Second Generation TAFC Driver Bryan Brown

Courtesy of the Pro Sportsman Association/Todd Veney - Carl Oberman photo

Like a lot of racers' kids, Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Bryan Brown grew up dreaming of the day he'd be behind the wheel.

"I can't imagine anyone who was around this stuff who wouldn't want to," said Brown, 33, son of veteran racer Burl Brown. "I've wanted to drive my whole life. I was probably in kindergarten when my dad first got a Funny Car. They're all I've ever worked on and all I've ever wanted to race."

Two years ago, at what was already going to be his last race anyway, Burl crashed off the end of the track during qualifying for the national event at Chicago. "The chutes didn't come out, and it was pretty bad," Brown said. "He hit the net going 95 or 100 mph and ripped the whole front end off the car. People thought I started driving because he didn't want to anymore after that deal, but this was the plan all along."

All it did was delay Brown's debut a few months (and, of course, cost a ton of money). After the team bought a ProStart car from fellow Texan Tom Carter, who had purchased it from Chuck Cheeseman when Cheeseman went Pro Mod racing, Brown finally got his chance.

"I'd been bugging my dad to let me drive since I was about 15, maybe longer, but when it happened, it just happened," said Brown, who works for his dad's company building steel stairs and railings for apartment complexes and commercial buildings. "It wasn't some big conversation. He just said that '10 was going to be his last year, and I wasn't going to argue."

Brown was more prepared than most rookies - and not just because he'd always worked on his dad's cars. Instead of entering races before he had accumulated much seat time, he eased into it, making dozens of test runs over the span of a year and a half.

"My dad had been letting me drive in testing since '08," said Brown, who runs the car out of Gainesville, Texas, literally right across the street from builder Joe Monden's chassis shop and not far from the Oklahoma state line. "I probably did 20 burnouts and launches before we ever started my actual licensing. That still doesn't prepare you for what happens at the top of low gear, but I'm glad we didn't just go straight to it. Then I probably tested four of five times before we ever went to my first race."

There was plenty to learn. "It's a lot harder than you'd think - at least a lot harder than I thought it was going to be," Brown said. "For years, if my dad ever short-shifted or didn't go straight or cut a bad light or anything, I'd be on him. Then you actually do it, and you find out that there's a whole lot going on in there. When I got out of the car after the first run I ever made, I told my dad, 'Sorry for anything I ever said.' It's a lot faster than I thought it would be; it took probably 10 launches before my brain could realize what was going on. I still remember my first run. I went about 100 feet and thought I was at the end of the track - and I'd already been driving a Top Dragster that was fairly quick. Then you start racing people, and you're worried about getting the rpm just right on the starting line, hitting the shift points, not burning anybody down. It's easy to overthink things, and it's a whole different deal when someone's in the other lane."
Brown, who makes his 2012 debut this weekend at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, went a couple rounds at this race last year. He ran three events at the tail end of 2010 and a full slate last year. The plan is the same for this season. Burl has 20-some years of experience, and the team's engine builder and tuner, Dennis Piranio, is a former national event champion in Top Alcohol Funny Car, so hopes are high.

"It's crazy to try to do this, but we're doing it." said Brown, who does the bottom end between rounds and helps his dad with the clutch. "I don't know what I'd want to do next - I'm already living out the only dream I ever had. I have no intention of running Top Fuel -  that's something a regular person just can't do. It's hard enough to win in Alcohol Funny Car, but at least here there's a chance."

Demke to Start another Streak in Texas

Courtesy of THR5 Communications/Photo Courtesy of the Pro Sportsman Association

Baytown, TX - Chris Demke and his Peen Rite Top Alcohol Dragster are heading down to Texas to start another winning streak. A semi-final loss at the Vegas National event stopped a 2-0 start to the year. A few weeks off provided the time needed to freshen things up on the Peen Rite/801 Racing entry. The confidence from those wins at Pomona and Gainesville are still with the Team.

"The year began with two incredible wins," said Demke. "Now we have things back together and ready to go rounds. We have a new partnership that will allow us to continue having fun and put on a great show for the fans."

In 2009, Demke had a wild ride and put on quite a show for all in attendance. In the finals against Duane Shields, while leading the race, Demke's Dragster made a move to the wall. With some nifty driving, Demke avoided the wall, but was now headed across the track into the other lane. Narrowly avoiding Shields, Demke saved the car but not the win. In 2010, a semi-final loss ended Team Peen's weekend. Last year the Maddern Racing Team decided not to attend the event.

"We are all excited about racing in Houston this year," added Demke. "It's a fast track, and the low altitude will bring some great performance."

Crew Chief Jerry Maddern has the tune-up ready, and with Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Ronald Mann, and Joe Cole, they on top of things. Along with Peen Rite and 801 Racing, Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing operation feel they have the solution for this race, and the rest of the year. Together, they all have prepared to win in Texas, and kick start a long winning streak.

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PSA Treasurer and TAFC Pilot Ray Drew

Courtesy of Pro Sportsman Association/Todd Veney - Photo Courtesy of David Smith

Nobody has a resume like Ray Drew's. He was a crewman on a championship team as a teenager, co-owned a race track, served on the board of a sanctioning body, and now owns, tunes, and drives one of the fastest Alcohol Funny Cars in the country.

Drew, Treasurer of the Pro Sportsman Association, an organization dedicated to promoting Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car racing, has come a long way since the early 1980s, when he twisted wrenches for no-nonsense Fred Mandoline, whose longstanding zero-tolerance policy on dragstrip dumbassery is legendary. And let's just say Fred's never concerned himself with how everybody else does things.

In 1983, Mandoline, the only driver to win an Alcohol Funny Car title with Chevy power, swept three consecutive national events - the Sportsnationals, Springnationals, and Summernationals, beating Frank Manzo himself in the Springnationals and Summernationals finals - and won the championship when he was just 34 years old. Drew was only 19.

"Fred would go through crewpeople left and right because of his, uh, demeanor," Drew says. "He learned everything from trial and erro. He's a very smart guy, and it didn't take him long to learn what worked and what didn't. He'd go to a race with three different cylinder-head combinations, and he wasn't afraid to try them all. I'd show at the shop to go to a race, and the only things in the engine would be the cam and the crank. We'd assemble everything, then start driving. You could say that I was mentally abused at an early age, but I absolutely learned a ton. Sometimes it was just him and I running the car, and it gave me the desire to do it myself one day."

Today, Drew drives one top cars in the class, one that put down back-to-back-to-back runs of 5.54, 5.55, and 5.53 two weeks ago at the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. With three final-round appearances in Lucas Oil Series competition, he's probably one of the more overdue drivers in the Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Long before he was contending for NHRA event titles, Drew was crewing, driving, and organizing UDRA events across the Midwest. "I basically grew up match racing, and we ran all over the place - Norwalk, Ohio; Martin, Mich; Xenia, Ohio; Detroit Dragway; Quaker City; Cordova, Ill; Morocco, Ind; - even some eighth-mile tracks," says Drew, who also worked with driver Randy Henning, who eventually let him drive.

"I made my first runs in Randy's car in the fall of 1991 at the Grove," Drew says, referring to Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wis. From 1994 to 2008 he was a co-owner of the track, and that decade and a half of experience has been invaluable in his current role with the Pro Sportsman Association. "I understand what it takes to run a track, but I know what it's like to be a racer, too."

As a racer, Drew competed on the UDRA circuit, then moved up to IHRA competition, and then, four years ago, to NHRA. "Everything I've ever run - UDRA, IHRA, NHRA - was competitive," he says. "In the IHRA days, Mark Thomas was the top dog and Dale Brand was right there. Wherever you go, there's always somebody you're chasing, somebody everyone is trying to beat."

Now, of course, that's Manzo. But Drew doesn't have to go to NHRA national events to find tough competition. Under NHRA's new regional format for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, he's smack in the middle of the Midwest region, one of the toughest in the country.

"Nationally, I don't really have specific goals," says Drew, who will be one of the favorites at this weekend's Midwest Regional opener at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. "I just want to be competitive. Within the region, I'd like to be in the top one or two. It'll be tough. Mickey Ferro's running this region this year. Manzo will be at some of them. Andy Bohl stepped up, Cassie Simonton stepped up, and Fred Hagen is really fast. I've been working on this thing for four years, sorting it all out. It's taken awhile, but I think we can run with the best of them now. I really enjoy the mechanical side of things, making the car fast. It's every bit as challenging as driving."

When he's not racing, Drew is consumed by his business, KW Manufacturing, a metal-fabrication and CNC shop in suburban Milwaukee that builds products for machinery and automation equipment. "I'm there all week, every Saturday, and a lot of Sundays," he says. "I'm driven to be successful. In business, things take longer than they do in racing, where you get instant gratification. In business, it takes six months to a year to get where you want to be. In drag racing, it takes five seconds."

Shields, Veney Win Eastern Regional Opener at Richmond

Courtesy of the Pro Sportsman Association/Todd Veney

At the Eastern Region opener at Virginia Motorsports Park, reigning Top Alcohol Dragster world champ Duane Shields put a disastrous start to his title defense behind him, outlasting a giant field for his first victory of the season. In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Todd Veney drove Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream Impala to a close final-round win over D.J. Cox, 5.66 to 5.69.

Shields, who had gone up in smoke right off the line in the first round in each of his four previous starts this year, qualified No. 3 and ran down Jackie Fricke and Mike Kosky in the preliminary rounds and Rich McPhillips, who had dominated all weekend, in the final.

"The car has run well at every track we've been to this year - just not in eliminations," Shields said. "It's kind of hard to tune the thing when it only goes five feet, but we got it calmed down this weekend and finally got a win."

Fricke, who won a national event at this track as a Super Comp driver, got the jump in round one, but Shields ran her down, 5.40 to 5.47. In the semi's, Kosky, who closed 2011 with his first national event win since 1999, was off like a shot and seemingly had the race in hand when his fuel tank ruptured and Shields slipped past him, 5.41/268 to 5.61/253.

"I saw him almost all the way," Shields said. "My car usually makes a charge at the top end, but I was already thinking, 'I don't know about this...' because he was so far out there. Then he just disappeared and I shot by him."
The final was over early when McPhillips, who ran slower on his worst qualifying run (5.33) than any other driver did on his best, went up in smoke a few hundred feet off the line. After qualifying No. 1 with a 5.31, McPhillips had low e.t. of the opening round with a 5.37 against two-time Division 1 champ John Finke and low e.t. of the semifinals with a 5.34 opposite Doug Foley's close 5.39. He slipped to a 6.98 in the final while Shields streaked to a 5.38, his quickest run of eliminations.

"It really left hard that time," Shields said. "I dropped a cylinder pretty early in the run and still ran a .38. McPhillips had been running so well all weekend that when I felt it drop that cylinder I was sure he was going to come around me, but he never did."

Seventeen drivers attempted to qualify, and several "name" drivers missed the cut, including Chase Copeland, Dan Page, and 2011 Division 1 champion Karen Stalba, who broke behind the line on her final qualifying attempt.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Veney qualified No.1 and set low e.t. and top speed with a 5.60 at 258.07 mph. "It's great to win a race this early in the season," he said. "I really owe Jay, tuner Tommy Howell, and our whole team for having this car set up perfectly all weekend. We overcame some problems and won some close ones - especially the semi's and the final. Eric Lourie and I always seem to have good races, and D.J. is someone I have a lot of respect for. He's a really good driver - most people just don't know about him yet."

Cox ran a strong 5.66 on his only qualifying run, which was his first run anywhere all year. He took out the automatic-transmission-equipped car of Wayne Morris in round one, 5.72 to 5.78, and recent Charlotte runner-up Dan Pomponio in the semifinals, 5.70 to 5.75, and left first in every round.

Duane Shields Gets First Win of the Year

Courtesy of Rich Bailey

Dinwiddie, Va - It's been a little bit of a struggle for the reining NHRA World Champion, Duane Shields, as up until this past weekend his Shortline Express team had not won a round in NHRA competition so far this year. But just as racers and fans predicted that streak wouldn't last long as Shields not only got his first round win of the year but he also secured his first event victory of 2012 as well.

The win at the Virginia Motorsports Park also gave Crew Chief, Mike Johnson, his seventh victory with a different driver. Since this was one of the new NHRA regional events the competition was tougher than at one of the traditional divisional events as 17 top alcohol dragsters tried to get into a very tight 8 car field. "We were lucky just to qualify as several big name drivers went home before the start of the first round" Duane said after qualifying second with a 5.35 at 266 mph.

In round one, Duane met up with no. 7 qualifier Jackie Fricke in a tight race to open the round. Fricke left first but Shields was able to make up the difference with a better ET and got around her at the top end of the track. Duane took the stripe with a 5.40 at 267 MPH to Fricke's valiant 5.47 at 263 MPH. "This was our closest race of the day as we ran a .41 to her .46. The car went straight down the track and we were able to get the win" said Duane.

In the second stanza, Duane raced east coast veteran Mike Kosky. Duane rolled into the beams and staged deeper than he anticipated and was late getting off of the starting line as a result. But Kosky shook the tires and Duane was able to get past him and take the win with a 5.41 at 268 MPH to Kosky's 5.61 at 253 MPH.

In the finals, Duane took on a familiar competitor from last season, Rich McPhillips. At the hit, McPhillips was out first but smoked the tires. Meanwhile, Duane made another clean run down the track with a 5.38 at 265 MPH to McPhillips' 6.98 to get his first victory of the year. "We hopped it up in the finals but dropped a cylinder. Regardless, the car ran good and we are definitely happy to get the win. In fact, just getting a round win today was great. I Hope this will give us some momentum going into Houston next weekend" Duane said.

The Shortline Express team would like to thank GRP Connecting Rods, NGK Spark Plugs and Molinari Racing Products for their support.

Pro-Sportsman Photographer David Smith

Courtesy of the Pro Sportsman Association/Todd Veney

For 15 years, David Smith was one of thousands of faceless fans walking the pits and packing the stands at drag strips all across the eastern U.S. Then Top Alcohol Dragster racer Shelly Howard befriended him, and before he knew it, Smith went from being a superfan to being "family" to everyone in the alcohol ranks and half the people in the Sportsman pits.

Smith, a 40-year-old machinist from Vernon, N.J., is the kind of guy who works 80 hours a week so he can get time off and spend his own money to photograph races in Gainesville, Charlotte, Chicago, and even all the way out in Topeka, Dallas, and Houston. "The alcohol classes were always my favorites, I guess because the racers always seemed like regular working-class people like me," says Smith, who counts drivers Troy Buff, Alan Bradshaw, and Lee Callaway among his closest racing friends. "I've stood there talking to pro racers for 45 minutes, and the next day, they don't even recognize you. You meet an alcohol racer from halfway across the country, and when you're back at the same race a year later, they remember you."

Smith, the official photographer for the Pro Sportsman Association, an organization dedicated to promoting Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car racing, has since branched out to other sportsman categories. "I was friends with [Super Gas racer] Mike Sawyer, and I'd always shoot his car and his dad's car and anybody else who made a run until they went down the track. Now, I know a bunch of those guys and shoot them, too. When you go to a Lucas Oil Series race, you're seeing the drivers who are going to be the stars of the future, and my favorite pros are all former sportsman racers - Spencer Massey, Hillary Will, and Steve Torrence."

"You can't say enough good things about David," says many-time national event champion Mike Kosky, who's been racing Top Alcohol Dragster since the 1970s, when they were part of Pro Comp. "He's done more good for more people in the alcohol ranks than any driver or tuner or crew guy out there."

Smith's first race was the Summernationals in 1986, the year "Big Daddy" Don Garlits had his infamous blowover in Saturday qualifying. Smith was 15 and went with his dad. Now, it's nothing for him to work all day, pile into his car, and take off for a track hundreds or even thousands of miles away. He shoots from the wall and sometimes from the stands for downtrack action but is best known for his work in the pits, where hard-working mechanics who otherwise would toil in anonymity get what little glory they'll ever receive through is photography.

"David's an asset to the sport," says Jackie Fricke, who drives Joe Cantrell's JC Auto Glass Top Alcohol Dragster. "He does what he does just because he loves drag racing, and he's brought so much enjoyment to so many people. He captures the human element of racing, the behind-the-scenes drama of the sport that you don't see anywhere else."

"Most people think I take pictures for a living because whenever they see me I've got a camera hanging around my neck," Smith says, who doesn't claim to be an expert on par with the veteran photojournalists who line the walls at tracks on the NHRA Full Throttle tour. He's completely self-taught. "Nobody ever showed me how to take pictures. Whatever I've learned is from trial and error, and I've never taken any courses - I don't have the time."

Smith drives from 15,000 to 20,000 miles a year to shoot eight or nine nationals events, all the Eastern regional events, and the Midwest regionals in Norwalk, Chicago, and Indy. "I probably like Reading the best - at least when the weather is nice - and who wouldn't like going to a race in Charlotte?" he says.

About the only alcohol racers not on a first-name basis with the soft-spoken guy from New Jersey are those from the West Coast. He's only been to Pomona once, and he's never been to Sonoma, Seattle, Phoenix, or Las Vegas for one simple reason: He doesn't fly. Ever. "I saw a couple of planes crash at airshows when I was a kid, and there's no way I'm ever getting on one," he says. "I've already worn out one car driving to races, and I'm half way to wearing out another one. I don't mind, though. Some of my best friends in the world are at the race track - not just drivers but the crew guys and family members, too. The people out here have become my second family."

Spencer Massey and David Smith

Tough Break for Simonton and Kon Rodz at Charlotte

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

MAPLE, On. -- "Sassy" Cassie Simonton and Spiro Kontos' Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team proved that they have what it takes to win races at the 4-Wide Nationals last weekend. Simonton clicked off consecutive career-best passes driving the Randy Anderson-tuned Kon Rodz machine in qualifying. The record runs were a positive turnaround from the team's results in Gainesville.

"We tested really well before the Gatornationals, and then tried a few new ideas that ultimately didn't work. Then we went back to what we started with in testing and it went out and ran career-best numbers," said Simonton.

Qualifying started out with the career-best for both Simonton and Kon Rodz Racing, a 5.54 at 261 mph. The team from Canada came back and threw down a 5.53, resetting their career-best numbers. Cassie entered eliminations in the #3 spot, set to race John Headley. Headley was unable to make the run, so Simonton had a bye run. Sounds like an easy way into the next round, right?

"We were going for a run in the 5.4 range in the third qualifying session, but the rear end broke going into third gear. The crew thrashed to get that changed before first round and we were short on time, so we didn't start the car before the run. We went up to the water box to start the car and it wouldn't fire. Tried it again and again: nothing," Cassie said.

Per the NHRA rulebook, a car on a bye run must start, stage and take the tree under its own power. A rare issue within the fuel pump prevented Cassie from doing so, resulting in a first round loss.

"Randy knew right away that it was within the fuel pump. We might have caught it if we started the car before the round, but it was too much of a rush to get to the staging lanes. Lesson learned; next time we'll be sure to start the car and check over everything," claimed Simonton.

The great passes also give Spiro Kontos and Kon Rodz the title of the quickest Top Alcohol Funny Car hailing from Canada, beating the record of 5.566, set by Roger Bateman in 2009. The past weekend's performance gives Cassie even more confidence heading into the North Central region season opener in Indy next weekend.

"The confidence is very high going into Indy. We have a fast car and I know Randy knows how to tune the car. We probably won't run as fast as we did in Charlotte just because the conditions will be different, but it'll still be cool weather, good conditions. I have all the confidence in my team to be able to lay down fast numbers and make up for what happened in Charlotte," says Simonton.

Team owner Spiro Kontos and "Sassy" Cassie would like to thank crew chief Randy Anderson, as well as crew members Patrick, Cory, Adam, and Jeff for their part in the team's career-best weekend.

"Sassy" Cassie Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team will next hit the track at the NHRA North Central Regional event at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 27-29.

Kon Rodz Racing is a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team owned by Spiro Kontos, competing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 25-year old Cassie Simonton drives the team's 3,000 horsepower Chevy Monte Carlo funny car. Spiro, Cassie, and the whole Kon Rodz Racing team would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support: Lucas Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Goodson, BAE, Goodyear Tire, Clevite, Mac Tools, Dino's Pizza and Pasta, Artist ButchM, and ithreesixty Music Infused Apparel.

For more information on Kon Rodz Racing, please visit http://www.konrodzracing.com/. Keep up with Cassie and the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/konrodzracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cassiesimonton).

Copeland is Living the Dream

Courtesy of Pro Sportsman Association/Todd Veney

Chase Copeland is living every kid's dream - driving a five-second race car, winning national events, and contending for championships in his early 20s.

At the wheel of drag racing legend Gene Snow's A/Fuel Dragster, Copeland has finished in the top 10 in the final NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster standings in each of the past two years, and both times he has won his hometown race, the Texas Motorplex national event.

"Gene had never won at Dallas before, and it was a big achievement in my life to do that for him," says Copeland, who made one of the great runs in Top Alcohol Dragster history, 5.21, to defeat Marty Thacker in the final. "To do it two years in a row was unbelievable."

Copeland, 23, can do a lot more than just drive. He works for chassis builder Joe Monden, who has built most of the top A/Fuelers in the country. "Joe's the one who got me in the driver's seat," Copeland says. "He taught me just about everything I know. I couldn't do anything on the chassis side when I got there. He taught me everything, and he's pretty much the whole reason I'm out here doing this."

Copeland's only previous experience in drag racing had come in Jr. Dragsters. "I ran them from when I was about 12 until I was 15, and it was a lot of fun," says Copeland, now 23. After that, he and his dad, Clay, got their feet wet, so to speak, in drag boats.

"Those things are really coming back around right now, really on their way up," says Copeland, who married wife Brittany a few weeks ago and just returned to the U.S. from their honeymoon in Antigua. "We ran one for three years - nine-second Top Eliminator boats that went about 130, 135 mph - and we won the championship twice."

Right out of high school, Copeland went to work on Scott Palmer's Top Fuel dragster just as his friend, Spencer Massey, who's about five years older than him, had done. After that, Monden asked Copeland, an Oklahoma native, if he wanted to work in his chassis shop in north Texas.

"I didn't know how to weld or how to build a car, but I figured why not?" says Copeland, who also has seat time in a Pro Mod. "Joe introduced me to Gene, and that's how this whole deal with me driving got started. With a Pro Mod, you're just trying to keep it in line. This thing isn't that hard to keep straight, but there's a lot to do before you stage. There's a lot that you have to have right or the car's not going to make it - especially now that we're only allowed to run 94 percent [nitro] and now that the fuel has to be at least 50 degrees. The tuning window is very narrow."

Copeland, who's quick on the lights - just like Massey - was a quick study. He won the Houston divisional over Michael Manners in 2009 and was runner-up at back-to-back-to-back Division 4 events Belle Rose, Tulsa, and Houston in 2010. Then came the consecutive national event titles in Dallas.

"I've seen a lot of people come along, and Chase is just like Spencer - really good on the lights," Snow says. "His reaction times are unbelievable and they just keep getting better, and it's for one reason: confidence. He has complete confidence when he's in that car."

As an integral part of a crew that consists of himself, father Clay, Vernon Wilde, and the "Snowman" himself, Copeland does the clutch between rounds and "normal driver stuff, like pack the chutes." Massey, when he has time between driving the Fram/Prestone Top Fuel dragster on the NHRA tour for Don Schumacher Racing, pitches in sometimes, too.

"He was pretty good, right from the beginning," Massey says. "I was there, and it took him just a few runs to be smooth."

"When I started driving Gene's car four years ago, Spencer taught me the ins and outs of driving an A/Fuel car and just how Gene likes things on his race car," Copeland says. "The quicker the run is, the smoother the ride is going to be. You can really tell when it's on a good run because the front end is hiked up for 60 or 100 feet on a low-or mid-5.20. You can feel the chassis arch up. On a .40 run, it just doesn't get up on the tire like that. People always tell me, 'You're following in Spencer's footsteps.' Well, I'd love to. One day, I'd love to be exactly where he's at right now, driving a Top Fuel car. These last few years have really been a whirlwind, and I've been blessed to be involved with people like Joe and Gene and Spencer. If you don't have any experience driving something like this, who's ever going to let you do it? It's a dream that a kid always has, but you never think it's really going to happen like this."

David Smith photo

Shields Insists "New Car Blues" to Blame for Early Struggles

Written by Nate Van Wagnen

Top Alcohol Dragster defending national champion Duane Shields hasn't exactly started the season in a manner that backs up the digit on his rear wing. The driver of the Shortline Express Markets A/Fueler has yet to earn a round win in three national event and one regional event starts. Many fans, competitors and members of the media have assumed that these woes are due to the change in crew chief over the offseason. Shields' tuner, Dana Hopewell, went to work for Rick Henkelman and his new Garrett Bateman-driven HipLink A/Fuel car. Duane is quick to correct those beliefs.

"The most agitating part of this all is people think 'Oh, it's because of changes in the team'. It really has nothing to do with the team, it's really parts changes that were made over the offseason that are apparently not working," said the first-time national champion.

Shields' struggles continued at the 4-Wide Nationals last weekend. His first two passes in qualifying showed signs of promise, but tire smoke presented itself once again in the third session. This continued into first round, with Duane smoking the tires at the hit, letting Sidnei Frigo sail by for the round win. According to Duane, miscommunication caused the tire smoking runs to continue. "We thought we had those clutch parts changed out before the weekend, but we had a miscommunication. We think those parts are causing the issues, but we want to be sure so we're testing on Monday."

Testing apparently paid off, as Shields posted three solid runs, including a 5.31 best, according to a post on his Facebook page. He'll next attend the packed Richmond regional then the A/Fuel-heavy Spring Nationals in Houston.

When asked about his goals for the season, Duane joked "Ever-changing. Right now, our goal is to win a round. That was our goal when we first started. You win rounds and then you win races. I would like to be competitive, you know, right now we've run well at each race, we just haven't ran at our best level. I'd like to change that and show that we still have the car to beat."

How will the new regional system play into Shields' defense of the national championship?

"Originally I thought that it would be in our favor, but now that we've had these three first round losses, that might not be too good. But with the amount of races that you can run, it might work to our advantage. I don't want to say that we can't win the championship, because it's way too early to know who will or won't, but we need to recover quickly," said the Las Vegas convenient store owner.

Duane Shields restates his belief that car issues are purely to blame for the early lack of round wins. The incorrect assumptions end here.

"I want the people to know, everyone thinking that it's a crew chief issue causing the problems, that it's really not it at all. A combination of three seperate related things that I think we would have no matter what, because it all goes back to new car issues. Our crew is doing a great job," claimed Shields.

With new crew chief Mike Johnson, Bill Jones on bottom end, Chris Zedaker on general duties, and Ralph Freeman on clutch, Duane Shields is prepared to silence the critics and prove that he can back up his championship-winning performance of 2011.

TAN T-Shirts Now Available!

After almost five months in the making, our 2012 t-shirt is in-stock. After pre-orders, we only have about 25 shirts left. Once they're gone, we won't have more until later in the season.

Back

Shirts come in any size from small to XXL. The photos do not do the color justice, the green really pops in person. We'd like to thank the shirt sponsors, because without their support, this wouldn't be possible. AB Construction, John Halloran's Ballistic Transmission, Clark Copper Head Gaskets, CleanBoost Performance Motor Oil, C&M Automotive, Doug Foley's Drag Racing School, Gutierrez Brothers Racing, Nancy Matter Racing, NVW Motorsports Promotion, NW Photography, Pickett Racing Products, Short Line Express Markets, SK Design, SK Racing, THR5 Communicaitons and 1320 Concepts all helped to make the shirts available to you at the lowest cost possible. Please return the favor and support them. We'd also thank to Spiro Kontos and the Kon Rodz Racing team for their generous contribution.

From S to XXL, the price per shirt is $16 plus shipping ($5). We can only accept payment via PayPal or cash/check. Please send us an email with your shirt size, quantity and payment method. We'll reserve your order and give you the payment details.

Front

We can deliver your shirts to the 4-Wide Nationals this weekend, via Top Alcohol News Air for free. Once again, send us an email with which size and quantity you need and we'll be sure to get it to you during the race weekend. Complementary TAN decals will also be available.

Simonton and Kon Rodz Racing Prepared for 4-Wide Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

CONCORD, N.C. - Canadian Top Alcohol Funny Car team Kon Rodz Racing is packing up and heading south for the weekend. While many people might be spending time on the beach during spring break week, driver "Sassy" Cassie Simonton and the crew will be working hard at zMax Dragway, sending their car down the quarter mile at over 260 mph. The group is ready to rebound after going over the car and fixing the issues.

"I can say that we are very positive heading into the race this weekend. We learned a lot from some of the issues we had in Gainesville and we feel confident that we're ready for Charlotte," said Simonton.

The car's first full pass in testing was a 5.56 at 260 mph on the hot South Georgia Motorsports Park track surface. A few bugs in the systems prevented the team from doing well at the Gatornationals, but those gremlins have been worked out. Team owner Spiro Kontos is confident in the team heading into the 4-Wide Nationals.

"Cassie's driving has become very consistent now that she's in her third full season in the car. This will be our first time at zMax with Randy Anderson tuning, so I expect positive results. We're eager to get our first Wally and we would love for that to happen this weekend," said Kontos.

Spiro's son, Stefan, will be launching his new venture, SK Designs. The Kon Rodz Racing car will sport SK Designs logos, along with a couple other logos that were designed for clients. SK Designs is up and running, ready to design a professional logo for your race team or business.

"Sassy" Cassie Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team will first hit the track on Friday morning for the first round of qualifying at the 4-Wide Nationals, April 13-15, at zMax Dragway. The team will get three rounds of qualifying before first round of eliminations on Saturday evening.

Kon Rodz Racing is a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team owned by Spiro Kontos, competing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 25-year old Cassie Simonton drives the team's 3,000 horsepower Chevy Monte Carlo funny car. Spiro, Cassie, and the whole Kon Rodz Racing team would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support: Lucas Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Goodson, BAE, Goodyear Tire, Clevite, Mac Tools, Dino's Pizza and Pasta, Artist ButchM, and ithreesixty Music Infused Apparel.

For more information on Kon Rodz Racing, please visit http://www.konrodzracing.com/. Keep up with Cassie and the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/konrodzracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cassiesimonton).

San Antonio Nitro Jam Goes Big for Dennis

Courtesy of THR5 Communications

San Antonio, TX - Kristen Dennis and her Ladies' First Pro Fuel Dragster went big Texas Style. That is putting it mild. Dennis captured the IHRA Nitro Jam Ironman trophy and the crowds couldn't get enough of this Texas native.

"I signed and handed out all the hero cards I had and went to scrambling to find more," said Dennis. "In Texas the saying is, "Go Big, or Go Home!" I have regular duties I perform on my car prior to each round. After the first run, I didn't have time to pack my chutes or even warm up my car, that's where a great crew steps in. I was busy signing cards and speaking to fans. It was a very humbling experience. San Antonio race fans rock!"

On the track, Dennis was matched up against Robin Samsel in the first race. Samsel knew he had to be quick off the line, but pushed the tree a bit too much and red-lighted the race away. Dennis posted a 5.416/259.37 for the win. The Ladies' First team raced back to the pits to hop the car up for the finals against Bill Evans. They knew they had to be on their game. When the finals time came, Dennis got the starting line advantave and never looked back. She couldn't have anyway, after posting a 5.385 elapsed time with a thundering 276.92 miles per hour to Evan's 5.512/264.39.

"I knew it was on a run, and it kept me in my seat the whole way down the track," said Dennis. "We looked at the computer after the race and the car pulled 3.3 g's at the launch, and it pulled 2g's on the run continuously to 1000 feet. After this run my hands were shaking, it was such a rush," added Dennis. The Nitro Jam Ironman trophy was hers, and Dennis stopped four times on the return road to acknowledge the crowd in the stands. The San Antonio IHRA race fans loved Kristen Dennis and her Ladies' First Dragster, and she let them know how much it meant to her.

After the final round, the crowds swarmed the Ladies' First pits and Dennis. "I met so many great fans this weekend," said Dennis. "I didn't realize how much of an impact I had on people. My daughter came up to me and said: "Mom, there's someone here you have to meet." She brought me to a young lady with tears in her eyes. I asked if she was okay, the young lady wanted to tell me what a big inspiration I was to her, and what she could do to be like me. It was powerful stuff. I had to struggle to keep from breaking down myself. Being a woman drag racer is about dreams, goals, and strength to believe "yes I can" and that makes everything I go through worth it. I have been blessed with this opportunity to inspire people, and I am so grateful for that." Dennis went on to thank those who helped her get out to the track. "I really want to thank Space City Hot shots, 801 Racing and CleanBoost Oil, Global Promotional Advertising, Anglia Homes, and Glass Depot," added Dennis.

The race was over around nine pm. Dennis had to be dragged to the Winner's Circle ceremony around eleven pm. The team left the track around three am. This was a big event for everyone, Texas big. The IHRA Nitro Jam series continues on, even though Kristen Dennis would love to run every race in Texas. Her next race will be May 4-5 in Baton Rouge, LA at State Capitol Raceway and Dennis will be carrying plenty of Texas confidence and fan spirit with her.


We believe true happiness comes from blazing down the blacktop with the pedal to the metal and our hair on fire. The whiter our knuckles get, the better. If it were up to us, the cars wouldn't even have brakes, just two gas pedals. It's this never-ending need for speed that drives everything we do. We spend countless hours in the lab and lying awake at night plotting and planning how to get more speed by any means possible. After decades of research and innovation, we've developed a complete line of performance and car care products designed to ensure that your ride lives up to its potential on the street and on the track. We know what you want. We got what you need. We are 801 Racing. For more information on 801 racing, please visit: http://www.801racing.com/

Perkins Goes to Finals in Vegas

Courtesy of THR5 Communications

Las Vegas, NV - When you are passionate about something, it shows. Cody Perkins is passionate about Drag Racing, and even more so about winning. After not competing up to his standards, Perkins was determined to make an impression on the SummitRacing.com Nationals. The 801 Racing sponsored driver and car then set off to do something about it.

In qualifying, things were not exactly going as planned. With only fifteen cars in attendance, the idea was to gain data and save on parts. Perkins ended up in the number fifteen position with a pedestrian 14.358/50.54. That didn't bother Perkins. In the first round he was up against Megan McKernan. Cody's 5.415/261.98 was enough to send the number two qualifier home. Next up was the fellow 801 Racing sponsored car of Johnny Ahten. Ahten got the ever so slight reaction time advantage, and was ahead at the sixty foot mark. Ahten had some traction issues and Perkins won the round with a 5.503/232.55.

"I heard Ahten pedal it, and I lifted," said Perkins. "The crew ran up to me on the top end and wondered what had gone wrong. I had just hit the chutes early and shut it down to save parts. We can't just order up more parts, it costs too much money."

The semi-finals saw a match up against another 801 Racing sponsored car. The Nitromethan injected rail of Garrett Bateman was in the other lane. Even though they are both supported by the same company, it changes when the visor comes down and the lights change. Perkins then served up a .024 off the line and got the holeshot win with a 5.408/262.13 to Bateman's quicker 5.399/253.37. It was on to the finals. Waiting for Perkins was the rocket ship of Jim Whiteley. The Y-Not car had just defeated Chris Demke with a 5.28/272.28. With this in mind, the 801 Racing Team prepared the car for the finals. Cody Perkins did his part at the start, jumping off the line with a stellar .006 reaction time. "Flash" had the advantage, but the Whiteley express laid down a 5.306/269.35 to beat Perkins' 5.679/247.25.

"In the final we tried to rotate the earth. It worked for one second," said Perkins. "In Vegas the ladder went our way and we didn't blow anything up like we have the last five years."

John Hill of 801 Racing had this to say about Perkins: "What a performance. He made us proud. I met up with him Thursday night before the races and his confidence levels were through the roof. He really had his game face on and it paid off. He is seriously one of the most talented drivers in the field and it shows. He doesn't have the budget some of these teams have and yet he's still a major competitor and threat in the TAD class. It all boils down to his talent."

Cody Perkins and 801 Racing have many similarities. Both are in a rebuilding process. 801 Racing is working on a new building, and Perkins is working on a new valvetrain. Perkins said, "801 Racing has great products. If something needs improvement, they will do it. We will do it too."

We believe true happiness comes from blazing down the blacktop with the pedal to the metal and our hair on fire. The whiter our knuckles get, the better. If it were up to us, the cars wouldn't even have brakes, just two gas pedals. It's this never-ending need for speed that drives everything we do. We spend countless hours in the lab and lying awake at night plotting and planning how to get more speed by any means possible. After decades of research and innovation, we've developed a complete line of performance and car care products designed to ensure that your ride lives up to its potential on the street and on the track. We know what you want. We got what you need. We are 801 Racing. For more information on 801 racing, please visit: http://www.801racing.com/

Second round Vegas Exit doesn't slow down Ahten

Courtesy of THR5 Communications

Las Vegas, NV - Johnny Ahten came to the SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the confidence of a winner, having just won a race. He left the track feeling like a winner, even though the Island Renovations/801 Racing Dragster didn't hoist the trophy. After a loss, Drag Racers begin thinking about the next trip down the track. After Ahten was done racing for the day, planning for the next outing was in motion.

Ahten started eliminations from the number ten position. Not exactly where they wanted to be, but they were in the show and ready to run. Up first was Mike Austin. The round was over at the start, when Austin broke. Ahten lifted early to a 5.940/225.52. The second round saw the Ahten Racing Team preparing for a match up with fellow 801 Racing teammate Cody Perkins. Johnny Ahten's crew prepared the car, and towed to the staging lanes. During the ride, they had full expectations of returning to the pits and doing it all over again. There's that Drag Racer optimism again. When the light came down, Ahten got the slight advantage. At the sixty foot mark, Ahten's .936 pace had him in the lead. Then the cup went from being half full to just about empty. Ahten had to pedal the car, and Perkins went ahead for the victory with a 5.503/232.55 to a 5.700/236.80.

"We had a great launch, great 60 foot time, but went into shake/smoke and I had to pedal it," said Ahten. "We didn't have enough for Perkins, but I finally got a better light, but not by much. I think we had a wee bit too much clutch, otherwise I think it would have ran a low .40. I'm very proud of the Island Renovations Team. It has been two great weeks of racing. They all worked very hard and we got the power back today. We just were swinging for the fence," added Ahten.

Sometimes you have to swing for the fence. It's part of a tuner's strategy. Sometimes it works and you are the hero. Sometimes it doesn't. This time it didn't, but then that drag racing optimism sticks its head into the room and says, "remember me?" That's the feeling that Johnny Ahten has as he and the team prepare for their next race. They had some crispy valves, and will be starting the next race with all new heads, valves, and sleeves. That should be a big help mechanically, because mentally, they are optimistically planning for the second round of their next race.

Island Renovations understands the complexity of Hawaii's homes and their customers' needs. Whether you are looking to build, remodel, or replace your existing windows or doors, Island Renovations is there to provide outstanding service and products to give your home added value with the satisfaction and peace of mind from a company that puts their customers first. Visit us at http://www.islandrenovations.net/

We believe true happiness comes from blazing down the blacktop with the pedal to the metal and our hair on fire. The whiter our knuckles get, the better. If it were up to us, the cars wouldn't even have brakes, just two gas pedals. It's this never-ending need for speed that drives everything we do. We spend countless hours in the lab and lying awake at night plotting and planning how to get more speed by any means possible. After decades of research and innovation, we've developed a complete line of performance and car care products designed to ensure that your ride lives up to its potential on the street and on the track. We know what you want. We got what you need. We are 801 Racing. For more information on 801 racing, please visit: http://www.801racing.com/
Fireman's Brew grew out of two Los Angeles based firefighter's vision to create premium handcrafted beers that would quench their thirsts after an exhausting day on the firelines. Originally created by firefighters for firefighters, Fireman's Brew is now available at bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout Southern California. Visit them at http://www.firemansbrew.com/

Successful First Start for Greg Hunter

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

LAS VEGAS - It's safe to say that former Alcohol Funny Car driver Greg Hunter successfully made the transition to Top Alcohol Dragster this past weekend. He made his competition debut at one of the premier NHRA National events on the west coast, the SummitRacing.com Nationals. Hunter is definitely happy with the results.

"It was a thrill to be racing at an event like that. To qualify and win a round in the first time in actual competition was like a dream. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend," claimed Hunter.

Greg and the ExactAir/Kenny Gilmour Motorsports car struggled in qualifying, missing a session due to an engine swap. A qualifying position of 14th meant a first round match-up with James Butler. Hunter got the lead off the line with a .032 light, then powered through with a winning 5.69 at 243 mph pass. In the second round, Greg got the lead once again with a .037 light, but his 5.48 at 260 mph wasn't enough to defeat Garrett Bateman. All in all, it was a good start to the season for the TAD rookie.

Greg is quick to thank the team that got the car turned around in between runs.

"The Kenny Gilmour Motorsports crew put in so much work to give me a good car this weekend. They were up just about all night on Friday swapping engines. We just missed the second session, but it certainly wasn't because of a lack of effort. I really appreciate their hard work this weekend," said Hunter.

Hunter and the ExactAir Compliance Systems team will build on their recent success in the next few weeks. Tentative plans have the team heading south to Houston for the O'Reilly Spring Nationals, April 27-29.

ExactAir Compliance Systems is a company that supplies Natural Gas emission compliance, maintenance and control systems. For more information on ExactAir's state of the art technology for the Natural Gas industry, visit them on the web at: http://www.exactairsystems.com/

Greg Hunter and Kenny Gilmour Motorsports partner with some of the finest companies in their industries, including  ExactAir Compliance Systems Inc, Omega 2000 Cribbing, Goodyear Tire, NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, Dark Side Racing, Oasis Emission Consultants, Mopac Auto Supply, Rock Bit Industries, GRP Connecting Rods, Winberg Crankshafts, National Transmission, Paron Paint & Body, Mechanix Wear, Berube Custom Tanks, Peter Vaughn Custom Glass, Koolsville Golf Carts & Accessories, VP Fuels USA, and Top Gun Coatings.
For more information about Kenny Gilmour Motorsports and its sponsors, please visit http://www.kennygilmourmotorsports.com/

Thompson Makes ADRL Pro Extreme Debut in Houston

Courtesy of Rich Bailey

Long time Top Alcohol funny car stand out Clint Thompson surprised fans and fellow drivers when he began testing a Pro Extreme Camaro earlier this year and then announced he would be racing on the ADRL tour full times along with racing his own top alcohol funny car at 10 NHRA National Events. Racing on both circuits in two completely different kinds of cars makes this Thompson's most ambitious seasons yet.

Thompson's entry into the ADRL was simply a case of being at the right place at the right time, working for famed engine builder and close friend Bob Minor. "I was helping Bob Minor at his shop when Don Carter, a customer of Bob's came by to pick up some parts. We all went to lunch when Don mentioned he was looking for a driver for his Pro Extreme car. I told him I think I could drive it and I'd love to give it a try" Thompson said. Next thing Thompson knew he was testing the car in Vegas before moving on to Houston for his ADRL debut this past weekend at Royal Purple Raceway.

Thompson's first attempt to make a pass at an ADRL event didn't go the way he wanted as he ended up being pushed off the track when the battery went dead. "The battery tested good and had the correct amperage before the run but it went south after the burnout and I got pushed off the track" Thompson acknowledged.

In the second stanza, Thompson did what any good driver would do as he abandoned the run when the car made a sudden move towards the center line. "Everyone told me I did the right the thing by lifting. I watched a lot of You Tube videos and seen a lot of guys hit the wall or go on their lid so I have a healthy dose of fear and respect for these cars but I'm getting use to it" Thompson said.

Weather played a role in qualifying as the second round was canceled. As a result, the team got just one more chance to qualify on Saturday morning and got in the show with a 3.89 only to be bumped out of the program minutes later. "Had we got that second run in on Friday night I think we would have got in. There were 24 cars for a 16 car field which makes for a good challenge. It was still a good weekend as I've come away from Houston with the confidence that I can drive the car and we continue to run better every time out. My teammate Dan Myers went to the final round in the 10.5 class and even beat Billy Glidden in the semis so that made it a great weekend too".

When asked what the difference is between driving the funny car and the Pro Extreme car, Thompson had this to say. "The Pro Extreme car is like a Pro Mod on steroids. It has a torque converter and a Bruno two speed transmission instead of the clutch set up that is in my funny car. As a result, the Pro Extreme car uses a transbrake so it's quicker off the starting line. Another difference is you are sitting on the left side instead of in the center of the car. Also, there is no visibility on the right of the Pro Extreme car as it has a tall injector. Because of that it's hard to see the tree when you are in the right lane".

Finally, Thompson was asked what he likes best about the ADRL. "It's laid back but still very professional. The track is great and prepped extremely well thanks to a couple of guys nicknamed the "Traction Twins". On this team I don't have to do the routine maintenance so I get to meet and greet the fans between runs rather than work on the car. That's not something I'm use to doing since I'm always working on my funny car between rounds but I'm beginning to like it".

Demke's Vegas Trip not as Rewarding as Expected

Courtesy of THR5 Communications

Las Vegas, NV - Chris Demke went to Vegas to do what he had already done. Beat Jim Whitely, and win a National event. Unfortunately he did neither. Demke had beaten Whiteley the previous weekend in the Regional final, but a timing malfunction at the finish negated the run. The re-run was scheduled for the third round of qualifying at the National event. The outcome did not go as planned. Then during National eliminations, after two consecutive National event wins, Demke was once again deprived of pleasure by Mr. Whiteley.

"Although the weekend didn't go as we wanted, it's still Vegas and we had a good time," said Demke. "You have to hand it to Jim Whiteley, he had the field covered and beat my butt. I spun, shook, and pedaled, but I couldn't catch him."

After the Regional result had been determined, it was time to go after another National Event win. The Maddern Racing Team started out from the #4 qualifying position. In the first round, Randy Eakins was first up. Demke ran a 5.38/267.64 to take the win over Eakins's 6.36/222.88. Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Adam Rhoades, Joe Cole, and Ronald Mann serviced the car and loaded it up with more 801 Racing 70W oil. Jerry Maddern worked the tune-up, and the crew rolled to the lanes towards a match up with Joey Severance. In that round, the car improved to a 5.31/269.35 and got the win over Severance's 5.537/226.51.

The next round once again saw Jim Whiteley as the opponent. "How many times a week do I have to beat this guy," said Demke. It turned out to be not many at all. Demke took a small starting line advantage, but that was it. Whiteley laid down a 5.284/272.28 on the Peen Rite Car, and a 5.453/266.37 just wasn't enough. The plan to win the Regional rerun, and another National event had been fouled. The winning streak was over.

"The Peen Rite/801 Racing Team gave it their all. Now after racing for almost two months we are ready for a break," said Demke. "The next couple of weeks we are going to relax and retool. We will go through the car and get ready for Houston. Starting out the year with two wins gives us a great deal of confidence, even after a weekend like this. We have some exciting things coming our way," added Demke. Drag Racing and excitement go hand in hand. Chris Demke and Maddern Racing aim to keep it that way, and have the time of their lives doing it.

About Peen Rite - Your source for quality shot peening, glass bead, and abrasive blasting services for over 45 years. We provide low cost solutions, high volume capacity, and a superior level of quality control. Equipped with many specialty machines designed to handle the cleaning and surface preparation for a wide variety of work pieces. PEEN-RITE gives you the ability to stay within your job cost estimation!

We believe true happiness comes from blazing down the blacktop with the pedal to the metal and our hair on fire. The whiter our knuckles get, the better. If it were up to us, the cars wouldn't even have brakes, just two gas pedals. It's this never-ending need for speed that drives everything we do. We spend countless hours in the lab and lying awake at night plotting and planning how to get more speed by any means possible. After decades of research and innovation, we've developed a complete line of performance and car care products designed to ensure that your ride lives up to its potential on the street and on the track. We know what you want. We got what you need. We are 801 Racing. For more information on 801 racing, please visit: http://www.801racing.com/

801 Racing Response to Facility Fire

Courtesy of THR5 Communications

Orem, UT - When asked how to respond to inquiries regarding Thursday's fire at 801 RACING's facilities 801's general counsel said to simply state this fact, "801 RACING is really beginning to heat up!"

It is true. 2012 has been a "hot" year for 801 RACING. Although we are only two months into the 2012 drag racing season, 801 and its team of top-alcohol dragsters have already collected numerous victories. Chris Demke smoked the competition in Pomona and Gainesville to claim two national NHRA victories, and Johnny Ahten picked up another victory on the IHRA circuit last week when he burned up the track in Tucson. However, heat from 801 RACING can be felt well beyond 1320 feet. Earlier this year 801 teamed up with the famous Nitro Circus off-road racing team. The 801 RACING/Nitro Circus trophy truck will compete in several off-road races this year before blazing through the Mexican desert during the Baja 1000 in November.

"With all the attention and success, we're beginning to get some serious interest in our performance based products", said 801 RACING owner, Johnny Hill. "Unfortunately, yesterday's fire may delay our intended, launch date of May 1st just a little. Not to worry though, fast is in our blood and we'll be fixed up and back on track in no time."

The cause of Thursday's fire is still under investigation. There were no injuries in the chaos and the Orem and Provo fire departments did an outstanding job containing the fire and minimizing the damage. "Their response was so quick that we were sure they were using 801 products in their fire engines", said Tommy Parish, 801 RACING owner. Repairs to 801 RACING's facilities will begin as early as Monday, April 2, 2012, and should be completed within several weeks.

About 801
801 Racing is a group of racing die-hards from Orem, Utah with deep roots in the fuel additive industry. They've spent countless hours in the lab and at the track over the last decade developing cutting edge products that make sure you get your winning fix. They currently offer PULSE, a power boost fuel additive that provides an immediate measurable increase in horsepower in diesel, gasoline and methanol powered internal combustion engines. Visit http://www.801racing.com/ for more information.