- AFTER HISTORIC FUNNY CAR WIN, BOB TASCA AFTER MORE AT CHARLOTTE’S NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS
- This Week at MBE
- SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE FOR ACTION-PACKED 2024 SEASON
- Josh Hart Looking for Continued Success at Charlotte Four-Wides
- LONGTIME BATTLE FOR CONSISTENCY ENTERS NEW PHASE FOR TODD, DHL TEAM
- CONFIDENT SHAWN LANGDON, AUTODESK TEAM APPLY JOHN WOODEN MANTRA TO NHRA
- DOUG KALITTA, REVAMPED TEAM, NEW CAR EARN LAS VEGAS PAYOFF – MORE AHEAD IN CHARLOTTE?
Nitor Fish added as Major Associate Sponsor to the Jegs Pro Stock
Courtesy of Jegs
Denver, CO – One of drag racing’s most colorful sponsors has partnered with a the famous yellow-and-black of JEGS.com and five-time 
world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Nitro Fish Gear owner Kenny Koretsky unveiled a major associate sponsorship agreement that will feature the Nitro Fish logo adorning the JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger and it’s decorated driver. Beginning in Sonoma, souvenir gear for fans of Coughlin and the Mopar brand will be able to load up at the Nitro Fish merchandise trailer at NHRA national events and online at JEGS.com.
“I am really excited to be associated with a first-class organization like JEGS,” Koretsky said. “I’ve known the Coughlin family for a long time and I am looking forward to racing with them. We are also working toward including Nitro Fish Gear in the JEGS Mail Order catalog.”
Mike and Troy Coughlin Jr. Gear Up for Columbus Lucas Event
Courtesy of Jegs
COLUMBUS, OH – If there is such a thing as home field advantage in drag racing, Team JEGS racers Mike and Troy Coughlin Jr. certainly have it anytime they venture to National Trail Raceway in the Columbus suburb of Hebron, Ohio.
While other racers travel in from all over the Midwest for this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Series event at the historic facility, Mike and Troy Jr. will be blessed with a short tow from the team’s headquarters in nearby Delaware, Ohio, and the opportunity to spend the weekend surrounded by family, friends and co-workers.
“We have a lot of fun racing all over the country but in the end, there is nothing like racing right here at National Trail Raceway,” Mike said. “Our family has raced here since the track opened and all of us have had so much success over the years at this place. It’s just one of those tracks that feels like home. We’re all very comfortable here.”
Mike is currently tied for third in the Brodix/Steve Schmidt Engines Top Sportsman series but has competed in just four events so far this season, which means he could challenge for his third career North Central Division title if he can come up with a strong showing in the second half of the season, beginning this weekend.
Memorial Sticker Available for Ken “Bad Bird” Thomas!
Courtesy of North Texas Diesel
Lewisville, TX – The memorial sticker for two-time back-to-back Texas Outlaw Pro Mod Association Champion and longtime outlaw doorslammer competitor Ken “Bad Bird” Thomas is now available. Thomas passed away on June 17, 2012.
The 4 1/2″ decals are available free from Nancy Matter at local TOPMA races as well as other select events. Anyone interested in receiving a pair of these commemorative decals that cannot attend the selected events, please send your address information to Info@NTXDiesel.com.
Maddern Racing eyeing a strong Sonoma
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Sonoma, CA – The Maddern Racing Team’s travels have brought them back to their home state of California. This weekend they are competing at Sonoma Raceway’s Regional event. Driver Chris Demke and the Peen Rite / OSI / 801 Racing Team are looking
to strengthen their points totals, continue their assault on the time clocks, and win.
“Our runner-up at the Woodburn Regional was a letdown, we want more,” said Chris Demke. “We started out the season with two wins, won the Jegs AllStars in Joliet, and now it’s time to start another charge for the Championship.”
Going rounds and winning races takes planning and insight. The brain trust of crew chief Jerry Maddern, Kevin Watson, Michael Demke, Ron Mann, and tuner/clutch guy Adam Rhoades have the tune-up, and they are not afraid to use it. These past weeks of racing has gained them a handle on what it takes to go fast. It also takes support. This is why Maddern Racing is proud to announce that Boninfante Friction Products has come aboard as an associate sponsor. Their President, Rob Boninfante had this to say, “We are looking forward to helping out Maddern Racing and their run for the Championship.”
Simonton Looks to Keep Momentum Going in Columbus
Courtesy of Kon Rodz Racing
HEBRON, OH – Following their most successful three-race stretch to date, Cassie Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team plan on keeping the momentum rolling at this weekend’s Buckeye Fuel Wars at National Trail Raceway. The fourth
race on the team’s NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional tour will be another opportunity for the team to flex their muscles in conditions that they love; heat and humidity.
“Randy (Anderson) knows how to get the car down a hot track. The data fromChicagoandNorwalkwill help with the hot and humid weather that is predicted. The track isn’t a national event track like the previous two races, so the track surface will be a bit different, but we’re not worried about it,” Cassie said.
The hard-working crew members got a much-deserved break afterNorwalk, allowing them to recuperate after two consecutive four-round Sundays. That break is over, and they’re ready to get back to winning rounds.
“It was nice for the team to get a few days off afterNorwalk. Now we’re back at it inColumbus, servicing everything so we’re ready for the weekend,” said the driver who not only wheels the 3,000 horsepower Funny Car, but works on it, too.
NORTHERN FORCE RACING DEBUTS NEW SPONSOR AND TAKES HOME SOME HARDWARE
Photo by Rob Potter
London, ON – Competing in just the eighth race weekend of his career, and just two years shy of obtaining his first NHRA competition license, Jory Elliott put his family owned Super Stock A Modified in the winner’s circle for the first time ever this past weekend during
the NHRA National Open in Napierville, Quebec. The team also collected Best Engineered honours at the event, a first for team owner and multi-time event and award winner Bob Elliott.
“This win is just so amazing considering it was our first with the new sponsor and only our second outing of 2012,” said an elated Jory Elliott. “I’m so lucky to be able to do this with my family and to give our team its first win in more than 20 years, it really means a lot to me.”
That win came on Friday the 13th during a warm-up race for the $10,000 Stock/Super Stock shootout on Sunday, a fact that’s not lost on Jory. “I think we’re gonna have to plan to run a race every Friday the 13th from now on,” he said. “We’re pretty much newbies when it comes to class racing so it took us a while to get the car right and for me to find a driving procedure that would work in this car. This was the first weekend where we didn’t change anything from the previous event and it really paid off.”
John Force, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Alan Paradise, Allen Johnson, and Alan Reinhart on WFO Radio
Courtesy of WFO
HOLLYWOOD, FL – WFO Radio NHRA Nitro previews the NHRA’s Western swing and goes behind the scenes with the new Snake and Mongoose movie. John Force, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, the film’s writer, Alan Paradise, and Allen Johnson all join Joe Castello,
along with the NHRA’s Alan Reinhart, on WFO Radio NHRA Nitro. To listen now, go to http://www.wforadio.com/
John Force, 15-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion, stops by WFO Radio to preview the Western Swing. Force, currently 10th in the NHRA points standings, has his back against the wall and risks missing the Countdown. Force discusses his team’s strategy, the level of performance his fans can expect from his team, and fighting his way into NHRA’s Championship playoff system.
NHRA legend, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, discusses the upcoming Snake and Mongoose feature film. Snake gives inside details into the making of the feature, the people who helped out with the production, and seeing actor, Jesse Williams, play him, during his early years.
Mopar pro Coughlin has JEGS.com Avenger on cusp of big things
Courtesy of Jegs
DENVER, CO – Five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has always enjoyed his trips to Bandimere Speedway, racing his JEGS.com-
sponsored racecars to a pair of victories on Thunder Mountain in 1998 and ’99. He also relishes his yearly reunions with the Bandimere family, kindred spirits in both drag racing and philanthropic endeavors.
This year the importance of the race rises to an even higher level as Coughlin arrives in town as a big part of the Mopar team, the title sponsor of the race — the 33rd annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
“This could be the biggest race we’ve ever had in Denver,” Coughlin said. “It’s always a challenging event and one we’ve enjoyed quite a bit over the years. Now, with our association with Mopar, it becomes a race where its important to show our best side. They’ve done a lot for us and this new team we’ve put together, and we’d like to show them our thanks by doing well at their big event.
Ahten looking for a thrill ride in Sonoma
Courtesy of Athen Family Racing
Photo by Chuck Costabile
Sonoma, CA – Johnny Ahten and his Ahten Racing Team are happy to be descending. Not in their racing program, but they are eager to be racing closer to sea level. Their last three races have been at high elevation tracks. Racing at Sonoma Raceway in this weekend’s
Regional race changes all that.
“With good weather we could be racing at 1800ft, whereas we have been used to racing at over 3000ft,” said Ahten. “We like Sonoma, since we seem to run well there. We have run in the 20’s, and even runnered-up.”
Some changes will have to be made to the Island Renovations / 801 Racing / Fireman’s Brew Dragster. The Ahten Racing team lead by crew chief Al Ahten, will use elements from their Tucson IHRA win, with changes for altitude. Assisting the elder Ahten will be Howard Katano, Bob Ahten, Kevin Colvell, and Chuck Costable.
Lawrence surprises in TAD, Payne sweeps TAFC at Woodburn
Written by Todd Veney/Pro Sportsman Association
Woodburn, OR – At the Les Schwab Challenge Western Regional event at Woodburn Dragstrip, Gregg Lawrence came from the last spot in the field to take down championship contenders Joey Severance and Chris Demke for Top Alcohol Dragster honors, and all-time great Jay Payne
outlasted a top-flight field of Top Alcohol Funny Cars for his second victory of the season and passed idle Frank Manzo for second place in the national standings.
Lawrence upset Severance, the two-time defending event champion and pre-race favorite, in the opening round with a steady 5.55. Severance, a co-owner of the track, shook the tires off the starting line and slowed to an 8.57 after the chutes deployed. Lawrence soloed in the semifinals and met Demke, who set the track record (5.32) in qualifying, in the final.
Demke, who ran a 5.33 in the first round and a 5.35 in a semifinal win over Megan McKernan, coasted to a 17.96 after a wire to the six-shooter became disconnected when the car rattled the tires in low gear. Lawrence, who got quicker and quicker in every round, scooped up the win with his best run of the weekend, 5.53.
