Booher Prepared for Second JEGS Allstars Appearance at Route 66 Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of Mike Sopko Jr.

JOLIET, Ill. (July 7, 2016) – For the second time in his Top Alcohol Dragster career, Brandon Booher will represent the NHRA North Central Region in the prestigious JEGS Allstars race this weekend. Held in conjunction with the NHRA K&N Filters Route 66 Nationals, July 7-10, the Allstars race will pit eight of the best TAD competitors from across the country against each other. But unlike most of the other competitors, Booher will spend most of his on-track time dialing in his combination for regional competition.

Booher, the 2013 NHRA North Central Region champion, is using his 2016 national event appearances as testing opportunities to prepare for regional events. The AB Construction team’s first national event of the year at Norwalk two weeks ago yielded promising results, but an untimely loose fitting prevented Booher from making a run in the first round of eliminations.

“The testing strategy worked at Norwalk,” Booher said. “The car ran really well in the heat. It would’ve ran better first round, but we can’t really think about that now. Moving on to Joliet, we have the same plan. I’ve got some converter stuff I’m going to test. I’ve got a different set of tires I’m going to test. Don’t get me wrong; if it goes out there on the first pass and runs really well, I’m probably not going to swing for the fences after that. I’ll dial it in. I’m going there and I’m going to put a car down the track that’s different than what went down the track Q3 and E1 at Norwalk, which already was a really competitive car; second or third-low for the session and quickest blower car by quite a bit. That’s sort of the plan.”

Booher certainly considers the prestige and prizes associated with winning the JEGS Allstars race and the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, but he’s intent on getting ready for the next NHRA North Central Regional event in Columbus, Ohio, July 22-24. He currently leads the region points.

“I sort of pigeon-holed myself trying to run the Allstars race (in 2014) and I’ve seen it happen to guys who run that race and they don’t qualify for the national. Not that the national points mean that much to me, but the money definitely matters to a team like ours. Seven grand to win the Allstars, five grand to win the national, plus contingencies on both. It could be a big, big weekend for us. That’s on my mind, but I’m there to test. I’m there to make something better than what I have and go to Columbus with a set-up that’s going to be hateful in the heat. That’s what we need. It’s going to be hot and greasy. My plan as far as the regional points is not let off the gas. I want to lock this deal up. I let it slip through my fingers last year and I’m going to do everything within my power to make sure that doesn’t happen again this year,” added Booher, who finished second in the region championship by 10 points last season.

The AB Construction/Torque MGMT team enters the weekend as the most recent Top Alcohol Dragster team to win at Route 66 Raceway. Booher was victorious at the Burndown at Sundown NHRA regional race at Route 66 in June, winning for the first time with his 11 month old daughter, Adelynn, in attendance.

“We know this track. We know what it’s like to tow back with winning timeslips. We’ve already won races here, there and everywhere, but to come back to our home track where we just won, there’s going to be a certain comfort level,” noted Booher, a Champaign, Illinois native.

Adding to Booher’s aggressive outlook on the weekend is the sting that remains from losing first round at Norwalk.

“I want to rebound from Norwalk. Perform how you want in qualifying, but when it came down to when it mattered, we failed. I’m hungry. I know the guys are. I wouldn’t want to line up against me. I’m going to take no prisoners. We’ll be ready for sure.”

Booher praised the technical and product support from Steve Graves at Quick Drive, Mike Strasburg at B&J Transmissions, MVM Motorsports Products, High Performance Lubricants (HPL), and Goodson Tools for contributing to the team’s performance.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. Crew members include Brian Booher, Pete Brady, Cam Brady, Nate Van Wagnen, and Kirk Wolf. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from MVM Motorsports Products, Spitzer Race Cars, B&J Transmission, High Performance Lubricants (HPL), Quick Drive, Goodson Tools, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Secures Second JEGS Allstars Berth with Norwalk Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (May 27, 2016) – Past NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster regional champion Brandon Booher added a race win to his 2016 championship effort as he won the Cavalcade of Stars event at Summit Motorsports Park last weekend. The victory also gave Booher enough points to claim the number one spot to represent the North Central Region in the prestigious JEGS Allstars race in July.

Booher was especially pleased to win the Cavalcade of Stars because he only qualified eighth, barely earning the chance to race on Sunday. Tire shake plagued the AB Construction blown alcohol dragster on all three qualifying attempts, but the versatile driver/tuner found a solution for eliminations that brought him victorious runs of 5.447, 5.447, and 5.413 over Jared Dreher, Ken Perry, and Brandon Greco, respectively.

“I kept trying stuff through qualifying and nothing was working,” Booher stressed. “We’d get back from the run, download the Racepak, and it was as if nothing changed, like I made three carbon copy runs. So I decided I needed to do something drastic and run the car in a manner that I had never done before. That’s what it took. I doubt I’ll use those timing graphs ever again. I put some bars in the chassis that Spitzer had added when the car was built to use if needed to add rigidity to the car. I thought, well, it’s biting too much early and then not biting enough so I’ll stiffen it up and take an educated guess at the timing curve. Did it work? Well, it was more of a trophy-winning Band-Aid. It didn’t run phenomenal, but it ran good enough to win.”

It wasn’t a sweeping performance like the ones that helped Booher earn his first regional championship in 2013, but a dominant performance wasn’t needed to win the race that saw some of the Midwest’s best cars struggle to get down the Norwalk quarter-mile.

“Once we won first round and had lane choice in the second round, I realized I didn’t need to run a 5.32. Should I be able to run a thirty-two? Yes, everyone should be able to. But if you look at the performance, a lot of good cars didn’t make a lot of good runs. My game plan through eliminations was to just go down the track and try to improve. It was good enough to win. It shouldn’t have been. Sometimes you get luckier than the competition,” Booher readily admitted.

The Cavalcade of Stars was the last race for North Central Region teams to lock up their spots in the JEGS Allstars race, which is held in conjunction with the NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Booher’s home track, Route 66 Raceway, in July. The Norwalk win boosted Booher into first place, giving him his second Allstars berth. It’s a high honor for most, but the former Pro Top Outlaws champion won’t let it distract him from his ultimate goal.

“I ran the Allstars once in 2014 and I didn’t do it properly. I treated the Allstars like its own drag race and not what it really is, which is qualifying for a very tough event. I’ll be there and I’ll line up for it, but it’s not the first thing on my mind. My concern is to win the North Central Region again.”

The accomplishment isn’t lost on Booher, though, since his team earned the number one position on the strength of five races. The other three drivers in contention earned JEGS Allstars points at six races.

“If you look at the race count, we’re actually down one race compared to everyone else because we didn’t run Columbus last year. So to win the Allstars spot on one less race than everybody, that’s pretty cool. That’s a real testament to the caliber of car, team and more specifically people that we have in our extremely small-budgeted operation. I don’t think there’s a legal mechanic between any of us, but we’re pretty smart,” said Booher, who missed the Columbus race to be with his wife, Shannon, for the birth of their daughter, Adelynn.

Booher passed on appreciation for his family-based crew, as well as team supporters Manley, MVM wheelie bars, Spitzer Race Cars, and HPL Lubricants.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from MVM Motorsports Products, Spitzer Race Cars, B&J Transmission, Goodson Tools, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Reloaded for Another Regional Championship Chase

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 28, 2016) – NHRA North Central Region Top Alcohol Dragster frontrunner Brandon Booher has his AB Construction dragster ready for another run at the regional championship. A simple $2 part forced the 2013 champion to lose a second title by a mere 10 points last fall, so Booher spent the long offseason going over every inch of his car in search of improvements to the consistency and performance.

“I toyed with a few things. We have a different drive unit and transmission that we’re going to be trying when we have time to test it. I changed a few little things in the motor but really just went over the car and improved in a few areas. We should have better parts longevity than last year. It seems like each year we have less and less to do, we just try to improve our package and put out the best possible car within our budget. The plan is to go out there with a quick, consistent race car,” Booher said.

The Champaign, Illinois-based team will run a schedule similar to that of their 2015 season, beginning with the NHRA Lucas Oil Series North Central region opener at Lucas Oil Raceway this weekend, April 29-May 1. 

“Hopefully we’ll do well within the region so we don’t have to hit Earlville and Noble like we did last year. There are a few nationals that I like to hit, like Joliet, Norwalk, Indy and the Charlotte fall race. If the car is on a string, can’t be beaten and we’re not hurting parts then maybe I’ll hit a few more races. We’re just doing this to get away and have fun. If the car sucks then we’ll run less or go test, but I’m confident that we’ll run mid-to-low 5.3s off the trailer,” Booher added.

 In addition to his personal racing schedule, Booher has a full slate of events he will attend to serve his Torque MGMT tuning clients. Even with a wide range of schedules, from MDIR Door Wars races with Mac McAdams to PDRA Pro Extreme dates with ProLine Racing, the schedules all work out.  

“I’m just fortunate enough to work with good people who understand that my gig is a family gig. At the same time, a lot of theirs are the same, whether it’s the sheikh of Kuwait or the father-son Tindle team. They get it and they’ve been understanding.”

Such a demanding schedule has its benefits for the driver/tuner. Though the tune-up decisions don’t transfer well from car to car, Booher is able to gather a wealth of knowledge and experience as he works with a range of tracks, combinations and tuners.

“Sometimes I second-guess myself because you’re taking stuff from a car with a suspension to a car without a suspension. There are so many variables – a screw blower to a non-screw blower, a C-rotor to a D-rotor. Anything I tune I try to put a consistent product out there that isn’t going to hurt parts. My whole philosophy is if you want to win you have to learn how to win. You have to learn how to be consistent.

“More time on the starting line is huge, being able to get a feel for what kind of track surface leads to a certain performance out of a particular combination. I think that’s what makes a guy like Steve Petty, who I have the privilege of working with on the ProLine team, what makes him so dangerous. He’s been doing this so long. He has seen every different kind of track surface, every temperature, every level of rubber build-up and he knows what to do. Working with somebody like that, I just try to keep my mouth shut and pay attention and learn. That makes me a better tuner by default.”

Booher’s trailer also received upgrades over the winter. Fellow TAD competitor Dean Dubbin and his DMP Awnings company reskinned the trailer and built a new state-of-the-art awning.  The AB Construction team also welcomes the support of B&J Transmission and Quick Drive, who join returning Booher Racing supporters MBE Cylinder Heads, MVM Motorsports Products, Spitzer Race Cars, and Goodson Tools.

Top Alcohol Dragster competition at the Ray Skillman Auto Group Spring Spectacle of Speed, April 29-May 1, begins with one qualifying session at 4 PM on Friday. Two more sessions are scheduled for Saturday, while eliminations will begin on Sunday. To view live video from the event, visit www.nhradiv3.com and click “D3TV”.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING

Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from MVM Motorsports Products, MBE Cylinder Heads, Spitzer Race Cars, B&J Transmission, Goodson Tools, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Caps Off Four-Race Stretch with Runner-Up Finish at Carolina Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (September 23, 2015) – Former NHRA Carolina Nationals event champion Brandon Booher came just one win-light short of adding a second Charlotte Wally to his trophy case this past weekend. Booher fell to 2011 Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Duane Shields in the Carolina Nationals final round, capping off a four-week stretch of races for the family-owned team out of Champaign, Illinois.

“We started in Bowling Green with new cylinder heads from MBE – that definitely picked up our program. Not being able to field a competitive car in hot weather was something that was hurting us before. We could run well in good air, but so could everyone else. Now I feel that we can be competitive anywhere. Then we went to Indy with a new front-half. We had some issues there, then ran well in Earlville. We were able to finish strong this weekend at Charlotte, qualifying solidly in the field and reaching the final round,” Booher commented.

Booher drove his torque-converter-equipped dragster to the No. 4 qualifying spot with a stout 5.325 et at 271.95 mph. His supercharged machine struggled to get off the tricky starting line in the following qualifying sessions and subsequent rounds of elimination. Booher left the line first in all four rounds, first beating Wayne Morris with a 5.424/270.37 mph pass. He used a sizable holeshot to dispatch rookie Josh Hart's 5.428 with a 5.486 et. Booher had to pedal to a 5.509 in the semifinals, but opponent Robin Samsel also struggled to hook up to the zMax Dragway surface. In the final round, the AB Construction dragster was out of the gate first with solid lead, but Shields drove around Booher's 5.444 to win with a 5.318 pass.

“It was good to go to a final round. It would've been that much sweeter to win the Wally, but Duane made a hands-down excellent run in the finals. We bounced back and forth between lanes in eliminations. It was like I was always a run behind. When these things shake and you have to pedal them, it's not good, especially when the guy in the other lane is running a 5.31. I think it was definitely an issue plaguing almost every class. The starting line surface was marginal at best, and the starting line is where these supercharged alcohol cars are at their best. It was a successful outing. It could've been a little better, but nothing to hang our heads over,” Booher said.

The versatile driver/tuner attributed the recent uptick in performance to the efforts of some of his product partners – MBE Cylinder Heads, MVM Motorsports Products carbon fiber wheelie bars, and longtime Booher Racing chassis builder Spitzer Race Cars.

Matt (Bieneman, of MBE) and I had been working together on some stuff off and on with Brandon Snider's Pro Extreme car, and I really saw the potential in the MBE heads with what Brandon accomplished with his own car. I was able to secure a set for my car. Matt stepped up big and it's definitely been a great partnership so far and no doubt will continue to be one as we take what we're learning on this car with a small cubic-inch motor on the quarter-mile, and progressing forward. We're already discussing things we want to change for next year.

“Matt and his company definitely are at the top of their game. They have some of the best people operating some of the best machinery. He's at the track, he's involved, he's helping out when necessary and that goes a long way. I think that's something people should consider when they're looking to purchase cylinder heads.

“We also started working with Mike and Frank Valerio at MVM Motorsports Products on the carbon fiber wheelie bars. Previously we were having issues with the moly bars. After tire shake or just general use, they would be bent, bowed and the metal lost memory. That's adding another variable into the tune-up. With the rigidity that the carbon offers, you have something that is no longer a variable. We shook the tires hard on five runs this weekend, and the wheelie bar is as strong as it was the day we got it.

Mike Spitzer and I have been together for around 20 years, from Junior Dragster to Super Comp, Super Eliminator and Pro Top Outlaw, to Top Alcohol and the new Top Alcohol Dragster we had them build in 2010. Anything I need, it gets done. I've said it before, but it's like family there. Indy was a shining example of the kind of service they offer to their customers. I pulled into Spitzer's shop early Sunday morning, broke the news that I needed a new front-half by Wednesday, and they didn't bat an eye. They had other stuff going on, other stuff they could've been doing, but they got it done. That's a pretty big statement right there. They just take care of their customers, and that's one of the reasons why Mike and his team have been successful in this business for decades and he'll continue to be until he decides he doesn't want to do it anymore.

“Those are three big partners that help us whenever they can, and in return we try to translate that quality into results on the race track. For what we have and what we spend, I definitely think it's there,” Booher decided.

As Booher points out, a strong support system of manufacturers is critical to a small team like his, especially one running a torque-converter in a class full of time-tested clutch set-ups.

“You're talking about a combination that was laughed at when it came into the class,” Booher said of his converter-equipped blown alcohol car. “That has transitioned into petitions being drafted against the combination, and negative comments from opponents' crew members on the return road. I just don't see how better-funded teams with full-time crews can complain about the torque-converter set-up being unfair. We operate on a shoestring budget, and as far as crew, I have a carpenter in my father, a network engineer in my brother, and a writer for Drag Illustrated. It's not like there's a bunch of engineers sitting up in the lounge. This is a labor of love. Whatever it takes, somehow, someway – I'm not sure sometimes how it gets done, but it gets done. That drive and determination is what's made us successful. We also couldn't do it with the companies and individuals listed above, among others. They make a world of difference.”

In addition to sitting ninth in NHRA Lucas Oil Series national points, Booher is second in North Central Region points. He must reach the final round at next weekend's regional race in Noble, Oklahoma to overtake Mia Tedesco, who holds a ten-point lead but is out of races to claim. Unfortunately for the 2013 North Central regional champion, he will likely sit out the rest of the season unless sponsorship opportunities arise.

“As it stands right now, Charlotte is our tenth and final race this year. It's been a good season, but there comes a point where you can't spend what you don't have. We're not going to race on credit cards. I have a wife and a new daughter. It's been a heckuva year – a win, two runner-up finishes, and two semifinals in regional competition. Mia just had a little better of a year, and my hat's off to her and the Hirata team for it. If someone wanted to work with us on a marketing partnership, or just wants to see me throw some dice out there, that's the only way it can happen,” Booher admitted.

ESPN2's Sportsman coverage of the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway airs at 7:30 AM ET on Saturday, September 26th.


ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from MBE Cylinder Heads, MVM Motorsports Products, Goodson Tools, Spitzer Enterprises, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Scores Second Consecutive Runner-Up Finish of 2015

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (May 21, 2015) – Brandon Booher is working his way back into championship form in NHRA's North Central region, where he now has back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2015. The for-hire Pro Mod tuner drove the AB Construction Top Alcohol Dragster to his seventh regional-level final round at Summit Motorsports Park last weekend, just two weeks after taking runner-up at the season opener in Indianapolis.

“It was definitely good to be in those final rounds and to acquire the points. Obviously I would've liked to win them both, or at least one. It certainly could've been worse. I suspected a few issues at Indy, though they were overshadowed by other unrelated problems. Those issues made themselves evident at Norwalk, but there was nothing we could do about that at the track. I just had to maintain performance and do my job as a driver,” said Booher, who also tunes the family-owned car.

A threatening forecast for the Norwalk area forced officials to cut Top Alcohol qualifying down to two sessions, though Booher managed to qualify sixth in the eight-car field with a 5.427 elapsed time. Racing in front of over 20,000 people, he left first with a .012 light and ran 5.475 to beat Canadian Jeff Veale in the first round. Booher improved to a 5.440 at 265 mph to defeat Mike Manners in the semifinals, again leading the race from the starting line. The same can't be said for the final round, though, when defending region champion Marty Thacker leaped off the starting line and won with a strong 5.430 performance.

“I had to make a tuning call that I didn't want to make, but I knew Marty would run right about where he did, and you know he's dynamite on the line, so I wanted to go out there and run 5.36-38. It was close, it just rattled the tires and I had to pedal it. At that point I could see too much of his car. I knew I wasn't going to catch him so I just lifted. No need to beat the parts up to get a better losing et,” Booher explained.

The issues plaguing the torque-converter-equipped dragster have been resolved for the team's upcoming home race, the Burndown at Sundown NHRA North Central regional event, June 5-7, at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago. There, Booher also plans to debut a prototype wheelie bar for the Top Alcohol Dragster class.

“We've been having some issues with the wheelie bar bending, so Frank and Mike Valerio of MVM Motorsports Products stepped up to work with us on debuting a carbon fiber dragster wheelie bar, similar to the MVM bars you see on a lot of the NHRA Pro Mods and PDRA Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous doorslammers. It will be a lot more rigid, stronger and it's carbon fiber, so it just looks cool.”

Brandon Booher was sure to thank his father and team owner, Aaron Booher; brother and main crew member Brian Booher; and crew members John Halloran and Nate Van Wagnen for their work at Norwalk.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Goodson Tools, MVM Motorsports Products, Spitzer Enterprises, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Kicks Off 2015 Season with Indy Regional Runner-Up Finish

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 7, 2015) – A long offseason of hard work was met with reward last Sunday as Top Alcohol Dragster driver Brandon Booher raced to his sixth NHRA regional event final round and first money round since winning Norwalk last year. Racing at the Spring Spectacle of Speed NHRA North Central Region event at Lucas Oil Raceway, Booher fought his way past two of the top blown alcohol cars in the country before falling to one of the class's rising stars in the final round.

The weekend started positively when a test pass on Thursday yielded a 5.361/265 mph time slip. Drama started in qualifying, though, beginning with a broken blower belt on Friday's run. A torque-converter seal broke on Saturday's first pass, then the top blower pulley broke during the final session. Making matters worse, the team later found out that a brake rotor came off during the burnout. Booher and team worked through the night to secure parts, ultimately finishing repairs on Sunday morning after a quick nap.

“Very few teams carry spare brake rotors and blower pulleys. Thankfully we were able to get a rotor from Anthony Dicero. Shawn and Ron Cowie and their crew chief, Bill Moore, let us use a spare pulley and snout, then we ended up racing them first round. We wouldn't have been able to race on Sunday if it weren't for the parts provided by those teams,” Booher gratefully noted.

The drama continued on Sunday morning, as the team found a broken exhaust spring after warming up the car before first round. The team thrashed to replace the spring, making it to the staging lanes with just enough time to line up alongside Northwest hitter Shawn Cowie. Booher won the race on the starting line, leaving first with a .029 reaction time, powering through with a 5.364 et to beat Cowie's 5.334.

“I knew I had to be on my game on the tree. He has a quick car, no doubt. We should be able to run right with them but we were down on some performance with the converter I switched to after busting the seal in qualifying. It's not like you can switch one to the other. They all have their unique properties and power curves. It would be like someone running a Crower clutch on Q3 then having to switch to a Leanders clutch for first round. So I was pleased to hit the nail on the head and run a thirty-six,” said Booher, a for-hire blown alcohol tuner.

The AB Construction dragster left the starting line first in the two subsequent match-ups, first against defending North Central regional champion Marty Thacker in a 5.409-to-5.438 semifinal race. A .022 holeshot in the final wasn't enough to beat No. 1 qualifier Mia Tedesco and the Hirata Motorsports A/Fuel dragster.

“It was nice to go to the finals again. We had a shot. We had lane choice, we just couldn't keep pace with them. They made a nice pass and deserved the win,” Booher admitted.

Brandon and the AB Construction team are now looking ahead at their next race, the Cavalcade of Stars NHRA North Central Region event at Summit Motorsports Park. The Norwalk, Ohio facility was the site of Booher's most recent win and where he set his career-best elapsed time, a 5.305.

“That race was like Disneyland; the track was killer and the air was good. As long as the surface is good I think we can get close to that this year. I'm going to try something different in the converter and see what that yields. Maybe we will see a twenty. I hope to make Q1 safe enough to get in the field. Then I'll look at the weather and see when our shot will be. If it's Q2, then we'll throw some jam in it and see what it does.”

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Goodson Tools, Spitzer Enterprises, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Looking for Resurgence at Bowling Green Regional

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of David Smith

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (August 20) – A breakout 2013 season had Brandon Booher and his AB Construction team primed for a national championship chase as the 2014 season began. They kicked off the year with a runner-up finish at the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte then a win at the Norwalk regional. Their luck turned for the worse after that, falling in the first and second round at most races, even failing to qualify twice. Booher, who drives and tunes the family-owned Top Alcohol Dragster, hopes to turn things around for the better at this weekend's NHRA North Central Region event in Bowling Green.

“To go from the year we had last year and starting this year strong to struggling with issues and the car not running these last few races has been tough. It's no shortage of work or effort on anyone's part, it's just issues we've had to chase. It's been tough but that's part of the deal. We just need to plug away and get our car back to running where it should.

“After switching literally everything except my driving shoes and firesuit, we thought we had it figured out in St. Louis. The same issue persisted so I came back home, looked at my notes and realized that it was a certain part that I tried. It looked good on paper but it just caused the car to run very poorly. That part has been switched out and now we just need to go to Bowling Green, make some solid hits and get ready for the U.S. Nationals. It would be nice to roll into Indy with a win,” Booher said.

In addition to confidence in the changes he made since the last race, Brandon is fueled by past success at Beech Bend Raceway. He reached the first final round of his TAD career here in 2009, and was well on his way to another final last year.

“This year we've seemed to struggle at the tracks where we excelled last year and vice versa. Last year we won the Joliet and Columbus regionals; this year we didn't qualify at both. Last year we struggled at the Norwalk regional; we won it this year. So following that line of thinking we should do well at Bowling Green. We hurt a lot of parts at this race in prior years, though we didn't have any issues last year. We qualified number one and went to the semifinals where I was double-oh red. I'm looking to improve on that and gain some points,” Booher commented.

Those valuable Lucas Oil Series points are important to Booher, who last year won the NHRA North Central regional championship and finished third in NHRA national points. Though he's slipped to fourth in regional points this year, he's still set on a second championship.

“I'm not giving up on this regional championship yet. I'm sure a lot of people have counted me out based on the last few races but there's a number three on that car for a reason. I hope to prove wrong anyone who thinks I got dumb or forgot what I'm doing.

“It's going to take a good car,” Booher said of what's necessary to repeat last year's points finishes. “I can drive the car well so most of the time that isn't an issue. I just need to have the car behind me. I think our performance in the past proves that it's a contender. If we can pick up a few wins and the right people go out at the right time we can still have a very successful season.”

The NHRA Lucas Oil Series North Central Regional race at Beech Bend Raceway, Aug. 23-24, is a Saturday-Sunday event with qualifying at 1 and 5 PM Saturday and eliminations beginning at noon on Sunday. The AB Construction team will head to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis following eliminations.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world – 5.30 seconds at 275 MPH. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Goodson Tools, Bell Helmets, and Torque MGMT.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Enters Burndown at Sundown as Defending Event Champion

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

JOLIET, Ill. (June 5) – Defending Burndown at Sundown Top Alcohol Dragster event champion Brandon Booher is back at Route 66 Raceway this weekend with hopes of adding another NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional event Wally to his trophy case. Booher, who won his first-ever NHRA event win at this race last year, faced challenges to prepare for the weekend and expects even more when the race begins.

“We had some issues at Topeka, issues that we've been fighting all year. Whenever the temperature is over eighty degrees the car just doesn't run well. I think we have those issues fixed – we'll find out this weekend. I expect the car to perform as well as it has here in the past,” Booher said.

Booher and his AB Construction/Torque MGMT team swept the 2013 Burndown at Sundown, qualifying No. 1 with a 5.328 ET and winning the race over national championship runner-up Chris Demke. Brandon went on to claim his first NHRA North Central regional championship.

“This is where we sort of kick-started our regional championship chase last year, winning the first of three races in a row. Although we've had some bad luck so far this year, we're actually ahead of the ball with a runner-up at Charlotte and a win at the last Lucas Oil race at Norwalk. We need to get the points up early. Last year's championship chase went until the end of the year – I want to wrap it up as early as possible. Getting an early lead and maintaining it will be huge,” Booher added.

The Booher Racing team was close to missing the race due to engine issues until fellow Top Alcohol Dragster competitor JP Gutierrez and Detroit-based Champion Performance saved the day.

“It was looking like we weren't even going to make the race. [Crew member] Cam Brady and I drove all night after Topeka, pulled the motor and took it to a machine shop for new sleeves. Up until Monday, nothing was done on it. We were in a tough position until JP Gutierrez and Champion Performance fixed it, working until 2:30 AM on Wednesday. It's been a constant effort to prepare for this race,” said the Champaign, Ill.-based driver.

Challenges will continue throughout the weekend, as a conflicting appointment will likely prevent Brandon from making both of Saturday's scheduled qualifying runs.

“Evening qualifying sessions are great for the fans and performance, but Q2 and Q3 are at 4 and 8 PM on Saturday. My sister-in-law's wedding is at 5 PM on Saturday. My plan is to put the car in the top half of the field on Friday's run so I can show support for those who support me. So if all goes according to plan, you will not see me Saturday. We'll be back for eliminations on Sunday,” Booher confirmed.

Friday's Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying session is scheduled for 4 PM CST. Eliminations begin at noon on Sunday. For information and results from the Burndown at Sundown NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional event, please visit www.route66raceway.com.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Bell Helmets Torque MGMT, and PK Construction.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Lowers Personal Record, Wins Norwalk Regional Race

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (May 20) – Booher Racing Top Alcohol Dragster driver Brandon Booher prevailed over adverse conditions, a stacked field, and mechanical issues to claim the Cavalcade of Stars NHRA North Central regional race title last weekend.

Qualifying alone was challenging enough for any of the nineteen Top Alcohol Dragster teams who showed up from all over North America to race in front of the legendary Norwalk crowd. Booher was on a decent run during Friday's session until a torque converter issue slowed down the AB Construction dragster to a 6.09. Brandon and his crew put a new converter in the car for the remainder of qualifying, which was shortened to just one session on Sunday morning due to Saturday rain storms.

“Luckily the conditions were very similar to those of the Reading national event last year, the race where we ran this particular converter. Though I had very little data, it was quality data. I was able to look back on areas of improvement from those runs and work that into the set-up for Norwalk. With the capabilities of the other cars trying to qualify, I knew I had to throw a number up on the board to qualify well and set us up for a good race day,” said Booher, whose 5.312/268 MPH run was enough to qualify second.

Warming track temperatures caused Brandon to pedal on his first round pass against Richard Bourke, but the AB Construction entry was well-ahead of a tire-smoking Bourke. Booher ripped off a career-best 5.304 pass in the semifinals, taking out Cavalcade of Stars grand marshal Bill Reichert in the process. While impressive, the competitive driver/tuner was looking for more; perhaps his elusive first 5.2 run.

“I actually thought it would've been a little quicker. I made some changes after qualifying, and it was two hundredths quicker to the sixty foot in the first round before I had to pedal it,” Brandon recalled.

The win over Reichert, who is widely considered to be the best in the Top Alcohol Dragster business, was a confidence booster for Brandon and his team.

“That was a huge upset. I talked to Bill at the end of the track and said, 'Now I'm one for three hundred against you. Every time we run you we break something.' I can tell you the dates, rounds, and locations – I've never been able to beat him.”

With a pair of strong runs under his belt, Booher went into the final round against fellow blown alcohol driver Marty Thacker. The pair of supercharged machines didn't take to the Summit Motorsports Park quarter-mile until almost midnight. The race was over before it started, as Thacker had mechanical issues and hopped out of his car by the time Brandon backed up from his burnout. Booher took the tree, shook the tires on the cold track surface, and idled to his fourth regional event victory.

Brandon Booher and the AB Construction/Torque MGMT Top Alcohol Dragster team will next compete at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 23-25.

 ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Bell Helmets, Torque MGMT, and PK Construction.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Regional Champ Booher Ready for Challenge at Cavalcade of Stars

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (May 14) – Reigning NHRA North Central Region Top Alcohol Dragster champion Brandon Booher returns to Summit Motorsports Park this weekend for his second Lucas Oil Series regional event. The now-storied Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars event, May 16-18, is known for sold-out crowds of almost 50,000 fans, but it has also become one of the largest regional events in the country in terms of car counts. Booher expects to compete against a packed field of challengers from around the country this weekend.

“I think it's going to be a tough field. With the A/Fuel rule changes and the projected forecast being cooler temperatures, it's going to be especially tough. It wouldn't surprise me if we have sixteen to twenty cars fighting for eight spots. It will be important for us to go A to B on the first qualifying run so we can put a good number on the board and have something to build on for the following sessions,” said Booher, who was the No. 1 qualifier at last year's Cavalcade of Stars.

The three-time regional event winner is coming off of a runner-up finish at the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte and a first round loss at the Indy regional event just a few weeks ago.

“We made some changes after Indy to improve performance,” Brandon noted. “I'm confident going in that my car will pick up where we left off on Q1 at Charlotte, where we can bang off a low 5.3 right off the bat. It's going to take at least that just to qualify this weekend.”

Another factor Booher and his AB Construction team must consider is the weather. With cool temperatures and daily cloud cover compounding the already-cool evening qualifying sessions, the versatile driver-tuner will have his work cut out for him.

“It's sort of a double-edged sword. The track is known for being excellent. On the other hand, the cool ambient temperatures during the day will make it hard to get enough heat in the track by the time we run. It could be a tricky track to get down. I almost hope that it is tricky because that's an area that I'm well-versed in with the power management aspect. Whatever we're facing, we'll make it work,” Booher concluded.

The Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser is one of the few events where the Top Alcohol drivers and teams are the stars of the show. Festivities will begin on Friday at 6 PM with pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions, followed by a 7 PM qualifying session. Brandon will participate in the track autograph session at 1 PM before driver intros at 3:30 and qualifying sessions at 4 and 8 PM. Eliminations begin at 1 PM on Sunday. For tickets and event information, visit www.summitmotorsportspark.com.


ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional champion-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Bell Helmets, Torque MGMT, and PK Construction.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Starts Season with Four-Wide Runner-Up

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

CONCORD, N.C. (April 15) – As he anticipated, Top Alcohol Dragster driver/tuner Brandon Booher started his 2014 season in the same way he ended his last season; running in the low five-thirties and racing to the final round. The Champaign, Ill.-based driver overcame powerful A/Fuel competitors and parts breakage to persist through eliminations at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway near Charlotte last weekend.

Booher made a statement in the opening qualifying session, posting a 5.324/274 MPH blast down the race track. He backed it up with consistent 5.330 and 5.327 elapsed times during the later two qualifying sessions, but it was his first run of the season that was good enough to place him sixth in the field of nitromethane-injected A/Fuel dragsters.

“It's what I wanted the car to do,” Brandon said of his first run. “I knew we could pick up right where we left off. That sort of went with the plan of getting down the track and having something to tune off of. The 5.32 at 274 was exactly what we wanted, but things didn't go as swimmingly as I would've liked after that run.”

Booher narrowly escaped his Saturday first round race against Rich McPhillips. Brandon had to pedal his blown alcohol dragster, ultimately knocking off the supercharger and burning a piston. The numbers were astounding; Booher left the starting line first with a .037 reaction time, McPhillips with a .038. Brandon was first to the finish line with a 5.447 elapsed time, McPhillips with a 5.448. Just two thousandths of a second separated the two.

Eliminations continued on Sunday, when Booher automatically defeated Don Nolan, who red-lit. The 2013 NHRA North Central Region TAD champion won his semifinal match over Jackie Fricke with a 5.369/270 MPH run. The Booher Racing team's good day went bad less than an hour later. Brandon had to be pushed back after the burnout for his final round race against Corey Michalek, then broke shortly after leaving the starting line. All damage assessed; an annihilated transmission, a connecting rod through the engine block, and a hurt crank. Still down after losing the race, the team went to work on the car, removing the spent engine and replacing it with a new one for the next race.

“The guys are hard workers; they know how to work and they know stuff has to get done. The last thing I was worried about was if there was a problem, whether or not we'd get it fixed. This weekend it seems like things were stacked against us as far as attrition rate and parts breakage. It was nothing that anybody did wrong, it was just one of those things that happens. The guys did great. The final round was definitely not their fault,” Booher claimed.

A preventable issue kept the AB Construction dragster from making a final round run at the trophy, leaving the ultra-competitive Booher extremely disappointed in the final outcome.

“We just didn't have enough time to do all of the required maintenance. We literally had eighteen minutes from the time the car pulled into the pits until the time we had to head to the staging lanes. I suppose both teams were dealing with the same amount of time, we just had more maintenance we needed to do. The car suffered a lot of damage in the final, and that all could've been avoided with fifteen more minutes of turnaround time,” Brandon commented.

The race results from this weekend's race at Charlotte told Brandon and his team that while they have a car capable of winning races, it won't be easy.

“There are some strong cars out there. I believe we're one of them. Look at how many A/Fuel cars were running in the five-twenties this weekend. As eliminations came around, things just sort of went our way. We got very lucky first round against Rich McPhillips. That's a car that can and has run five-twenties. Then Jackie (Fricke) smoked the tires mid-track. We had a good car, but going forward it's going to be tough.”

Brandon and the AB Construction/Torque MGMT. Top Alcohol Dragster team will next race at the NHRA North Central Region season opener in Indianapolis, April 25-27.

ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional champion-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Torque MGMT, Bell Helmets, and PK Construction.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

TAD Regional Champ Booher Kicking off 2014 Campaign at Four-Wide Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of David Smith

CONCORD, N.C. (April 8) – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster regional champion Brandon Booher is back in the United States after a two-month racing series took him to Qatar to work as a tuning consultant. The torque converter-savvy Booher is starting his 2014 campaign at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway this weekend, April 11-13.

Brandon spent most of his “offseason” in Qatar, joining Brandon Snider's ADRL Pro Extreme team as a tuning consultant. After working on and running the blown-alcohol Pro Mod almost daily, Booher is excited to be back to tuning and driving his AB Constuction/Torque MGMT dragster.

“When I got back from Qatar, I was almost burnt out from racing. We basically ran a full season's worth of runs in six weeks straight. I slowly started getting things ready, but the season starting on the west coast really motivated me to get everything ready for our season. Now I'm fully prepared to start off right where we left off,” Brandon said, hinting at his first-ever national event win at the Carolina Nationals here last September.

The Top Alcohol Dragster landscape has been altered slightly since the Booher Racing team last raced. Two-time national champion Jim Whiteley retired from the class. The rival nitro-injected A/Fuel teams were awarded three beneficial rule changes over the winter. Despite the changes, the Illinois-based driver is set on maintaining the routine and mindset that took him to two national event finals last year.

“I'm still going to follow the same plan that we had through all of last year; take small steps to improve in qualifying so we have a solid, consistent tune-up capable of going rounds on Sunday. The rule change doesn't bother me; you still need to get down the track and reach the finish line first. I'm just going to concentrate on putting the best package out there for the guys with me and the people who support us and see where we end up. Hopefully it's in the winner's circle,” Booher claimed.

Never one to rest on his latest performances, the 31-year old driver/tuner has set strict benchmarks for his upcoming title chase.

“I always want to improve. Elapsed time-wise, I know we can improve; I plan to do that this weekend. I have new goals for myself and my team to take what was a consistent mid-to-low 5.3s car and turn it into a low 5.3-to-mid-5.2s car. I know we can do it, it's just a matter of getting out there and doing it.

“Performance-wise, we're defending our Lucas Oil Series regional championship. We're also currently leading the Jegs Allstars points for the North Central region. I want to maintain that lead so we can race for our first Allstars title at my home race at Joliet. As far as national points, I believe we have a car that's capable of winning the national championship. We'll see how Charlotte goes. Not that this race will dictate how the whole season will go, but it will give us a good idea,” Brandon concluded.

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals begins on Friday with runs scheduled for 12:15 and 3:45 PM. Teams will get one final session at 11 AM on Saturday before entering eliminations at 3 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday.


ABOUT BOOHER RACING
Booher Racing is a father-son NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team led by owner/crew chief Aaron Booher and his son, driver/tuner Brandon Booher. The AB Construction team holds the title of quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped vehicle in the world. The 2013 NHRA North Central TAD Regional championship-winning Booher Racing team receives support from Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors, Spitzer Enterprises, Torque MGMT, and Bell Helmets.

Follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/booherracing).

Booher Claims First North Central Region TAD Championship

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photos courtesy of David Smith

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (November 26) – Racing in just his third full season in the NHRA's quickest and fastest sportsman class, 31-year old Brandon Booher drove his torque converter-equipped Top Alcohol Dragster to three regional event wins to claim his first NHRA North Central Regional championship. Booher's regional title is just one of many high points in a season that included several firsts and accomplishments for the father-son Booher Racing team.

Though Booher won three regional events – Joliet, Cordova, and Columbus – in the middle of summer, he didn't officially clinch the North Central region title until qualifying was complete at the final Lucas Oil series race of the year in Las Vegas earlier this month. Challenger Bill Reichert would’ve taken the points lead with a win at the race.

“If you look at any of the other regions, if you had three wins and two semis you would have such a points lead that it's laughable, and we didn't. That's how tough this region is. We had a few missteps at the two races early in the season, odd parts broke at the last two regionals, and those hurt our chances. Bill Reichert would've gone around us if he won the Noble or Las Vegas races. We were on pins and needles waiting to see how it would shake out,” said Brandon, a former Pro Top Outlaw dragster champion.

Booher's championship season was a result of hard work, a combination of quality parts and pieces, and a strong support system. Brandon knew that a regional championship was possible with this combination, but he didn't expect it to come so early in his TAD career.

“I have always believed in the capabilities of our car, our crew, and the manufacturers who work with us. We didn't perform as well in our previous two seasons mainly because the converter technology hadn't progressed enough. With a few new items added to the car over the offseason, we were able to make the car reach its potential. It's not as simple as changing the converter or camshaft; it did take a lot of time and hard work. It's nice to see it all come to fruition.”

The AB Construction team's success wasn't limited to regional competition. Brandon won his first national event at the NHRA Carlyle Tools Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in September. Another final round appearance followed at the NHRA Auto-Plus Nationals a month later, running two 5.307s during the course of the event. Booher ultimately finished third in LODRS national points standings.

Considering the season that included so many firsts, career-bests, and accomplishments, Brandon's proudest accomplishment might be surprising – his 275 MPH speed in the second round at the Carolina Nationals. The run ranks in the top five fastest blown alcohol passes. The Booher Racing dragster is now the second-fastest blown alcohol dragster and fastest ever torque converter-equipped car.

“The most impressive thing to me was the 275 MPH with a torque converter. I would even go so far as to say that was the best run of the year in alcohol racing. Big mile per hour like that is an indication of horsepower and a reflection of what my dad and I have been working on. To anyone who thought I was silly for wanting to make this combination work, it was a wake-up call – this is for real,” Brandon said.

As for next year, Brandon is expecting even better performance out of his car.

“I'm just getting started. It's only going to get better from here because I have gobs of data and manufacturers who are excited to work with us. It was a dream year, but I have no intentions of settling. Next year needs to be better; more consistency and better performance. I think that's doable with what we learned this year.”

The driver/tuner is very grateful to the people and companies who made the 2013 season possible.

“You can't have performance without people there to work on it. All of the crew guys, whether they were full-time or just a race or two – Pete, Drew, John, Nate, Ed, and of course my dad, Aaron. 2014 will be our twentieth season racing together. My wife Shannon and my mom also came out and supported us at a lot of races this year.

“On the manufacturer side, I want to thank Ken Juszczyk at Motorsports Unlimited Performance Parts Distributors. Ken always has parts on-hand at the races, which is extremely helpful for a team like ours. Mike Spitzer and everyone at Spitzer Enterprises have been great to work with, ever since I started racing a Spitzer Junior Dragster almost twenty years ago. Goodson Tools and Bell Helmets also provided support.”

Brandon Booher and the AB Construction/Torque Management team expect to run a full schedule in 2014, with the goals of reaching the 5.2s, defending their North Central region championship, and contending for the Lucas Oil Series national championship.

Booher Racing is a Champaign, Illinois-based Top Alcohol Dragster team, competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Former Junior Dragster driver Brandon Booher pilots the family-owned AB Construction blown alcohol dragster. The team owns the record for quickest and fastest torque converter-equipped TAD. Booher Racing receives support from Motorsports Unlimited, Spitzer Race Cars, Goodson Tools, Bell Helmets, and Torque Management.

For news and results from Booher Racing, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing).

Booher Finishes 2013 Season with Reading Runner-Up

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of NVW M.P.

MOHNTON, Penn. (October 10) – Recent national event winner Brandon Booher came close to securing a win at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend. A No. 1 qualifying effort and low ETs of every round took Brandon and his torque converter-equipped Top Alcohol Dragster to the finals where a starting line mishap and mechanical failure cost him a second national event win.

Brandon missed his first qualifying run after electrical components started smoking in the cockpit following the burnout. He came back and set low E.T. of the event, 5.307 at 269 MPH, in the second session. A broken blower belt prevented Booher from running his first 5.2-second pass in the final qualifying session, but his Q2 run stood up for the No. 1 spot at the end of qualifying.

Booher met 2011 national champion Duane Shields in the first round. Brandon streaked to a 5.33 at 271 MPH to move on to face Jeff Veale, the second-quickest driver in round one. The AB Construction/Torque Management car repeated its qualifying effort, running 5.307 to beat Veale’s 5.43.

Upon returning to the pits, the team discovered a burnt piston. With the help of Andy Bohl’s Top Alcohol Funny Car team, Doug Foley Jr., and Cam Brady, the AB Construction team was able to do a major overhaul to prepare for a semifinal pairing with Dan Page.

“We burned a piston racing Veale. It shouldn’t have – everything else looked fine. We had very little time to get the car ready for the semifinals. I figure we had about twenty-five minutes from the time we left the scales to the time we left the pit area. We had to change cylinder heads, put new pistons in it, and do normal maintenance. I got strapped in while the car was still on the Pro-Jacks and we headed for the staging lanes. I don’t think any of us worked that hard between runs before. That was a big round win, and we couldn’t have done it without the help we received,” Brandon said gratefully.

Brandon survived the round with a 5.36 win over Page’s 5.45. Rival Division 3 A/Fuel driver Robin Samsel would be waiting for Brandon in the finals.

A starting line abnormality haltered the reaction time of the usually quick-leaving Booher. Samsel lit both stage lights before Brandon pre-staged. Because he wasn’t able to bring up the RPMs in time for the tree to drop, Brandon left with a .083 light to Samsel’s .020. The slow reaction time combined with unnecessary technical issues led the AB Construction entry to finish second, 5.51 to Samsel’s 5.56 – a holeshot loss.

“With the converter, I have a slightly different staging procedure compared to the other blown cars. After Samsel lit both stage lights simultaneously, I didn’t have time to bring up the RPMs after I fully staged. It threw me off. We’ve already taken measures to prevent similar starting line issues from happening,” Booher claimed.

The true issue was a mechanical failure that caused the car to slow from its usual five-thirty range to a 5.51 in the finals.

“The transbrake button engaged in the middle of the run, right around the shift point. The micro switch that we use is so sensitive. Something shook or vibrated it and activated the switch. The switch is made for use in a Super Stock car, not a Top Alcohol Dragster that goes over 270 miles per hour.

“The transbrake only came on momentarily, but if it stayed on much longer it would have locked up the transmission. It could’ve done a lot of damage,” said Brandon, who has proven the capabilities of the torque converter over the 2013 season.

Though a national event win was the desired outcome, Booher still earned enough points to move up to third in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster National points standings. His lead in the Lucas Oil Series North Central region points remains as the series enters its final race of the year.

Booher Racing is a Champaign, Illinois-based Top Alcohol Dragster team, competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Former Junior Dragster driver Brandon Booher pilots the family-owned AB Construction blown alcohol dragster. The team owns the world record for quickest and fastest converter-equipped TAD. Booher Racing receives support from Motorsports Unlimited, Goodson Tools, Spitzer Race Cars, and Torque Management. To learn more about Booher Racing, please visit www.nitronate.com/booher.

For news and results throughout the 2013 season, follow Booher Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/booherracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/booherracing).