Seat Time, Win Lights on Demke's Mind at Carolina Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

CONCORD, NC (September 14, 2016) – Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster driver Chris Demke enters this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals as a past event champion, but he’s never actually hoisted a coveted “Wally” trophy at zMAX Dragway. Demke hopes to change that this weekend, though.

“I would love to add Charlotte to the list of racetracks where I’ve won. It’s one of Bruton Smith’s tracks, so it’s an awesome racing facility. It’s the only four-wide dragstrip in the world, and it’s in the heart of racing country. The fans in the Charlotte area are all about any kind of racing, and they love drag racing,” said Demke, who won the 2014 Charlotte event as part of a trifecta weekend during which Demke won the Carolina Nationals, Keystone Nationals, and the NHRA Lucas Oil Series national championship.

The 2016 NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 16-18, is Demke’s second race back in the seat of his championship-winning Maddern Racing dragster after walking away from a violent crash in the team’s formerly experimental “X-car” at the Seattle regional race. With just a couple weeks between the crash and the prestigious U.S. Nationals across the country in Indianapolis, the Jerry Maddern and Kevin Watson-led team worked to prepare the second Peen Rite dragster for Indy. Demke qualified sixth with a 5.287 and bowed out in the second round.

While winning is always on the minds of the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team, Demke will spend this weekend focusing on the mental aspect of successfully pursuing race wins and a second national championship.

“After my crash in Seattle, getting back in the seat at Indy was challenging. The old saying about getting back on the horse really holds true. I would’ve liked to do better at Indy, but our team is very satisfied with our performance. In the end, it was my driving that failed us. The only thing that’s going to solve that is more laps. The sooner I get back in the seat, the sooner I get back to one hundred percent behind the wheel,” Demke claimed.

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products Top Alcohol Dragster team will take to the zMAX Dragway quarter-mile for Friday’s qualifying sessions around 11:30 AM and 1:45 PM. A third and final qualifying session is scheduled for 10:30 AM on Satuday, followed by first round of eliminations at 5 PM. Eliminations will continue on Sunday.

Maddern Racing is a family-owned and operated NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team based in Southern California. The team's Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Kevin Watson, Aimee Maddern, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, Robert Hadaller, and Ryan Miller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.Facebook.com/MaddernRacing.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, Hoosier Racing Tires, Motorsports Unlimited, VP Racing Fuels, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

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).

Demke Sweeps NHRA Nationals Weekend at Maple Grove

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

MOHNTON, Pa. (October 8, 2014) – 2014 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Chris Demke swept the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway last weekend, clinching the championship on Friday, winning the rained-out Carolina Nationals on Saturday and claiming the NHRA Nationals event win on Sunday. The weekend was a fitting end to a whirlwind championship chase that took Demke and the Peen Rite team across the country multiple times since the season started in February.

“This weekend has been indescribable, considering I didn't even want to go to this race. I feel like a fool for arguing with my crew as they certainly had the right idea coming here and had more confidence in our ability to perform than I did,” Demke admitted.

Demke qualified No. 2 for the NHRA Nationals while finishing eliminations from the Carolina Nationals, running a best of 5.281 at 273 MPH during the second round. He fired off a shot heard around the Top Alcohol world in the first round of racing for the NHRA Nationals when the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products dragster traveled the Maple Grove quarter mile in 5.217 seconds at a wicked 277.94 miles per hour, the fourth-quickest blown alcohol pass in history and the single fastest blown alcohol run ever.

“After winning the championship on Friday then the Charlotte race early in the day Saturday, the pressure was off. We were ready to unleash and see what the car would run more than we were concerned with winning the Maple Grove race. When we ripped off that 5.21 at 277.94 MPH on Saturday night, that was a prime example,” said the Maddern Racing crew member-turned driver.

Demke, team owner Jerry Maddern and tuner Adam Rhoades set the car on kill mode for Sunday's eliminations, confident in their ability to dip into the five-teens.

“We came up with some ideas to make it go faster on Sunday. The first run on Sunday was a little over the top. I had to pedal it and had some engine problems at the top end. Luckily we did win that round,” Chris said.

Demke's pedal job was enough to win over Top 5 driver Rich McPhillips in a 5.25 to 5.32 race. Existing engine damage from that abusive run resulted in a backfire during the semifinals but opponent Mike Lewis suffered his own troubles earlier in the run, so Demke coasted through to the final round. Waiting for him there was 2011 national champion Duane Shields, who ran 5.23 in his semifinal race. The Peen Rite team almost didn't make it to the starting line in time for the final, but both car and driver were more than on time after that, leaving first with a .005 reaction time and winning with a 5.26 ET to Shields' 5.39.

The experienced blown alcohol dragster driver isn't new to winning big events, as he recently won the 60th Anniversary U.S. Nationals at Indy, but this weekend carried a different type of excitement.

“Winning Indy was special, don't get me wrong, but every year someone gets to win Indy. What we pulled off this weekend – winning the championship, a rain-delayed race and the actual race all in one weekend – that doesn't happen every year. It was a truly astounding feat for these guys to pull off. I'm still on cloud nine; it hasn't really hit me.

“I couldn't really let my guard down until after we won the championship and the Charlotte race. Once that final win light came on Sunday afternoon, it finally hit me that I was the 2014 world champion. I don't know which one of these wins to celebrate. It's just an incredible feeling. I wish I could bottle it up and sell it because I'd be a millionaire if I could.”

While extending thanks to team owner Jerry Maddern and crew members Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller, Chris Demke also noted the fellow TAD competitors who helped the Peen Rite team during eliminations.

“I want to thank all of the east coast teams who came over to help us get the car turned around between the later rounds. We've had the west coast teams step in to help when we needed to get work done quickly but to see the east coast guys help out when we're on their turf really made me happy. It really is one big Top Alcohol family. I want to thank Mike Kosky especially for loaning us his fuel pump. Stephany Schuster and Kristen Wetzel from Frank Schuster's team stepped in to help. We had guys from Dave Hirata's crew helping too. It was an amazing group of people and my hat's off to them for coming over to help.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products team will skip the Las Vegas national event to service the car and hauler, as the equipment has been on the road since leaving for the Topeka race in May. Demke might compete at the Las Vegas regional race, November 7-9, but will definitely finish out the season at the NHRA Finals, November 14-16, at Maddern Racing's home track, Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.


Maddern Racing is a family-owned and operated NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team based in Southern California. The team's Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite/Operational Solutions/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.MaddernRacing.com.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Operational Solutions Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, Jet-Lube, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

Demke Within Two Round Wins of First National Championship at NHRA Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

MOHNTON, Pa. (October 2, 2014) Top Alcohol Dragster national championship contender Chris Demke didn't anticipate a stop at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway until he fell a couple rounds short of clinching the title at the last race in Dallas. Demke, who would've locked up the championship with a win at Dallas, lost to title rival Joey Severance in the semifinals due to a broken blower belt. This weekend, the California native is competing in two races – the remainder of eliminations from the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals and the NHRA Nationals.

“The Charlotte make-up race counts as my tenth race and the last race I can claim for points. While I'm here at Maple Grove, I'm really only thinking about Charlotte. Although we brought enough oil and parts to run both races, our first focus is winning the Charlotte race,” Demke claimed.

This weekend will be a test for the recently successful Demke and his Maddern Racing teammates, who won several races during the hot summer months. With cool temperatures expected throughout the NHRA Nationals, the Peen Rite team will be faced with conditions they haven't seen in months.

“Finishing the Charlotte race at Maple Grove doesn't fall into our strategy at all. We wanted to hit as many hot, higher altitude races as possible. Maple Grove is one of the quickest, if not the quickest, tracks in the country because of the great air and cool weather. The cars make a lot of horsepower here,” Chris explained.

Demke, who runs a supercharged, methanol-burning entry for team owner and stepfather Jerry Maddern, will have a close eye on his nitro-injected A/Fuel competitors this weekend. The nitro-burners typically excel in the conditions that will be present at Maple Grove Raceway.

“Coming here to chase the championship is very much like coming into the lion's den to finish this out. The A/Fuel cars will probably have the advantage but I have every bit of confidence that our car will be able to produce an enormous amount of horsepower this weekend. Our other option would've been going to Vegas or Pomona to finish this out. Because we did win first round at Charlotte, we're that one round closer to winning the championship. That's why we came here,” Demke noted.

The remaining three rounds of eliminations from the NHRA Carolina Nationals will be completed during qualifying for the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, PA, October 3-5. Q1 on Friday morning will serve as the first qualifying session for the Maple Grove race. The quarterfinals and semifinals from Charlotte will be contested during Q2 (Friday afternoon) and Q3 (Saturday morning). The final round race will take place before the first round of eliminations for Maple Grove on Saturday evening. Maple Grove eliminations continue on Sunday.

Maddern Racing is a family-owned and operated NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team based in Southern California. The team's Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite/Operational Solutions/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.MaddernRacing.com.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Operational Solutions Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

Demke Could Clinch National Championship at Fall Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

ENNIS, Texas (September 18, 2014) – Three-time Top Alcohol Dragster national championship runner-up Chris Demke is within striking distance of his first national title. A win at this weekend's Texas AAA NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex is all it would take for Demke to clinch the championship. The Californian driver won five of his recent races, as well as the first round of the delayed Carolina Nationals at Charlotte. The Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products driver has Charlotte in the mirror and has switched his focus to winning a championship.

“I thought I had to go to Charlotte and Dallas to have a chance at wrapping up the championship. I figured since Charlotte was delayed there was no way I could lock it up at Dallas, but that's not the case. So now I'm excited. I can just taste it. It's certainly not a guarantee; it's a tall order. I'm just thrilled to be in this position,” said the excitable Demke.

“I say that I'm not going to think about it (the national championship) but of course I'm going to think about it. At the same time I know I'm just going to Dallas to have a good time. If we keep our heads down, our shoulders squared and we keep executing like we have been at the last few races then there's a chance we can come out of there in good standing.

“But certainly going to Dallas and expecting to win, there's no way I can expect that. The last guy to beat me in eliminations and the guy with the best chance of taking the championship from me, Joey Severance, will be there. Not only him, but Shayne Lawson in Randy Meyer's car. A host of very competitive cars will be there. It's going to be an extreme challenge but one I believe my team is up to,” Demke claimed.

Joining Demke, team owner Jerry Maddern and the Peen Rite team at the race this weekend will be a special guest.

“I'm bringing my girlfriend, Cookie, my good luck charm. She was at Pomona at the beginning of the year and she went to Acton and Columbus – three of the races we won. I hope her support will help us win this race and the national championship,” Demke said.

The Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster team was racing at the Pep Boys Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, where they won first round before the rest of the race was delayed. The remainder of Carolina Nationals eliminations will continue at the Reading, PA national event, Oct. 3-5 at Maple Grove Raceway.

“They're going to make up Charlotte at Reading, which is fine. We won't make the decision to go or not until we're done with Dallas. If we need to make the trip to Maple Grove, then we're on our way. We're going to go where ever we need to go to make this championship happen.”

Maddern Racing is a family-owned and operated NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team based in Southern California. The team's Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite/Operational Solutions/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.MaddernRacing.com.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Operational Solutions Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

Demke Taking Hot Streak to Pep Boys Carolina Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

CONCORD, N.C. (September 11, 2014) – Top Alcohol Dragster's Chris Demke is taking his hot streak to the southeast for the Pep Boys Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway this weekend. The 2014 NHRA U.S. Nationals champion and his Maddern Racing teammates are continuing a season-long road trip in search of their first national championship. With a healthy points lead and only a handful of events left in the season, Demke wants to stay hot.

“Momentum is important,” he said. “The thrill of winning a national event certainly lasts a lot longer with Indy, but it's time to get back to business, put that win behind us and focus on Charlotte. I only have two claimable races left so I need to make the most of my opportunities.”

The crew member-turned driver has already earned three 2014 nationals event wins, including the prestigious Labor Day tradition, the U.S. Nationals. Demke also won the last four NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional events he attended.

“We've learned a lot in these last few races. We have the best handle on the tune-up that I've seen in a long time so it's just a matter of keeping the crew, the tune-up and my driving synchronized so we can continue winning rounds like we know best,” Demke claimed.

The decision to continue east for the Carolina Nationals came down last minute. Blown alcohol cars like the Peen Rite machine typically have an advantage in warm weather, leading Demke and the Jerry Maddern-owned team to strike while the iron – and the weather – are hot.

“The idea behind going to Charlotte is to keep racing while the weather is warm. Now looking at the forecast, that won't be the case this weekend. It's either going to be cold or it'll rain. Our tune-up has done well in the warm weather of recent. I'm interested to see how it will hold up when the weather gets cool. If everything works out right, our car should lay down a (five) twenty on just about every pass. I don't want to get arrogant or set expectations too high but I know the performance is there. We just need to execute,” Demke declared, adding, “Whether it's cool or warm this weekend, I'll have cold samples of Morningwood Energy Drink to pass out to fans.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products team will take to the zMax Dragway strip for Pep Boys Carolina Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM on Friday. Another session will follow at 11 AM on Saturday. Eliminations begin at 4:30 PM Saturday and continue on Sunday morning.

Maddern Racing is a family-owned and operated NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team based in Southern California. The team's Chris Demke-driven Peen Rite/Operational Solutions/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.MaddernRacing.com.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Operational Solutions Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

From DNQ to Semifinalist - Don Nolan Enjoys Career-Best Finish at Carolina Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

Photo courtesy of David Smith/PSA

   

MANCHESTER, Ky. (September 18) – Prior to the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Don Nolan had only qualified for two races outside of the 2013 season. He not only qualified for this race, he qualified in the top half of the strong field, ran career-best numbers by a bunch, and beat two of the class’ most accomplished drivers on his way to the semifinals.

Nolan was the talk of the alcohol pits after he drove his VisoneRV.com blown alcohol dragster to the provisional No. 2 spot following two qualifying sessions on Friday, clocking a career-best 5.406 at 263 miles per hour. Though he ran a close 5.45 during Saturday’s final qualifying session, he was bumped to No. 7 in the sixteen-car field.

“We were not expecting that 5.40. I expected maybe a mid to high 5.4 run out of the car this weekend. The crew and I were very excited to see those numbers to close out a difficult season,” said Nolan, owner of Nolan Surveying.

Don would face multi-event winning driver and world championship tuner Randy Meyer in the opening round of eliminations. Racing under the lights at Charlotte, N.C.’s state-of-the-art zMax Dragway, Meyer lost traction early into the run while Nolan clicked off another 5.45 to earn the first round win of his early TAD career.

Another tough competitor would be in the other lane for the quarter-finals. Five-time world champion and Top Alcohol Dragster icon Bill Reichert provided a good race, but it was Don’s VisoneRV.com entry taking the win in a 5.42 to 5.48 match.

“It’s an honor just to race with guys like Meyer and Reichert. To be able to beat them was just unbelievable. When I got to the end of the track, I thought the officials were going to tell me that I red-lighted. I had no idea that Randy smoked the tires,” Nolan said of his round wins.

His luck ran short in the semifinal round. Nolan was thrown off by the staging procedure, double-stepped the throttle, and left too late. A .465 light and 5.50 run wasn’t nearly enough to beat Rich McPhillips’ .005 reaction time and 5.45 run.

The Carlyle Tools Carolina Nationals was still a career weekend for Nolan and his crew of brother Michael Nolan and Mike Saltsman. Don cites a series of small problems for preventing the team from enjoying success earlier in their sophomore season.

“We’ve been fighting little gremlins all season. Errors of inexperience on both ends cost us good runs on multiple occasions. After an oil line came loose and resulted in a DNQ at Columbus, we really started to turn things around,” Don said, adding, “We could have ten people tell us what to change with the fuel management or the clutch, and all ten could tell us something completely different from one another. All ten of them could be right, but I just went back to tuning it based off of what I know. It’s starting to work out for us.”

Nolan Racing is Manchester, Kentucky-based Top Alcohol Dragster team, competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. First generation driver Don Nolan pilots the family-owned VisoneRV.com/Nolan Construction blown alcohol dragster. Nolan Racing receives support from Visone RV and Auto Mart, Nolan Construction, Renegade Fuels and Oils, Robinson Meats, Cumberland Gap Bottled Water, and Hot Rods Service Center. To learn more about Nolan Racing, please visit www.facebook.com/392racing.

Manzo Back in 1st Place, Booher Wins First National

Courtesy of Todd Veney/Pro Sportsman Association
Photos courtesy of David Smith

At the Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, Frank Manzo won for the third time in a row and the 103rd time in his unparalleled career to shoot from sixth to first in the national Top Alcohol Funny Car standings, and in Top Alcohol Dragster Brandon Booher won his first national event to keep alive a longshot bid for the national championship.

Manzo, who uncharacteristically stumbled through his first three national event starts this season without reaching a final, backed up his Brainerd and Indy victories with a dominant performance in Charlotte, qualifying No. 1 and running low e.t. of every round, including a final-round 5.59 against rival Mickey Ferro's 5.70.

Manzo, who red-lighted by just thousandths of a second on his most recent night run, in the final round of the New England Dragway regional in July, sat on the line in the first round for a .352 reaction time against John Headley, who was appearing in his first race after suffering a mild heart attack last month. "I've never seen the green light before," Manzo said. "Under the lights like that, I have to say it really was a beautiful shade of green." Following a 5.51 on a second-round single, he beat fourth-ranked Shane Westerfield, who red-lighted, in the semi's, and Ferro in the final.

Ferro, whose car now is tuned by Steve Boggs and who is sharing the car with pal Tony Bartone, topped Bill Naves with a 5.53 in the first round and Todd Veney with a 5.54 in the second round and singled in the semifinals. A wiring glitch in the final kept all his timers from working and slowed him from the mid-5.50s he'd been running to a 5.74. "I've still never beaten Frank in a national event final," said Ferro, who was competing for the first time since May, "but it's an honor just to race him. I hope I get one more chance at Maple Grove."

"It's unbelievable how this whole thing's turned around," said Manzo, who was knocked out in the quarterfinals at Gainesville and the Charlotte spring race and in the semi's at Norwalk. "The beginning of the year was tough, but now the more I try to slow the car down, the faster it goes. I'm not sure if we're going to run for the championship or not [yeah, right] or if we're going to Dallas [he entered the race yesterday], but this is definitely the last year I'll be in the car."

Booher also is making a last-minute schedule change and heading straight for Dallas from Charlotte after winning his first national event title with a 5.35 to 5.39 final-round decision over Gatornationals winner Rich McPhillips. "To me, the biggest thing about this is the performance of a converter car," he said. "People laughed at me when we started with this thing, and look how much success we've had this year."

Booher won three consecutive regional events this summer – Chicago, Cordova, and Columbus – and holds a commanding lead in the North Central Top Alcohol Dragster standings. A national title, unthinkable just a few months ago for a driver who until then had never won a Top Alcohol Dragster race, now is a possibility.

Booher qualified a strong fourth with a 5.37 and ran nothing but 5.30s in eliminations, including a 5.32 at 275.39 mph – the third-fastest speed ever recorded by a blown-alcohol car behind only national points leader Jim Whiteley's 277 and 276 last season. He took out Karen Stalba in the first round with a 5.35, four-time Charlotte runner-up Ken Perry with the 5.32 in round two, and No. 1 qualifier Jeff Veale in the semi's with a 5.33. His reaction times weren't outstanding, but that was by design.

"I've had a couple of -.00 red-lights this year, and I couldn't afford to push it, the way the car was running – especially in the first round, which was after dark on Saturday," said Booher, who is regularly in the .020s. "I made sure the light was on that time and only really pushed it in the semi's against Veale because he'd been cutting .030 lights and running 5.30s."

           

Like Manzo, Booher, now a career-high fifth in the national standings, will be in Dallas this weekend. "The crew is making a lot of sacrifices to be there, and we really don't have the money to do this, but you've got to go for it when your car's running like this," he said. "And if we win Dallas and Reading, who knows? Maybe we'll head west at the end of the year and really take a shot at this thing."

Booher Takes Torque Converter TAD to Historic First Win at Charlotte

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photos courtesy of David Smith and NVW Promotion

CONCORD, N.C.  (September 17) – Three-time NHRA Lucas Oil series regional event winner Brandon Booher scored his first national event win last Sunday at the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. The entire event was historic for both the father-son Booher Racing team and the Top Alcohol Dragster class, as Brandon’s win was the first for a torque converter-equipped TAD. He also became the second-fastest blown alcohol dragster driver in NHRA history en route to the finals.

Booher qualified his AB Construction/Torque Management entry in the fourth spot, putting himself in the top half of a field that included several top blown alcohol and nitro-injected A/Fuel competitors. His 5.371 at 269 MPH stood for the top spot after two rounds of qualifying but was eventually bumped down during the stout Saturday morning qualifying session. Brandon would face former Division 1 champion Karen Stalba to start eliminations.

A strong 5.35 pass eliminated Stalba’s 5.53 from competition, setting up a second round match with fellow Motorsports Unlimited-sponsored driver Ken “The Iceman” Perry. Anticipating a quick defense from Perry, Brandon set the car up to run a career-best number, possibly even an elusive 5.2-second run. It worked, as the AB Construction dragster lit up the scoreboard with a 5.320 at 275 MPH, resetting Booher’s personal records, the torque converter records, and moving him to second on the list of fastest blown alcohol TADs.

“I knew we could run quick at this event. The track was good enough on the previous runs but I just wasn’t aggressive enough. The car still ran well but there was quite a bit left on the table. I knew I had to step it up going against Ken Perry second round. The 5.32 didn’t surprise me – the 275 did. I think that speed is just another reflection of what this thing is capable of, and where the class may be headed,” claimed Booher, who owns Torque Management, a blown alcohol/torque converter consulting business. 

Another low five-thirty followed in the semifinals against No. 1 qualifier Jeff Veale – 5.33 to 5.43. Brandon slowed slightly in the finals, but the combination of his starting line advantage and 5.35 lap was enough to deny multi-time national event winner Rich McPhillips, who clocked a 5.39.

The final round at Charlotte was the former Junior Dragster driver’s second trip to the money round at an NHRA national event. His last final round appearance came at Norwalk 2011, where catastrophic parts failure cost him the win. 

“We had a good car in Norwalk, but we didn’t have the level of performance that we have now. We went into that final as the underdog. I feel that we were the favorite going into this final round. We had a good car. It was very consistent. The confidence was there, the performance was there, and we were able to keep it going in the finals to get the victory,” said Booher, who had the starting line advantage of every eliminations match.

Brandon’s win at the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals is critical to his chase for a spot in the top five in national points. The winning performance and points awarded were enough to persuade the team to make the one thousand-mile trek to Dallas’ Texas Motorplex for the Fall Nationals, Sept. 22-24, where Brandon has one goal.

“Repeat. When we left for the race, I told the crew that we would go to Dallas if we won the event. I don’t think they realized how focused I was on doing that. We’re going to Dallas with every intention on winning the race. The weather forecast is calling for a hot weekend and I have a strong hot weather tune-up. The car can run well in those conditions. My focus is to go A to B, make consistent laps, and do my job on the starting line.”

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).