NHRA
RE-LIVE THE NHRA TIRE KINGDOM GATORNATIONALS WITH WFO RADIO
Courtesy of WFO
HOLLYWOOD, FL – WFO Radio provided an unprecedented ten hours of broadcast coverage from the NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, in Gainesville, Florida. Host, Joe Castello, and his WFO Radio team interviewed drivers,
sponsors, and team owners over the race weekend. Six hours of the broadcast were “on location” from the Nitro Fish Apparel trailer on the NHRA Midway. For On Demand listening click the links provided below or visit the WFORadio.com archive.
Guests include: Captain Chaos Kenny Koretsky, Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champ L.E. Tonglet, PSM racer Angie Smith, 2010 Pro Stock championship runner up Greg Stanfield, 2010 Funny Car championship runner up Matt Hagan, NAPA Funny Car driver Ron Capps, Disruptive Studios producer Stephen Pullin, NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart, and Karl Pratt of Safety Sentry.
New Convertor Program Shows Promise for Janis’ Pro Mod Team
Courtesy of Janis Racing
Gainesville, FL – After nearly a week of testing prior to the 41st Tire Kingdom Gatornationals the Elma, NY team felt 
confident heading into Gainesville but with each run at the Gators their confidence began to wane.
Electrical gremlins plagued the team all weekend hampering their efforts to hone in on their new convertor set up.
“She’s showing super huge potential,” said crew chief Mike Janis Jr. “from the 60 to the 1/8 mile we’re right there with the best guys this weekend but for some reason she started dropping cylinders just passed the eight mile. Some of our timers didn’t work, other parts malfunctioned. It makes no sense.”
The team continues to learn their new convertor set up and feels the set up shows promise.
SIMONTON AND KON RODZ TEAM EARNS FIRST ROUND WIN
Courtesy of Rodz racing
Gainesville, FL – One of 24-year old Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Cassie Simonton’s favorite quotes is “where there is a will, there is way.” 
The sophomore driver of Spiro Kontos’ Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car found the will to record her first career round win and lower her best elapsed time on a glorious Saturday afternoon and will race on Sunday for the first time in her career, at the 42nd Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals contested in Gainesville, Fla.
Simonton entered today’s racing action after a solid 5.612 elapsed time from day one of qualifying placed her provisionally in the number six position.
The team lead by crew chief Randy Anderson, knew their car had potential to improve their Friday performance in the prime-time racing conditions of the final qualifying session early Saturday morning.
Jeg Sr. takes his rightful place among drag racing giants
Ocola, FL – Drag racing legend and high performance parts magnate Jeg Coughlin Sr. was inducted into Don Garlits’ International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Thursday night before a packed house at the University of Florida Hilton. Presented for induction by auto racing announcer extraordinaire Marty Reid, Coughlin was joined on stage by his four sons and step-daughter, and was cheered on by a mass of family and friends that made the trip from Delaware, Ohio, for the special occasion.
SIMONTON’S CAREER BEST ET HIGHLIGHTS KON RODZ 2011 DEBUT
Courtesy of Rodz Racing
Gainesville, FL – A career best elapsed time and speed of 5.612 seconds in excess of 256 miles per hour, propelled 
Cassandra Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team to a provisional number 6 qualified spot today, after the first day of qualifying at the 42nd Annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals contested in Gainesville, Fla.
Simonton, the 24-year old sophomore driver for Spiro Kontos’ Maple, Ont. headquartered team, entered this event with high expectations after a very successful test session with new head tuner, Randy Anderson turning the wrenches earlier this week at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Ga. Although the team did not record any full quarter-mile laps under power, the decrease in tire-shake, and how smooth the car ran in comparison from last season, gave the second-year driver a lot of confidence for the 2011 season debut.
Testing Complete, Team Janis Ready for 2011 Racing Season
Courtesy of Janis Racing
Elma, NY– With the offseason behind them Mike Janis and his Elma, NY based team headed to Valdosta, GA for some 
pre-Gatornationals testing. The team spent three days testing several combinations in hopes of being able to run with the best the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series has to offer.
With the NHRA slowing down supercharger overdrive for the 2011 season from 20% over to 14% over the Janis team was forced to abandon their scheduled R&D program and adjust to the new rules.
“The off-season rule change hit us pretty hard. We had hoped to focus on cylinder head development and other areas but due to the rule change we had to scramble and change our focus. I know we don’t have the power to run with the turbo guys, but we have made some gains in the horsepower department and with a little consistency maybe we can have a shot,” said the team’s chief designer and fabricator, Kevin Peters.
Chris Demke and Maddern Racing Contesting Gatornationals In Honor Of Walt Rhoades
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Gainesville, FL – It was a last minute decision for Maddern Racing to travel over 3000 miles to contest this weekend’s 
42nd annual running of the Tire Kingdom’s NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. It was a unanimous decision.
This race marks a very special place in history for crew member, Adam Rhoades, where his father won his 1st National Event back in 1971 driving the Freight Train entry in Top Gas Eliminator.
“We have never ran the Gatornationals” said Demke, “when Adam mentioned to us how cool it would be to go in honor of his dad, we all agreed that it should and would be done.
“We have a good, consistent car and a brand new partnership with Hoosier Tires, so we are hoping to celebrate a win in honor of Walt’s accomplishments from 40 years ago.”
Hoosier Tires Partners with Maddern Racing
Courtey of Madden Racing
Sun Valley, CA – Chris Demke and Maddern Racing have reached an agreement and are joining forces with Hoosier Tires during the 2011 Racing Season. Hoosier’s are the racing tire “Designed for Champions.” 
“We are very excited about this new opportunity” notes Demke, “we’ve been running Hoosier Tires for many seasons, and for them to choose us to partner with is quite an honor, to say the least.
“We really like that fact that these tires are manufactured in the United States. Their compound, along with our engine combination, continues to help us run consistently every time we are at the track.
Troy Coughlin returns to action with a turbo Pro Mod car
Courtesy of Jegs
GAINESVILLE. FL – Four years ago, world champion drag racer Troy Coughlin made the bold move to try a turbocharged powerplant in his Pro Mod entry. The results with the brand-new technology were mixed at best, as
Coughlin and his JEGS.com crew mostly struggled to harness the massive amounts of horsepower the combination was producing.
Fast forward to 2011 and this weekend’s 42nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, the season-opening event of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, and Coughlin is back with a turbo power-adder, looking for much better results, including some victories and a potential run at the championship.
“The technology between now and then has improved so much,” said Coughlin, who abandoned his first foray into turbocharged racecars to chase the National Muscle Car Association title, which he won in 2009. “The parts are better and engines are holding together without damage for a lot longer.
T.J. Coughlin dreaming big as he heads to Gatornationals
Courtesy of Jegs
GAINESVILLE, FL – JEGS Super Comp dragster driver Troy Coughlin Jr.’s goal of contending for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national championship in 2011 begins this weekend at the 42nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA
Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway.
Beginning the day after his famous grandfather Jeg Coughlin Sr. gets inducted into Don Garlits’ International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the significance and prestige of competing at one of drag racing’s “majors” is not lost on the 20-year-old Coughlin, who is known as T.J. to his friends and family.
“If you’re a drag racer than the Gatornationals definitely gets your heart pumping,” T.J. said. “I remember my dad (Troy Coughlin) racing to the final round there when I was 9 years old and I was listening at home. He had Warren Johnson in the final and W.J. beat him that day and I was so upset I threw my shoe at the T.V. My mom just about killed me.
