- 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
After Horrific SCSN Crash, Rick Snavely is Back!
Written by Sportsman Insider
Westchester, CA – After looking at numerous options for the 2012 season, Bothwell Motorsports has decided to team up with Turbos Direct as their primary sponsor. The sponsorship deal was inked for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Scott and Terri Rakestraw, owners of Turbos Direct, are committed to the aftermarket performance turbo industry with 30 years of experience. Turbos Direct key employee’s, Mike Merrell (sales/shop manager) and Mike Lewis (Builder) bring unparallel knowledge and understanding to a great company.
Turbos Direct is committed to serving and supplying the industry with standard performance turbos. However, soon they will offer a new line of small, medium and large frame turbos and accessories that fit all of their customers needs.
Bothwell Motorsports is also happy to announce they will be combining forces with Rich Zehring Motorsports to form a 3 car team. Rich Zehring along with Rick Snavely will handle the driving duties.
VanDerGelds to debut Top Dragster in Quick 32 Series
Courtesy of Quick 32
CAMBRIDGE, ON – The VanDerGelds have been in drag racing for some time, but the team will be racing their own Top Dragster for the first time in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts this year.
“We’re about three nights away from getting the car together and we’ll be ready to go,” said car owner Tom VanDerGeld. “We hope to get out testing soon.”
Driving the Top Dragster will be Tom’s son Brody, a full-time college student and two-time Junior Dragster champ who will be getting into the new car for this first time.
The car is powered by a 706-cubic inch Pat Musi engine with a two-stage nitrous setup and an Aeromotive Fuel System. Sitting behind the engine is a two-speed Powerglide from the shop of Joe’s Transmission. The chassis is a Dan Page product which has received numerous and extensive updating from VanDerGeld and his Lowdown Hot Rods shop.
After big first-round upset, Coughlin bows in 4-Wide semifinals
Courtesy of Jegs
CHARLOTTE, NC – Five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. recorded the biggest upset of the opening round of 
Sunday’s pro eliminations at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals before slipping away to a semifinal finish at zMax Dragway.
Jumping off the starting line with the best reaction time in the class — .026 seconds –Coughlin piloted his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger from the 16th and final qualifying position to a better elapsed time than the higher-ranked cars of Ronnie Humphrey and Rodger Brogdon to advance out of the first round along with low qualifier Jason Line. Under the unique four-wide format, the two quickest drivers of each foursome of racers move forward in the competition.
“It was exciting to get that win and have the car react well, especially after a tough qualifying session,” Coughlin said. “We really struggled the first two rounds of qualifying and the guys caught up to it a little in Q3 and Q4 and we were able to get the last spot, which was a feat in itself.
“Everyone worked hard overnight and the car was happier and in control today but still a little lazy. It was telling us to give it more so that’s what we did going into the semifinals.”
Late light spoils Troy Coughlin’s Pro Mod bid in Charlotte
Courtesy of Jegs
CHARLOTTE, NC – JEGS.com Pro Mod driver Troy Coughlin made a heroic run in Saturday’s final qualifying session at zMax Dragway, but then lost in the first round of eliminations to exit the 4-Wide NHRA Nationals much sooner than he
expected.
Coughlin had been out of the field before making his final run, but rebounded nicely by posting a blistering 6.013-second quarter-mile pass at 245.81 mph to qualify the JEGS.com 1968 turbocharged Camaro in the No. 7 spot.
When the action moved to sudden-death eliminations, Coughlin managed to improve in with a pass of 6.005 at 250.97 mph, but he fell on a holeshot to Mike Knowles, who ran a slower but winning 6.031 at 243.50 mph.
“We’d been driving decent most of the weekend,” Coughlin said. “I just got beat on a holeshot. Where that reaction time came from was obviously a loss of concentration somewhere. It’s a bummer.”
Total Two-Way Radios once again provides radios for staff of PMRA,
Courtesy of PMRA
TORONTO, ON – Proper communications between officials is essential during a race weekend, and for 2012 Total Two-Way Radio has retuned as the official communications supplier for the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 
Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.
“We’re thankful and pleased to have Total Two-Way Radio on board with us once again,” stated Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for all three drag racing series. “Our operations people are in constant communication and are able to perform their duties at one of our events much better with the help of the two-way radios.”
PSCA Top Comp Returns at Next Event Thanks to Lucas Oil
Courtesy of PSCA
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Pacific Street Car Association announced today the Top Comp bracket class is returning to 
competition starting with the MagnaFuel Las Vegas Nationals April 27-29. The class, sponsored by Lucas Oil, is intended for NHRA-approved cars that run sub 8.60 ET’s.
The Lucas Oil Top Comp class will be featured in four races:
April 27-29: MagnaFuel Vegas Nationals, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sept. 7-9: The Slick Mist Drags, LVMS
Oct. 5-7: Mickey Thompson Tires West Coast Nationals, LVMS
Fourth Date: TBA
There is also a guaranteed purse with $1,500 going to the winner, $750 to the runner-up, $400 to semi-finalists, and $200 to quarter-finalists.
Texas Vs the World June 8th and 9th 2012
Courtesy Houston Outlaw Racing
Crandall, TX – The High Velocity Impact Racers are Gearing up to roll into Dallas Raceway, (Under New Management), in Crandall Texas so get ready to see another great race!
We look forward to racing our teams at a different facility this season and we are excited to be invited there.
The Outlaw True Tens are fast cars on small tires. These cars are running on the ragged edge of “Traction vs. Disaster”, these cars create Toe curling, Bone chilling excitement. In addition to the Outlaw True Tens, we have Promod’s, True Street, Index Racing and JR Dragsters to insure we have something for everyone who enjoys Heads Up Racing.
Our Texas VS the World race on June 8th & 9th, 2012 will include a Gamblers race on Friday night June 8th for the Outlaws. This race will be a $500.00 Entry Fee… “Winner take all”. We will also have a Gamblers Race for Radial 275 or 28/10’son Friday night with an entry fee of 200.00 winner take all.
MICKEY THOMPSON ANNOUNCES TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF THE 2012 NMCA WEST DRAG RADIAL CLASS
Courtesy of Mickey Thompson
STOW, OH – Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to NMCA West Street Car Series as the 2012 title sponsor of the Xtreme Drag Radial/315 Drag Radial class.
“We are very excited to participate in NMCA West as the title sponsor of the Xtreme Drag Radial/315 Dr
ag Radial class,” stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. “This series delivers some of the most exciting West Coast street car racing around, and we are pleased to play a role in supporting the series and the racers.”
In addition to the title class sponsorship, Mickey Thompson will act as a contingency sponsor for the series’ Pro and Sportsman classes including Pro Street, True 10.5, X275 Drag Radial, Outlaw 8.5, Hot Street, Nostalgia Street Car, Open Comp, Mustang Madness, Super Quick and Quick Street classes.
WHO’S IN THIS ISSUE OF RPM? – MAY 2012
Courtesy of RPM Magazine
Brandford, ON – RESTO PRO MOD RACER – Jim Bersani… automotive restoration expert by day, racecar builder by 
night… and on the weekends LOOKOUT! Talk about an attention getter, this incredible twin turbo big block 1957 Chevy Pro Mod is one bad machine!
SERIOUSLY! – Seriously Insane, Seriously Wild and Seriously Fast, are the best words to even start to describe Brian Hicks’ 3,000 horsepower twin trubo HEMI Outlaw 10.5 Challenger, affectionately (and appropriately) nicknamed “DECON”…you know, the “Rat” poison!
TWIN TURBO II – Mike Steffan’s very cool twin turbo Chevy II is at home on the streets, at the track, or even on display in the main hall at a National car show, which is where we first saw this amazing street machine. This is one of those projects that was built to be fast, reliable and enjoyable wherever it may end up on the weekend.
THE LEGEND LIVES ON – Drag Racing legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins crossed his final finish line on March 29, 2012 at age 81.
INSIDE OUT – PART IV – The Final step towards the new goal for Eric Gullett
NEOPMA Season Opener at Maryland International Raceway April 20-22
Courtesy of NEOPMA
Mechanicsville, MD – The Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods will start the season at the EAST COAST DOOR WARZ with No Holds Barred 16 car field mix of Blowers, Turbo’s and Nitrous cars, and a 8 Car Pro Mod Shootout. You won’t want to
miss some of the fastest quarter mile Pro Mod cars in the country finely tuning their chariots for the upcoming race battles. This race extravaganza will feature one mixed blend of more than 30 Pro Mod racers trying to qualify. That means you will watch 24 super fast, kick butt Pro Mods battling for the prize money.
The Battle ground is set at the smooth, extremely fast track …MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY. The Blower and Turbo cars are strutting their 3000 plus horsepower war machines with confidence while the Nitrous challengers are feeling powerful with their new Nitrous Monsters.
Royce Miller owner and General Manager of MIR is quoted saying “I am really thrilled that the East Coast Door Warz is now an official 1320 Pro Mod Warriors points race. This is going to be an awesome weekend with a 16 car mixed field and an 8 car Shootout with shakedown runs on Friday night, qualifying Saturday and Sunday eliminations. Not only am I looking forward to seeing a great race , but with the cast of characters I can’t wait to hear the smack talking and wild bench racing fish tales “.
