- Hagan Captures 50th NHRA Career Win in TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Funny Car at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte
- Ashley, Hagan, Anderson and Herrera take Wins at Charlotte Four-Wide
- TOUGH FINAL ROUND PUTS DAMPER ON WEEKEND FOR JOHN FORCE IN CHARLOTTE NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS
- BO BUTNER WINS JHG MOUNTAIN MOTOR PRO STOCK SEASON OPENER
- AARON STANFIELD RUNNER-UP AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
- JUSTIN ASHLEY WINS NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
- Tony Schumacher Out Early After Jam-Packed Four-Wide Weekend in Charlotte
Finally, Redemption – Running Open Comp at the WCHRA
Written by Mike Lawless
Photo by Max Cackle
Bakersfield, CA – “When I saw the light you cut on a .4 pro tree, I said to myself ‘no wonder he’s been redlighting!’” Those were the words of fellow E/Gas competitor Jim Brown at the June 9th installment of the WCHRA series. We’ve gone down on redlights
in E/Gas (11.60 index, .5 pro tree) for the last several events and it has been getting REALLY old!
The Event also featured a Chicago Style Nitro show. This is a short race format with one round of qualifying for an eight car field, 16 cars tried to qualify and then those eight are run, the two quickest (NOT the round winners) go the final round.
Our friend Paul Miller, also an E/Gas competitor had joined us for the day since his car was out of commission. The conditions were incredible for this time of year, and when the sun went down, indescribable!
Knowles Hoping to Spend Father’s Day in the Winner’s Circle at Bristol
Courtesy of Kozak Motorsports Marketing
Photo By Kim Knowles
Grand Junction, CO – Mike Knowles and the rest of the NHRA Pro Mod Series regulars are headed for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, Father’s Day weekend, June 15-17. Held at Bristol
Dragway, the event is the fifth start of the 10-race 2012 season.
Like many racers, Mike Knowles juggles the duties Husband and Father all while heading a successful business and leading a competitive professional drag racing team. While his love affair with the sport of Drag Racing is evident to all who meet the generous man from Colorado it is his family that comes first and Knowles would like nothing more than to share Father’s Day with his boys in the Winner’s Circle.
Mike Knowles and his wife, Kim, have two boys, Zach and Bryson. This will be Bryson’s first time sharing Father’s Day with Dad as he decided to come into the world last season during the U.S. Nationals weekend; causing Dad to skip the Big Go last year.
“Man, I couldn’t think of anything cooler for Father’s Day than winning my first Wally. I’ve been blessed with a healthy and loving family and sharing time with them at the races is one of my favorite things. Win or lose, anytime at the track with my family is a great day,” said Knowles.
Mike Coughlin Racks up Points with Semifinal Finish, TJ Regroups for Bristol
Courtesy of Jegs
JOLIET, IL – It wasn’t the victory he desired, but when Team JEGS driver Mike Coughlin looks at the big picture, his semifinal finish in Sunday’s North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Route 66 Raceway will
certainly help boost his chances for a third Top Sportsman title.
Midway through the 2012 season, Coughlin is tied for third place, just 30 points out of the lead.
“I wanted to go a couple more rounds but it was just not meant to be,” Coughlin said. “We made up some ground this weekend but we could have done better as far as the points go. It’s a little disappointing but we’re not out of it by any means.”
Coughlin, the winner of the Joliet divisional event in three of the past seven years, qualified his JEGS.com Cobalt in the No. 7 spot and then used a string of nearly perfect reaction times to top Brian Brown, Fred Sommer and Ricky Adkins before losing a close battle to eventual winner Stephen Brinegar in the semifinals.
Simonton Qualifies #1 at Route 66 Divisional
Courtesy of Kon Rodz Racing
JOLIET,IL – Spiro Kontos’ Top Alcohol Funny Car team Kon Rodz Racing has made strides over the past year and half, proving that they have what it takes to compete with the best: talented driver Cassie Simonton, veteran tuner Randy 
Anderson, top-notch equipment, and a dedicated crew to put it all together. They made another leap this weekend at the Chicago NHRA regional, qualifying in the #1 position, over world champion Frank Manzo and two other Top 10 drivers.
“The number one qualifying run was probably one of the most exciting runs. The car was all over the place and I had to drive it everywhere, so when I got to the end I didn’t really think it ran that fast, to be honest. I didn’t realize it until the safety people told me I was number one,” said Simonton, whose 5.60 pass was the talk of the pits and the grandstands on Saturday night.
Grainy, Moser and Orfanidis win at US 131 Summer Showdown
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
MARTIN, MI – The second event in the 2012 season 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 was completed today at the US 131 Motorsports Park with first-time winners declared in two of the three drag racing series.
It was the first trip to the Michigan track for the series, featured in the track’s Summer Showdown weekend.
One of the original drivers in the PMRA, Jack Grainy of North Tonawanda, New York, won his first event in the Pro Modified series. Driving the Grainy Brothers Racing 1967 Camaro, Grainy bested Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario in the final. Grainy, who qualified fourth, took out number one qualifier Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario in the semi before meeting up with Latino.
Boland, Hinbest, Wicke, and Orfanidis lead qualifying at US 131
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
MARTIN, MI – Qualifying sessions 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 were held at US 131 Motorsports Park yesterday.
This is the first time this popular Michigan track has hosted the three series, and is part of the track’s Summer Showdown this weekend.
Pacing the PMRA Pro Modifieds is Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario, who posted a 5.99-second, 229.33-mph pass in his 1941 Willys. Following the three-time PMRA champion is Jeff Roth of New Hamburg, Ontario, also in a 1941 Willys. The Camaro of Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario is next and Jack Grainy of Basom, New York and Don Klooster of Kalamazoo, Michigan round out the top five.
BMR Lightweight Radiator Support for 2005-2012 Mustang
Courtesy of BMR Suspension
Thonotosassa, FL – Reduce weight, improve weight distribution, and increase handling capabilities with a Radiator 
Support from BMR Suspension. Manufactured from 1-5/8” diameter DOM tubing and 1/4” laser cut mounting plates to reduce weight without sacrificing strength.
The BMR Radiator Support (RS003) bolts in using OE hardware and includes heavy duty mounts for your front sway bar and 2011+ Z-brace. When used in conjunction with our K-member and CB004 Chassis Brace, 2005-2010 cars can be upgraded to the 2011 design. Installation time is only 2-3 hours. Available in black hammertone or red powdercoat.
To preview all of BMR’s high-performance suspension parts, please visit www.bmrsuspension.com, email sales@bmrsuspension.com, or contact them at BMR Suspension, 12581 US Highway 301 North, Thonotosassa, FL 33592, 813-986-9302, Fax: 813-986-8055.
ADRL Launches Video-Based ADRL.TV Channel
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to unveil its new Internet-based television channel.
On Thursday, the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league officially announced the launch of www.ADRL.TV, a video-based website from Tyrant Productions that features extensive video coverage of the 2012 ADRL season and serves as the perfect compliment to the ADRL’s free live online broadcasts of each race.
Defending Route 66 Champ Coughlin Headed to Chicago with Troy Jr in Tow
Courtesy of Jegs
JOLIET, IL – Success at Route 66 Raceway seems to come naturally to Mike Coughlin as he has won the track’s annual North Central Division Lucas Oil Series race in three of the past seven seasons including a Super Comp victory in 2005
and Top Sportsman titles in 2007 and 2011.
Now, the two-time series champion is hoping his good fortune will continue as he brings his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt back to the popular Joliet, Ill., facility.
Coughlin enters this weekend’s race ranked fourth in the Brodix/Steve Schmidt Engines Top Sportsman series, just 63 points out of first place, so he’s hoping to make a big move up in the points standings.
“We can definitely make up some ground this weekend,” Coughlin said. “This track has been very good to me over the years. In fact, it’s been very good to our whole family. It’s very smooth, really which benefits a fast car like our JEGS.com Cobalt.
Maddern Racing Ready to Take on Joliet Big House
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Joliet, IL – While waiting for the start of the Joliet Regional race this weekend, a few of the Maddern Racing Team members visited the closed down Joliet Prison. Luckily they escaped without harm or arrest. The plan for this
weekend’s race is very similar. Escape without harm, and put a lockdown on the field.
“The Regional race is our opportunity to fine tune our race car,” said Demke. “We have had a few weeks off and we are all ready for some racing,”
After starting out the year with two consecutive wins, the Peen Rite/ OSI/ 801 Racing Team are looking to regain their stride. A few early exits have not sat well. Jerry Maddern, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Ronald Mann, and Adam Rhoades know all too well what it takes to get the job done. They have put the time in, and together look to set things straight in Joliet.
