Reaching Final Round in Texas Not Enough for Demke
Courtesy of Maddern Racing
Ennis, TX – Chris Demke blasted off the starting line in the finals of the 27th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals with a big 
advantage. The Maddern Racing Dragster was off to a great start and looked to seal the deal until parts breakage ended more than just the race. It put an end to the chase for the Top Alcohol Dragster Championship.
Jim Whiteley wrapped up the title with the win. Now the focus turns to putting a big #2 on the wing. Spirits are high in the Peen Rite / OSI / 801 Racing camp. There is still racing to attend to, and a task at hand.
“Obviously we are disappointed, but we have nothing to hang our heads about, said clutchguy/tuner Adam Rhodes. “Basically a thirty dollar part cost us a World Championship. The unfortunate timing of parts breakage happening in the finals is just a fact of racing. We will finish up the year strong and go for a second place finish. “
The event started out with a first round qualifying shot of 5.323/259.36 that put Team Peen in the number one position. The run did come at a cost. A few internal grumblings from the powerplant made the between rounds maintenance a bit more labor intensive. With a strong first round, the decision was made to sit out the second round.
Overnight the work was completed and the team went into Saturday’s third round of qualifying in the number two slot. A solid run for that session yielded the team a 5.479/267.00 and they entered eliminations still in the number two position.
Saturday’s first round match-up against Chase Copeland was over at the tree with a red light biting Copeland. Chris Demke piloted his Dragster to a fine 5.337/270.00. Sunday’s second round action saw Sidnei Frigo feel the bitter sting of a Demke .028 reaction time and 5.319/269.62 run to a losing 5.370/268.44. In the semi-finals and it was Todd Odom’s turn to feel some Team Peen pain. Demke’s 5.318/269.29 was too much for Odom’s 5.386/260.86. Crew Chief Jerry Maddern, assisted by clutchguy/tuner Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Michael Demke, Kent Goss, Greg Rice, and Ronald Mann had his Top Alcohol Dragster running like a bracket car.
Now it was finals time and a do-or-die match-up with points leader Jim Whiteley. At the flash of the light Chris Demke laid a spectacular .033 light to Whiteley’s .102 reaction time. This was at this point that a part in the transmission decided it was time to fail. All Chris Demke could do is watch the car in the other lane get smaller.
Jim Whiteley won the race and put an end to the Top Alcohol Dragster National Title hopes for Maddern Racing. It is however, not the end of the story. A Regional Championship is still up for grabs along with the number two slot in National Points. The Maddern Racing Team is headed to Maple Grove Raceway to exact some punishment upon the competition. The game plan is to continue to run hard, fast, and smart. There is plenty of racing yet this year and Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing gang are not ready to let up. As if they could.
