- NHRA RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR ACTION-PACKED GERBER COLLISION & GLASS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS
- DRAG AND DRIVE EXHIBITION WITH ALEX TAYLOR AND TOM BAILEY RETURNS TO NHRA NATIONAL EVENT AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
- Record Setters and Race Winners Head to Virginia for PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown
- Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
- Race Wrap | NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals
- Stewart, Hagan Record Final Round Performances at Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in TSR Dodge//SRT Nitro Machines
- KALITTA, TASCA AND COUGHLIN JR WIN LAS-VEGAS 4-WIDE
Career Bests for Hunter in Seattle
Courtesy of Kenny Gilmour Motorsports
KENT,WA – Though he didn’t reach his goal of a 5.3-second run, Top Alcohol Dragster rookie Greg Hunter came awfully close. His 
ExactAir Compliance Systems blown alcohol dragster tripped the finish line beams in 5.40 seconds during qualifying at the Northwest Nationals last weekend.
“Qualifying started out great with that 5.405 at 265 miles per hour. That was a career-best for ET and MPH. The Q2 pass was a bit slower (5.47/258 mph) and we sat out the last session to prepare for first round on Sunday,” Hunter said.
The former TAFC driver came very close to keeping his national event first round win streak going, too. Greg’s #5 qualifying position earned him a first round match with defending event champion Joey Severance. The two drivers left the line together, then Hunter had the lead until half-track. At that point, the supercharger on the ExactAir machine let go, giving Severance the chance to drive around for the round win.
Mopar® HEMI® Challenge Set for August 30–31 in Indianapolis
Courtesy of Mopar PR
Auburn Hills, MI — The 2012 Mopar® HEMI® Challenge will take to the track for the 12th consecutive year during the Mac Tools U.S. 
Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 30–31. For the second straight year, $15,000 will go to the winner of the Mopar HEMI Challenge, which pairs Mopar-powered Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) competitors against each other in a high-stakes quarter-mile showdown.
- 2012 Mopar® HEMI® Challenge to once again feature $15,000 top prize
- $18,000 total purse up for grabs for Mopar HEMI Challenge participants
- Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) Mopar HEMI Challenge drivers to do battle for 12th consecutive year at Indy
The Mopar HEMI Challenge began as a one-race shootout at the 2001 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, and returned to that format last year, after a number of seasons as a multi-event mini-series. The race features 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas — the classic package cars that helped build the Mopar brand’s impressive reputation at the drag strip — engaged in quarter-mile battles.
Demke slow-plays his way to Seattle Victory
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Seattle, WA – Chris Demke’s final round race down the Pacific Raceways quarter mile took just over eleven seconds, but it seemed like an hour. After losing traction and multiple throttle pedals, the blower let go and Demke was 
coasting down the 1320 with parachutes deployed. It was not fun or fast, but it was enough for the victory. In the grand scheme of things it does not matter how, just how many races you have won.
In Friday’s first qualifying session, the Peen Rite / OSI / 801 Racing Dragster laid down a 5.305/271.68 which was good enough for the second slot. Wanting more, they turned up the wick for the second session and ripped off a 5.260 at 271.90. That was good enough for the number one spot, and low elapsed time and speed for the event.
On Saturday, a 5.296/269.56 was put up on the scoreboard and they went into Sunday eliminations still in the top spot. The crew, led by crew chief Jerry Maddern, tuner/clutch guy Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke and Ronald Mann, had found the electrical issue and cured the car’s bad habits. This weekend they were assisted by Peen Rite’s Mike Garcia and OSI’s Kent Goss.
In the first round of eliminations, Demke was paired up with William Litton. A 5.3612/269.40 was enough to beat Litton’s 5.899/259.16. In second round action, Joey Severance was sent home with a 5.362/268.22 to a close 5.386/267.53. It was on to the finals. Waiting for them was National Point leader Jim Whiteley. The Maddern Racing gang knew they had the tune-up to beat Whiteley, and they prepared for war.
NDRA ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR SERIES TO TAKE PART IN STRATFORD SPECTACULAR
Courtesy of NDRA
Kitchener, ON – The NDRA Alcohol Funny Car Series presented by Ohsweken Speedway will be a featured part of the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals, presented by NAPA Auto Parts & Ideal Supply, at Grand Bend Motorplex August 10-12, along with
the PMRA, Quick 32, PBSS and a handful of nitro methane burning machines.
The third event in the four race NDRA Alcohol Funny Car Series marks a return to the track that hosted the first event in series’ history earlier this season. “We’re very happy to be returning to Grand Bend for the second time this season and with the momentum we gained at our last race we’re looking forward to putting on a great show at the Stratford Spectacular,” said Series President & Director of Operations Dale Boeru.
The last event yielded an impressive performance from Paul Noakes and his Meritor/Euclid sponsored Mustang, adding another angle to the already tight series championship chase. The current point’s leader is Larry Dobbs of Welland, Ontario who won the first event in series history back in May. Dobbs is followed by Vince Rastelli of Gasport, New York, runner-up at the first event, and Brian White of Cicero, New York sits third after a runner-up finish at the Canadian Nitro Nationals in June. Noakes currently sits fifth in the standings, having attended only one event thus far, and could make things interesting should he be able to repeat his performance from the last event.
Troy Coughlin Jr. finds the winner’s circle at Mid-Michigan
Courtesy of Jegs
STANTON, MI – Troy Coughlin Jr. returned to the winner’s circle by driving his JEGS.com dragster to victory at this weekend’s 19th annual Huntsville Engine & Performance $50,000 World Super Pro Challenge.
Coughlin got off to a fast start in the popular high stakes E.T. bracket race when he won Thursday’s Dragster Gambler’s event. Coughlin defeated fellow Buckeye Steve Taylor of Dayton, Ohio, in a double breakout round to claim the $2,000 top prize.
“It was nice to pick up a win right off the bat,” Coughlin said. “That’s always fun and it’s a good way to set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
“Me and Steve were almost even off the starting line so I made the decision to go ahead and let him go and hope for a breakout, which is exactly what happened. It might not have been the most flawless execution of my career but it was good enough to light the win light and that’s the important thing.
Tough going to Team Jegs at Pacific Raceways
Courtesy of Jegs
SEATTLE, WA – As race day dawned at Pacific Raceways on Sunday,Jeg CoughlinJr. and the JEGS/Mopar Dodge Avenger team were 
pouring over their data trying to come up with right combination for a first round win at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals.
“We were scrambling, actually,” Coughlin said. “We didn’t qualify that well and didn’t get many consistent runs this weekend.
“We made an engine change feeling that our acceleration wasn’t as good. Our top half numbers were good and we thought the swap would help us down low.”
With the different motor, Coughlin was set for his first round race against Jason Line. Coughlin got a good jump at the line (.039 seconds to Line’s .061) but it all went downhill from there.
Jenkins Heads Winners List At Dragstock IX
Courtesy of ADRL
CHARLOTTE, NC – Shannon “Iceman” Jenkins has been a staple at the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) prestigious Dragstock r
ace, first appearing at the event in 2005.
At the ninth rendition of the race on Saturday, Jenkins delivered another trademark performance in Pro Nitrous, this time at the ADRL’s first appearance at zMAX Dragway.
Jenkins won for the first time in 2012 as well, running 3.87 at 194.02 mph to beat Doug Riesterer and add another chapter to his unbelievable legacy.
“It’s a great feeling to win here and it’s great to see the sport healthy,” Jenkins said. “Racing at a track like this and being fortunate enough to win it is the greatest feeling you can ever have.”
Other winners included Tim Tindle (Pro Extreme), Brad Brand (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Cary Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Janis (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified) and Ronnie Davis (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman).
Coughlin, JEGS/Mopar Dodge ready for battle in Seattle
Courtesy of Jegs
SEATTLE, WA – After an up and down two days of qualifying, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and the JEGS/Mopar Dodge Avenger team have a plan 
of attack for Sunday’s Pro Stock eliminations at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.
“At the conclusion of four runs we’ve learned a couple of things we aren’t going to try tomorrow,” Coughlin said. “We had two good runs in the right lane, but struggled a little in the preferred left lane. It’s just the way it ended up.”
Coughlin qualified No. 11 with a best pass of 6.612 seconds at 210.05 mph, and he’ll take on No. 6 qualifier Jason Line in the first round. Line qualified with a 6.587 at 210.28. All those times came during Friday’s sessions as temperatures soared into the 90s on Saturday, a rarity for the Pacific Northwest. Those hotter than average conditions are expected continue through Sunday.
Postponed Cayuga Dragway event to take place this weekend at Grand Bend
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
CAYUGA, ON – While qualifying took place for the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by 
NAPA Auto Parts, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products during the South Coast Community Weekend at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park, the eliminations scheduled for the Sunday had to be postponed due to the weather.
It was decided by track and race officials that the elimination rounds for the drag races will take place this coming weekend, August 10-12, during the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario qualified number one in the PMRA, Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ontario and James Lichty of Linwood, Ontario lead the Quick 32 Sportsman Series qualifying, and Danny Staples of Ingersoll qualified number one in the PBSS during the Cayuga event.
Scruggs Leads Top Qualifiers List For Dragstock IX At ADRL’s Debut At zMAX Dragway
Courtesy of ADRL
CHARLOTTE, NC – At another new track on the 2012 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) schedule, Pro Extreme driver Jason 
Scruggs turned in another impressive performance.
After winning at the ADRL’s debut at Bristol Dragway in April, the two-time world champion is off to a fine start at the ADRL’s first visit to the incredible zMAX Dragway in Charlotte for Dragstock IX.
Scruggs went 3.677 at 206.67 miles per hour on a rain-soaked Friday, jumping to the No. 1 spot in Pro Extreme during the ADRL’s most prestigious event at a track that drew rave reviews across the board.
“This is the nicest facility I’ve ever been to,” Scruggs said. “Hopefully this will turn out as well as Bristol. I’d like to go out and run well every round and hopefully still have that same outcome.
