Early Regional Exit Will Not Detour Ahten from Quest

Chandler, AZ – Johnny Ahten’s weekend at Firebird International Raceway ended in the first round with an expensive trip down the quarter mile. Ahten’s pride took a hit with the loss, but so did his pocketbook. During the run a section of the rear wing bent and a brand new set of tires ended up getting chunked. This is not the way Ahten Racing wanted to start the first West Regional race of the year.

“I’m still working on the jigsaw puzzle that is this car,” said Ahten. “I know once we get things in the right place she will go down the track the way I know she can. The team and I will not give up the fight to return to the 5.30’s.”

Qualifying was a mixed bag for the Island Renovations / 801 Racing / Fireman’ Brew Team. In the first round the Stump Puller experienced tireshake and a loss of traction. The scoreboard lit up with a 11.036 elapsed time and a pedestrian-like 80.41 mph.  The second round of qualifying held more hope. Johnny laid down a 5.526/252.95 that included a quick pedal slap to cure some down track tireshake. That pass that was good enough for the #6 slot with one round of qualifying to go.

In the final round of qualifying, the burnout felt a bit odd. “When the light came down, the Stump Puller broke a rocker arm.  I felt it and decided to lift,” added Ahten.  The result was a forgettable 11.175/81.12 trip down Firebird’s blacktop. At the end of qualifying, Ahten ended up in the #8 spot and a first round match up with #1 qualifier Jim Whiteley.

The Ahten Racing team went into Sunday’s eliminations knowing they had a tough assignment. Crew Chief Al Ahten with support from Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, and Kevin Colvell, were ready for the challenge. Johnny was ready also, and got the starting line advantage. This didn’t seem to bother Jim Whiteley in the other lane as he caught up quickly. The Stump Puller bucked and rambled down the track with raw fuel gushing from the pipes. Whiteley slowed from his qualifying pace with a 5.303/271.3, but it was enough to beat Ahten’s hampered 5.560/247.43. The after-run inspection was the icing on the cake, as Ahten noticed the bent wing tree and chunked tires. Racing was done for the weekend.

The Ahten Racing team gathered up their broken and defeated race car and began the journey home. Their quest for quicker times and round victories proved to be unfulfilled. After the pain of the carnage and the first round loss subsided, the desire for a new quest began. Drag Racers work other jobs to support their quests, sacrifice family time for time slips, and often lay awake at night wishing for another run. This is the life they have chosen, and Johnny Ahten and the Ahten Racing Team are not giving up. The Las Vegas Regional and National events are their next stop, as the quest continues.