to be pretty good conditions this weekend and with 20 teams registered, the competition will be stellar and it will be great to finish off the weekend in the winner’s circle.”
