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).

Robertson and Eaton TA/FC Team Score First NHRA North Central Region Championship

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

 

HARRISON TWP, Mich. (November 25, 2015) – Todd Robertson and his Eaton Corporation team had little experience with flip-top Funny Cars when they entered NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competition in 2012. The former Outlaw Pro Mod standout admits he still has a lot to learn, but Robertson has progressed significantly in four years of competition. He kicked off the 2015 season with his first TA/FC win and went on to win the season championship in the NHRA North Central Region.

Robertson started the year with high expectations after reaching the final round at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2014. The Michigan native picked up his first-ever NHRA Wally when he drove his Eaton Monte Carlo to the winner's circle at the season-opening Lucas Oil Series North Central regional event in Indy.

“We left everything pretty much untouched from the year before since we did well at the U.S. Nationals in the fall. That strategy worked out for us. It was a crazy weekend because the parachutes kept going underneath the car, then I had no brakes or parachutes in the final so I ended up in the gravel. The winner's circle photos were taken after we towed the car back and dusted off the body,” Robertson remembers of the exciting weekend.

The Eaton/Aeroquip team continued their success at the next race at Norwalk. Racing in front of a sold-out Summit Motorsports Park crowd, Robertson again raced to the final round, this time falling to west coast sensation Doug Gordon because of an engine failure. Robertson struggled with early round losses at the next three races, but maintained his lead.

“We had the regional points lead all season long,” Robertson said. “After Columbus we shared the points lead with Paul Noakes until we passed him at the next race at St. Louis, where we passed him by only whatever points we received for going through tech inspection. We had issues with the car and didn't qualify.”

Robertson's season picked back up at the Bowling Green event, though. Despite the fact that the Beech Bend Raceway track was new to Todd and his team, led by crew chief Dennis Kolomyjec, the Eaton Top Alcohol Funny Car went on to another final round. Robertson clinched the championship at the Earlville race, where he qualified number two, a career-best qualifying position.

The 2015 NHRA Lucas Oil Series North Central Region championship is a coveted title for Robertson, not just because of the ultra-competitive nature of the class, but also because his team is so new to the class.

“This was our fourth year doing this. We came here with no prior background in alcohol Funny Car. Nobody knew us. We did it with no hired leadership. It's been a great learning experience. To go on and win the regional championship...I don't even dream that big.

“There are a lot of big racers that we race against, a lot of second-generation drivers. I had never even touched an alcohol Funny Car before I bought one four years ago. It's been a whole lot of learning. That's the challenge that I love, learning how to make everything work together. We pretty much do everything from one end of the car to the other; that's the only way to understand and successfully race these things. A lot of time and a lot of energy from a great bunch of people go into this.”

Todd Robertson and the Eaton Corporation/Aeroquip Top Alcohol Funny Car team will celebrate their first championship title at the NHRA North Central awards banquet, December 12, in Indianapolis.

ProPower Motorsports is a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car team owned by driver Todd Robertson. Based in Harrison Township, Michigan, the team competes in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national events and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional events throughout the Midwest. The Eaton Corporation-backed driver also receives support from Aeroquip, DMPE, Lucas Oil Products, PAC Springs, Total Seal, CV Products, Safety Kleen, Clevite Bearings, Mike Nabor Fabrication, Line to Line Coatings, and Jax Wax.

Booher Earns St. Louis Wally for Newborn Daughter

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

ST. LOUIS (August 11, 2015) – An average stop on the NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional tour turned into a significant occasion for Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Brandon Booher this weekend. Racing at the All-American Hot Rod Showdown at Gateway Motorsports Park, Booher picked up his first event win of 2015 when he defeated A/Fuel rookie Megan Meyer in the final round. It was also Booher's first win since he and wife, Shannon, welcomed their daughter, Adelynn, into the world on July 31st.

“It was great to be back and to get that first win as a dad was pretty special. At the start of the season, before she was born, I promised Adelynn I would get her a Wally. I was hoping I would get it a little sooner, but it's nice that she's actually here to enjoy it. This one will be special,” Booher said of the traditional trophy awarded to NHRA event winners.

Booher qualified fifth in the strong eight-car field with a 5.409 elapsed time. He used a .021 reaction time and 5.427 et to defeat Tripp Tatum and his Anthony Dicero-tuned A/Fueler in the first round, lining up a semifinal match-up with “Miss Mia” Tedesco. Tedesco currently leads the North Central Region points, while Booher is closing in at second. Booher was ready with another quick reaction time and consistent 5.424 lap, easily taking the win over Tedesco's tire-smoking run.

“The second round was the most important one of the year so far. If she went on to win that round and win the event, I think that would've been the championship decided. We killed two birds with one stone there, being able to take her out of the race while also gaining more points.”

The race didn't get any easier from there, as the AB Construction/Goodson Tools team had to face TA/D rookie Megan Meyer in the final round. Meyer, the 22-year-old daughter of world championship tuner/owner/driver Randy Meyer, was strong all day, cutting quick lights and defeating class veterans Robin Samsel and Marty Thacker to reach the final.

“You have to look at it like you're racing her dad, or even a quicker-reacting version of her dad. Randy is one of the best there is at tuning an A/Fuel car and Megan is no doubt proving herself as a driver. I saw two of her lights. One of them was an .02 in testing and she was .05 against me in the final, so she's going to be a handful for a lot of people as she continues to develop as a driver and attend more events.”

The two drivers left the starting line with just two thousandths of a second between them, but Booher picked up enough steam to power to a 5.418-to-5.496 victory.

Booher, who works as a tuning consultant for NHRA Pro Mod and PDRA Pro Extreme/Pro Boost teams, was quick to thank his family and crew for their part in the success.

“I want to thank my dad, Aaron, brother, Brian, and crew member Pete Brady for their hard work this weekend, as well as my wife and daughter for allowing me to go racing. Special thanks also to my mom, Rhonda, and Shannon's mom, Laurie, for lending a hand with Adelynn while I'm away. They make it possible. That's the most important thing to me right now, and it takes a lot help from a lot of people.”

Brandon Booher also offered appreciation for Goodson Tools & Supplies and MVM Motorsports Products, the team's product support partners.

“A lot of the car's consistency goes back to reducing the variables. If the car reacts the same way on every launch because the wheelie bar isn't flexing, you're taking out that variable. We put the MVM carbon fiber wheelie bar on the car at Norwalk, eliminated that variable and we're now able to focus on the finer areas of the tune-up. Props to Mike and Frank Valerio for making such a great product and allowing my job to be a little easier,” Booher said.

Next up for Brandon Booher and the AB Construction/Goodson Tools Top Alcohol Dragster team is the NHRA North Central Region finale at Kentucky's Beech Bend Raceway Park, August 28-30. The biggest race of the year, the 61st Annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Sept. 2-7, will follow.

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).

A/Fuel Rookie Megan Meyer Races to Runner-Up Finish at St. Louis

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

ST. LOUIS (August 10, 2015) – A/Fuel rookie Megan Meyer had high expectations for her Top Alcohol Dragster competition debut at the All-American Hot Rod Showdown NHRA regional event at Gateway Motorsports Park. The second-generation driver qualified safely in the eight-car field and raced to a runner-up finish, competing against and beating some of the toughest cars in the North Central region.

Driving a car built by Chase Copeland and prepared by her father, Randy, Meyer started the weekend with a promising test session on Thursday. The Meyer Truck Center/Smart Chicken team, led by longtime Randy Meyer Racing crew chief Ted Lake, moved on to qualifying on Friday, narrowly avoiding a first-round race with the team car.

“With 11 cars entered for the race, I was a little concerned with how we would qualify since we were stacked up against some of the best Top Alcohol racers. When we smoked the tires during the first session, I was bummed but I knew my crew could turn the car around, and they did for the second session where we ran a quick 5.43. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to run my dad for the first round of eliminations, which we were paired up until he laid down the second-quickest pass of the night with his 5.33. Luckily, I didn’t have to run him as I sat in the sixth spot and he was moved up to second, and I had to face the third qualifier, Robin Samsel, for first round,” Megan said.

Megan won her match-up with Samsel with a 5.443 et at 261 mph. She left on Marty Thacker in the semifinals and ran 5.486 to get revenge on the defending North Central Region champion, who defeated Randy in the first round. Meyer left the starting line just two thousandths of a second behind Brandon Booher in the final round, but was unable to drive around the blown car in a 5.418-to-5.496 decision.

Meyer left a strong impression on the St. Louis fans and competitors, and more importantly gained valuable experience in her nitro-injected dragster.

“Although I have made quite a few passes with the A/Fueler, this weekend was the first time I had ever had another TAD car in the other lane. The thing that I was most concerned about this past weekend was getting in the groove of how to race the different types of Top Alcohol Dragsters that are in the field, and I had the chance to compete against all three in my first race. Fortunately, I have been around this sport for my entire life, and I’m well aware of all the sights, sounds, and smells that come with TAD racing, and I didn’t have any problems at all facing the injected cars, blown cars, and Brandon’s torque converter car. These racers are like family to me, they even watched me grow up and work my way up through the NHRA classes, and I couldn’t be happier to race against them,” Meyer offered.

Megan's younger sister, Rachel, also had a successful weekend. In addition to doing the clutch on Randy's car and helping with Megan's, Rachel managed to reach the third round in her Super Comp dragster.

 Meyer was grateful for all of the support she received over the weekend, adding, “I had a great time at the track getting to meet new fans and having their support in addition to the support from racers. This weekend could not have been possible without the support from our team sponsors, and our hard-working crew guys who were able to stay up late and beat the heat to take our car to the final round.”

Next up for Megan Meyer and the Randy Meyer Racing drivers is the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Central Region event at RMR's home track, Heartland Park Topeka, August 13-15.

“I am so pumped to be racing at my home track in Topeka next weekend! It is going to be a blast with friends and family there to cheer on my dad and I, as well as Rachel in the Super Comp class. We are very excited for the upcoming race and hope to have all Randy Meyer Racing dragsters in the finals. We have some of the quickest A/Fuel cars in the region, and I’m positive we will be able to have the outcome we predict.”

ABOUT MEGAN MEYER
No stranger to a life in the fast lane, Megan Meyer grew up around the sport of drag racing. In 2004, at just 10 years of age, she was given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Junior Dragster, alongside her younger sister, and took over the driving duties with no hesitations. Megan stepped up to the Super Comp class in 2010 after a successful career in the Junior Drag Racing League, earning two track championships.*She is now making the transition to Top Alcohol Dragster with her father and veteran driver Randy Meyer as her mentor and driving coach. Follow Megan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meganmeyer.racing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/meyersisters), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/meganmeyer.racing).

ABOUT RANDY MEYER RACING
A highly respected member of the NHRA Drag Racing family, Randy Meyer has had a successful career spanning over 35 years of drag racing as driver, team owner, and crew chief from AHRA Pro-Comp to IHRA Top Fuel and NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. Focusing on the things that brought the team to existence has been the reason that Randy Meyer Racing has been so successful.*In 2002 he handed the driving duties over to Gary Ormsby Jr. to become the first Top Alcohol Dragster to run in the teens with a solid 5.135 ET. The following year, Meyer tuned Alan Bradshaw to become the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion. Randy has returned to the driver’s seat since then, and has earned multiple Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 5 and Central Region points championships. For more information on Randy Meyer Racing, please visit www.RandyMeyerRacing.com and like RMR on Facebook (www.facebook.com/randymeyerracing).

Megan Meyer and the Randy Meyer Racing team receive support from the following companies: Meyer Truck Center, Lucas Oil, Smart Chicken, NGK Spark Plugs, GUNK, Herbalife Nutrition, Team Racepak, Copeland Fabrications, Aeromotive, Goodyear, ARP Bolts, MAHLE/Clevite, JEGS, and Aeroquip.

Top Alcohol Dragster Rookie Megan Meyer Making A/Fuel Debut at St. Louis Regional

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

ST. LOUIS (August 6, 2015) – After three years of class-specific training, Megan Meyer is finally set to make her NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster competition debut at the St. Louis regional race this weekend. The 22-year-old college student has grown up in the sport and is now following in the footsteps of her father, veteran A/Fuel driver/tuner/owner Randy Meyer. Considering her experience and the world championship-caliber crew behind her, Meyer is poised to make a positive impression on the class.

“Although I am very stoked for my debut in Top Alcohol Dragster, I am also confident I will do well at my first race. It’s not my first time in the car, or in a race. I’ve been drag racing for over 10 years with a Junior Dragster and Super Comp car, and for the past three years I have been training for my first A/Fuel race. I am not scared or nervous of lining up against the defending drivers. I have grown up around everyone who races in the field and I know them all very well. I admire them, and I hope they respect me in return because I am not going to go easy on these guys. I plan to be just as competitive. I may be a rookie in Top Alcohol, but I am a veteran at drag racing,” Meyer noted.

Megan will drive a 2015 Chase Copeland-built A/Fuel dragster that has been prepared by the Randy Meyer Racing crew. Her father's longtime crew member, Ted Lake, will serve as crew chief on the car. Randy, who is currently fifth in NHRA Lucas Oil Series national points, will tune his own car as well as Megan's.

“Even though this car is brand-new from Copeland Fabrications, and has around 20-30 runs total, it’s already been driven by four different drivers, including myself. I am very comfortable in the car and I trust the entire Randy Meyer Racing crew. At the last race in Chicago, the car laid down a 5.28 elapsed time at 267 mph with Bill Litton driving. I have broke into the 5.20’s before, and I’m excited to set a new career best with this new car!”

Megan is more than just a driver, so she has been working alongside the RMR crew to prepare the car and herself for the debut weekend. Meyer worked in the shop to help catch up from back-to-back races in Norwalk and Chicago, and spent time in the office as the team's marketing and communications director.

“Leading up to this weekend has been a roller-coaster of events. Dad and I worked together with help from crew guys Brandon and Kevin to get both cars refreshed. We also worked on the spare motors, and changed some parts around to hopefully have a better tune-up and make some of the quickest runs out there. We’ve also been fixing the little things here and there to get everything in place.

“And of course, I get my daily workout sessions in. I focus more on heavy lifting to help build muscles in my shoulders, arms, and legs to help me be a better pilot for the injected-nitro machine, and I always immediately use my post-workout Herbalife 24 Rebuild Strength to recover quickly. I want to do everything I can to prepare myself to be the best driver possible,” added Meyer, a Kansas native.

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at the St. Louis NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional event, August 7-8, will take place on Friday with sessions at 6 and 9 PM. Eliminations at the Gateway Motorsports Park event will begin at 6 PM on Saturday night.

 ABOUT MEGAN MEYER
No stranger to a life in the fast lane, Megan Meyer grew up around the sport of drag racing. In 2004, at just 10 years of age, she was given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Junior Dragster, alongside her younger sister, and took over the driving duties with no hesitations. Megan stepped up to the Super Comp class in 2010 after a successful career in the Junior Drag Racing League, earning two track championships.*She is now making the transition to Top Alcohol Dragster with her father and veteran driver Randy Meyer as her mentor and driving coach. Follow Megan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meganmeyer.racing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/meyersisters), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/meganmeyer.racing).

ABOUT RANDY MEYER RACING
A highly respected member of the NHRA Drag Racing family, Randy Meyer has had a successful career spanning over 35 years of drag racing as driver, team owner, and crew chief from AHRA Pro-Comp to IHRA Top Fuel and NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. Focusing on the things that brought the team to existence has been the reason that Randy Meyer Racing has been so successful.*In 2002 he handed the driving duties over to Gary Ormsby Jr. to become the first Top Alcohol Dragster to run in the teens with a solid 5.135 ET. The following year, Meyer tuned Alan Bradshaw to become the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion. Randy has returned to the driver’s seat since then, and has earned multiple Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 5 and Central Region points championships. For more information on Randy Meyer Racing, please visit www.RandyMeyerRacing.com and like RMR on Facebook (www.facebook.com/randymeyerracing).

Megan Meyer and the Randy Meyer Racing team receive support from the following companies: Meyer Truck Center, Lucas Oil, Smart Chicken, NGK Spark Plugs, GUNK, Herbalife Nutrition, Team Racepak, Copeland Fabrications, Aeromotive, Goodyear, ARP Bolts, MAHLE/Clevite, JEGS, and Aeroquip.

Defending Champion Chris Demke Continuing Midwest Trip at Columbus Regional

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

HEBRON, Ohio (July 24, 2015) – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Chris Demke has to be feeling good as his Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team rolls into National Trail Raceway for the Buckeye Fuel Wars NHRA North Central Region event. Demke is the defending event champion, and he recently won the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals just up the road in Norwalk, Ohio, as well as the Route 66 NHRA Nationals near Chicago last weekend.

“I should be calm, cool and collected but I feel anything but that,” Demke revealed. “I have a lot of stuff going on at home; work is very busy and I'm in the middle of buying a house. Lo and behold I have to go racing in the middle of it all. It's never easy and kind of a distraction at times but I'm sure once I get on the plane and start heading toward Columbus my focus will come.”

Demke and the Maddern Racing team carry a certain confidence to this race, knowing they're capable of running well in the Midwest summer conditions. A high level of familiarity with the local competition, mainly some of the hottest A/Fuel cars in the country currently, also adds to the California team's swagger.

“All of those guys know our team and hopefully we have them scared, having won these last two races. I know that's wishful thinking. I'm sure Mia (Tedesco) and her team have us right in their cross-hairs. The tough Dreher car will be there, and they're all gunning for us. We have to be on our game if we want to win rounds,” Demke said.

And there's no doubt Demke wants to win rounds. He's sitting atop the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol Dragster national points standings courtesy of the national event wins in Norwalk and Chicago, but the Peen Rite-sponsored driver will need to pick up some regional points in order to stay there.

“I have one win and two runner-up finishes in regional competition this year. I have two chances to turn those two runners-up into wins to keep up with two of our main competitors. Joey Severance (No. 2 in points) and Duane Shields (No. 3) each have three wins – the most that can count towards national points – and I need to do the same. I need to win the next two regional races we attend if I want to stay in the national points chase.”

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at the Buckeye Fuel Wars, July 24-26, begins with one session at 5 PM on Friday. Chris Demke and the Peen Rite team will get two more shots at the track on Saturday at 2 and 6 PM before eliminations at 1 PM 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 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., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, Hoosier Racing Tires, and Morningwood Energy Drink.

Second-Gen Racer Megan Meyer Set to Make TA/D Debut at St. Louis Regional

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photos courtesy of Randy Meyer Racing

 

SPRING HILL, Kans. (July 15, 2015) – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and its Top Alcohol Dragster class will see the next generation of Randy Meyer Racing next month when Megan Meyer makes her TA/D competition debut at the St. Louis regional event. The 22-year-old daughter of world championship car owner and tuner Randy Meyer will compete alongside her seasoned father twice this year in preparation for a full season in 2016.

“I am thrilled to say the least about this dream come true. I have always wanted to be the next NHRA second-generation driver, and I plan to keep drag racing for a very long time. My father has set some high goals for me with his success over the years, and I will follow in his footsteps and set my own records in the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks,” Megan said.

Meyer was originally scheduled to make her debut next season, but promising test session results and the right opportunities have allowed for a debut at Gateway Motorsports Park, August 7-8.

“My dad and I came to an agreement that I wouldn’t start racing Top Alcohol Dragster until I graduate from college at Pittsburg State University, and although I won’t finish my degree in Graphic Design Management with a minor in Digital and Web Design until December this year, I plan to compete in my first Top Alcohol Dragster race at the Lucas Oil Series regional races at St. Louis and at my home track in Topeka, KS in August. I am grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to test my dad’s A/Fuel Dragster for a few years now; it has helped me get my foot in the door and really get comfortable with the car since it is a big transition from Super Comp to Top Alcohol Dragster.”

Meyer enters the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster ranks with a considerable amount of experience for her age. She started racing in NHRA's Junior Dragster League before stepping up to 175 mph Super Comp dragsters. Megan was then presented with the opportunity to start testing in Randy's nitro-burning A/Fueler during Monday testing at the 2013 Gatornationals. She earned her license earlier this year and has since gained seat time at post-race test sessions, most recently after the Norwalk race.

“We decided to test out our new A/Fuel Dragster built by Chase Copeland and Copeland Race Cars and Fabrication on Monday after the NHRA Summit Nationals so I can have some more seat time before my first race. It was a great opportunity for me to learn more about driving the A-Fueler, and I got the taste of smoking the tires for the first time. It was quite different, but I had a handle on the car and we were able to make a full pass of 5.43 ET at 260 mph by the end of the day,” Megan noted.

Megan was sure to offer appreciation for her supporters who helped in her journey to the sport's quickest and fastest Sportsman category.

“I would like to thank the companies who have partnered with the Randy Meyer Racing team over the years: Lucas Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Gunk, Taylor Cable, Aeromotive, Quik-Latch, Boninfante, ARP Bolts, Goodyear, Weld Wheels, Aeroquip, Clevite, JEGS, and Simpson. A special thank-you to Herbalife for providing me with top-notch supplements to maintain optimum health and nutrition, to Smart Chicken for high quality, fresh chicken, and to all the family and friends who have helped us put together a strong team organization to support racing two A/Fuel Dragsters.”

ABOUT MEGAN MEYER
No stranger to a life in the fast lane, Megan Meyer grew up around the sport of drag racing. In 2004, at just 10 years of age, she was given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Junior Dragster, alongside her younger sister, and took over the driving duties with no hesitations. Megan stepped up to the Super Comp class in 2010 after a successful career in the Junior Drag Racing League, earning two track championships. She is now making the transition to Top Alcohol Dragster with her father and veteran driver Randy Meyer as her mentor and driving coach. Follow Megan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meganmeyer.racing), Twitter (www.twitter.com/meyersisters), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/meganmeyer.racing).

ABOUT RANDY MEYER RACING
A highly respected member of the NHRA Drag Racing family, Randy Meyer has had a successful career spanning over 35 years of drag racing as driver, team owner, and crew chief from AHRA Pro-Comp to IHRA Top Fuel and NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. Focusing on the things that brought the team to existence has been the reason that Randy Meyer Racing has been so successful. In 2002 he handed the driving duties over to Gary Ormsby Jr. to become the first Top Alcohol Dragster to run in the teens with a solid 5.135 ET. The following year, Meyer tuned Alan Bradshaw to become the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion. Randy has returned to the driver’s seat since then, and has earned multiple Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 5 and Central Region points championships. For more information on Randy Meyer Racing, please visit www.RandyMeyerRacing.com and like RMR on Facebook (www.facebook.com/randymeyerracing).

Tedesco Bounces Back from Super Gas Crash to Score Second TA/D Win of 2015

Courtesy of Tedesco Racing



Indianapolis, IN: Mia Tedesco’s weekend at the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Division 3 opener at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis did not start well. Saturday morning, during the final Super Gas time trial session, the 21-year-old driver suffered a violent crash behind the wheel of her C.A.R.S. Protection Plus / WeFindParts.com Chevrolet Cavalier, careening off of both retaining walls shortly after reaching a speed in excess of 170 miles per hour.

“After you’ve done this for awhile, I think it’s easy to take things for granted,” Tedesco explained. “We went up for a time trial. It wasn’t an elimination round, and the track conditions were perfect. The last thing on anyone’s mind is an accident.”

Nearing the finish line in what appeared to be a routine Super Gas run, like hundreds Tedesco has made in recent years, something went horribly wrong.

“The oil filter came loose, spraying 100+ psi of warm oil under the car moving at 170 miles per hour,” Tedesco explained. “I saw some smoke, but there was literally nothing I could do. I was completely out of control before I had time to react.”

Tedesco’s Cavalier spun completely around, first contacting the right hand wall with the left rear of the car, then spinning again to catch the left wall with the left front.

“I’ve been through one prior incident; I crashed a dragster several years ago, just after I’d started racing full size cars,” Tedesco said. “That one was completely driver error. I made a mistake, and I knew I was going to crash before it happened – it was like everything was in slow motion. This accident wasn’t like that; it was so sudden. Thank God I was able to walk away uninjured.”

Thanks to the safety equipment in place and the quality of her RJ Race Cars built Cavalier, Tedesco was unharmed in the accident. In fact, within hours she was strapped into the familiar confines of the Hirata Family Motorsports A/Fuel Dragster, ready to make a blast in excess of 270 miles per hour.

Undeterred from the incident, Tedesco and her C.A.R.S. Protection Plus / WeFindParts.com / Aamco Transmissions team put forth a dominating performance that included top qualifying honors in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, and culminated in an event victory – their second win of the young season.

Tedesco paced a strong field of TAD entrants with a 5.294 ET at 276 miles per hour, and backed up that performance with the second quickest run in qualifying: a 5.302 at 270. She then defeated Brandon Greco in the opening round with a 5.379 ET, and knocked off John Finke with a 5.537 after pedaling to recover from early tire shake.

That set up a final round matchup with the unique automatic transmission entry of Brandon Booher.

“Greco and Finke had great cars, in fact the entire field at Indy was really strong. We were concerned with every opponent; but the Booher matchup really had our attention,” said Tedesco. “They’re very consistent. They’re fast. And the automatic gives them an edge in terms of reaction time. Plus Brandon is an excellent driver. Coming into the round, we knew we’d have to be on our game to compete.”

Tedesco and her team were up to the task. As expected, Booher took a slight lead on the starting line: .039 to .061, but Tedesco was able to power past with a 5.356 run to best Booher’s slightly off pace 5.414.

“It’s such a treat to drive this car and work with the Hirata family and this team,” exclaimed Tedesco. “We won the national event in Charlotte earlier this season, but we didn’t have a great combination. We shook on several runs, and when we didn’t shake we ate up parts. But these guys have just kept working. In testing we really began to turn the corner. I don’t feel like we were dominant this weekend; it’s not like we were low E.T. of every round, but we had a fast, consistent car throughout the event. I’m really proud of our guys.”

For her part, Tedesco was extremely solid behind the wheel, varying just .003 in reaction time over her three competition rounds.

“I’m proud of that too,” said the young racer who has staged for as many competition rounds as anyone in the country in recent years. “With my sportsman background, I obviously take a lot of pride in my reaction times. But these cars are slow to react; being a good driver is really as much about being quick as it is being consistent. I’ve put in a lot of work in our practice simulator to improve my reflexes and release. Where I used to be consistently .080, I’m down to .05’s and .06’s. I keep getting more and more comfortable in the car. I’m just happy to be able to do my job – the rest of the team works so hard to do theirs!”

The event victory marked Tedesco’s second win in just four TAD appearances in 2015, and back-to-back North Central Region victories, as she won the 2014 finale in Bowling Green, KY. The win also vaulted her into 4th position in the national points chase.

In addition to C.A.R.S. Protection Plus, WeFindParts.com, and Aamco Transmissions, Mia Tedesco’s Top Alcohol Dragster efforts are backed by Hirata Motorsports, NGK Spark Plugs, Schepel Motors, and Lucas Oil. The Tedesco Racing team also depends on Renegade Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Abruzzi Transmissions & Converters, Quick Fuel Technologies and Wilkerson Racing Engines. Mia Tedesco thanked God, her family, and her team: Jason, Krusty, Josh, Kenny, Dave Hirata, Grayson, Chiyo, Molly, and LouLou.

Mia and the C.A.R.S. Protection Plus team will be back on the track May 15-17 at Summit Motorsports Park for the next NHRA North Central Region event. There, Tedesco plans to wheel the Hirata Motorsports TAD entry, and resume competition in the 9.90 category behind the wheel of her team’s ’66 Chevy II. To keep up to date with the latest news on Mia Tedesco and the Tedesco Racing Team, follow Miss Mia on Facebook and Twitter.

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).

Demke Pads Points Lead with Columbus Regional Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

HEBRON, Ohio (July 22) – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national points leader Chris Demke added a second regional event win to his 2014 scorecard last weekend when he won the Buckeye Fuel Wars race. Racing at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Demke qualified No. 1 and scored the win to extend his points lead to almost one hundred points over Joey Severance. The win was the third in a stretch of races that included four events spread out between Montana and Ohio.

Demke put the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products dragster in the top spot during Friday's opening qualifying session, running 5.358 at 270 MPH. Saturday rain showers forced the cancellation of one session, leaving teams with a final evening session. Few teams improved and the few that did improve didn't run better than 5.358, so the Maddern Racing team elected to skip the run.

Through eliminations Demke would face three Midwest-based nitro-injected A/Fuel dragsters. The first was Tripp Tatum, who qualified No. 8 with a 5.45. The race was close with Chris finishing first, 5.404 to Tripp's 5.424.

The Jerry Maddern-led team anticipated a challenge in the semifinals, as five-time national champion Bill Reichert would be their opponent.

“You can never take that guy lightly,” Demke said of Reichert. “He's a multi-time champion and he's probably beaten me more times than I've beaten him. That round was going to have huge implications for the points chase so we knew we had to step it up in order to have any shot at beating Bill. We went a little over the curve and it shook the tires. I had to do a little pedal job, so the monkey earned his banana.”

Repeating his first round elapsed time, Chris's footwork was enough to beat Reichert's 5.51. Another challenge followed in the final round. Finalist Dave Hirata had ripped off a 5.26 in the first round and a competitive 5.38 in the semifinals. Most of the challenge, however, took place in the pits, as the California team was left to tune for the finals with data from their previous race in Ohio.

“The tire shake from the semifinals damaged the data recorder. We didn't have any data to tune from, but that's where our experience at Norwalk paid dividends in that what happened at Norwalk told us what the car wanted under those track conditions and atmospheric conditions. We put in a tune-up that mimicked what we used for the semifinals at Norwalk and sure enough it worked,” Demke claimed.

Chris left the starting line first and led for the length of the National Trail quarter-mile, running his quickest ET of the weekend, 5.355/269 MPH to defeat Hirata's 5.376. The North Central Region win, added to recent wins at the Billings regional event and Chicago national event, gives him a lead of almost one hundred points in the NHRA LODRS national points standings.

“To have gone on this crazy trip, with a last minute schedule change – not going to Woodburn and instead going to Columbus – to win three of the four races is just an astounding task. My hat's off to my guys because they put in a Herculean effort. It's still hard to believe that we pulled off what we did,” Demke stated.

On a final note, Chris Demke expressed his thanks to local friend of the team Tim Bucher, who stepped in to assist the 'wounded' team.

“My tuner, Adam Rhoades, slipped and fell and put a big gash in his knee on Sunday morning. We had to drive him off to the hospital to get stitches and it wasn't clear at that time if he would make it back for eliminations. While he did make it back, he was unable to perform his usual task of servicing the clutch. Tim saw all of this on Facebook and came to the track on Sunday to help the team. We rotated (crew member) Kevin Watson to clutch and Tim came in and did bottom end with Hamburger Mike (Chris's brother). He filled in like a champ, and his presence was key to our victory. Having a guy like that to step in and integrate into the crew as easily as he did was huge.”

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, and LA X-Ray.

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).

Randy Meyer Hopeful for a Third Win this Season

Courtesy of Randy Meyer Racing

May 5th, 2014 – Current back-to-back national event winner, the Randy Meyer Racing Team returns to Jolie, Illinois for the Burndown at Sundown event this weekend. Team owner Randy Meyer will be back in the driver’s seat of his winning Top Alcohol Dragster, and will have his youngest daughter, Rachel Meyer, racing her Super Comp Dragster.

After winning the NHRA Spring Nationals event held at Houston himself, for the second year in a row, and allowing Shayne Lawson to pilot the A/Fueler to take the hometown win at Topeka on Memorial Weekend for the NHRA Kansas Nationals, Randy is prepared to take down the competition and continue his team's winning streak.

“We have never won this Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event,” said Randy. “With the good car that we have now, we want to keep the momentum up and turn on win lights for a successful weekend.“

Racing for the Top Alcohol classes starts this Friday at 4:00 PM with one qualifying run. The final two qualifying sessions will be held at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Saturday, followed by eliminations starting at noon.

Randy Meyer Racing would like to thank their sponsors for their support and dedication to the team: Lucas Oil, Smart Chicken, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, NGK Spark Plugs, MOTOR MEDIC, Quik-Latch Products, Boninfante, Taylor Cable, Belzona Industrial Solutions, Rezner trailers, ARP, MAHLE Clevite, Hedman Hedders, and Moroso.

Make sure to follow the Randy Meyer Racing Team on Facebook (/RandyMeyerRacing) for the latest news and track updates.

Todd Robertson and Pro Power Motorsports Team Pulling Double Duty

Courtesy of Kozak Motorsports Marketing
Photo courtesy of Mike Grosso

Harrison TWP. MI. … Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver/Owner, Todd Robertson, has been lucky enough to turn his passion for hot rods and all things fast into a making a living at his Pro Power Motorsports shop near his home on Harrison township, Michigan but, sometimes racing gets in the way of racing.

While Robertson will be behind the wheel of his TA/FC competing at Route 66 Raceway outside of Chicago in Joliette, IL one of his close friends and customer, Scott Krueger will be piloting a 6 second, turbocharged Pro Modified Drag Sled (snowmobile) at Milan Dragway during their Aeroquip Friday Night Heads Up Series; sponsored by Pro-Stock Inc.

With nearly 300 miles between them Robertson knows the cell phones will be on charge all day. “Scott is a great friend and customer of Pro Power Motorsports. Normally we use my rig when Scott is running Milan. These sleds are pretty elaborate, high tech pieces. There are very few in the nation and to watch these things run is pretty incredible. I don’t think we’ll be calling each other for advice as much as we will for updates on how each other is doing on the track,” said Robertson.

This Outlaw Sled class competes at Milan Dragway during their Aeroquip Friday Night Heads Up events. The new Pro-Stock Inc. Outlaw Sled Class will feature some of the quickest and fastest snowmobiles on the planet capable of posting 6 second elapsed times while racing on a heads up – 1,000 foot format.

While his thoughts between rounds may travel 300 miles to his buddy; you can be sure that once that 3,000 Horsepower Hemi between the rails of his Eaton backed Funny Car comes to life Robertson will have nothing but pure concentration on his task in front of him.

Robertson and his Eaton corporation backed Pro Power Top Alcohol Funny Car team will compete in the NHRA North Central Division “Burn down at Sundown” at historic Route 66 Raceway outside of Chicago in Joliette, IL this June 6-8. To follow all the action, log onto http://www.dragracecentral.com or you can follow along at NHRA.com. The first Round of qualifying for the Alcohol classes will be Friday afternoon at 4PM. The final two rounds of qualifying will be at 4 and 8PM Saturday with Final eliminations set to begin at 12 PM Sunday.

Eaton is a diversified power management company providing energy-efficient solutions that help customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. Eaton has approximately 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries.

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).

Michalek Brothers Racing and Kenan Advantage Group Gearing up for Norwalk

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing

Kyle Michalek returns to site of runner-up A/Fuel Dragster debut

Just under one year ago, Kyle Michalek quickly found success in the 270 mph Top Alcohol Dragster class during the team’s debut event at the 2013 Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars NHRA Lucas Oil regional event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH. The team’s runner-up finish validated the partnership between Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) and Dreher Motorsports as a legitimate contender.

“The runner-up finish during our debut event was both exciting and unexpected,” said Kyle. “Following my runner-up last year and Corey’s win last month at the Charlotte Four-Wide nationals, second place just won’t cut it anymore; we know we have what it takes to get the win.”

The team comes in to this year’s event on a high-note following Corey Michalek’s win at the Charlotte Four-Wide nationals and team partner Dreher Motorsport’s runner-up finish at the NHRA Lucas Oil regional event in Indianapolis two weeks ago. Highlighting the team’s return to competition at Summit Motorsports Park is the newly established partnership between MBR and the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) as the team’s primary sponsor.

“KAG’s corporate headquarters are only 20 minutes from MBR; it’s very special to be partnered with a local organization that is extremely successful on a national level,” said Kyle. “We are excited to introduce NHRA fans to the great career opportunities available at KAG as a truck driver or mechanic. We plan to use the KAG dragster as a 270mph recruiting billboard.”

KAG is North America’s largest tank truck transporter with more than 9,000 employees, and has the ability to deliver within the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico. KAG is experiencing strong growth, and is actively seeking commercial truck drivers including company drivers and owner-operators, mechanics, and tank washers to join their growing team, and has partnered with MBR to help recruit new employees. Job opportunities are available nationally, and KAG currently has open positions in 44 states. Please visit the KAG website (https://intelliapp2.driverapponline....enan_445714539) for a full list of available positions or call 877-947-1013. While filling out the online application, be sure to note “Race Car” under the “How did you hear about us?” drop down box and reference Michalek Brothers Racing as the referral source.

2014 marks MBR’s 10th year participating in drag racing competition. Kyle made his first passes in a “legitimate” race car in 2004 down Norwalk’s storied quarter-mile, and returns 10 years later to take on the world’s best semi-professional drivers.

“Norwalk is where I started my driving career 10 years ago; our team has come a long way since that fateful first pass in my Super Pro dragster when I thought I was going to get sick from nervousness in the staging lanes,” said Kyle. “I am very excited to get back in the car after a long break, and always look forward to racing at Norwalk with the hometown support of family and friends. This year will be no different; we plan to have a very strong MBR cheering section that will be supplemented with KAG employees coming out to the track to cheer on the home team. We look forward to hosting KAG, and having the opportunity to show their employees a good time at the races.”

The 8th annual Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars kicks off an action-packed weekend of racing on Friday, May 16 at Summit Motorsports Park with pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions at 6:00 followed by the first round of qualifying at 6:30. The action kicks up a notch on Saturday, the day most notably known for record-breaking crowds of nearly 50,000 fans, with pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions at 3:30, round two of qualifying at 4:00, and the third and final qualifying run under the lights at 7:00. Both Friday and Saturday night will be capped off with the Bader family’s signature firework shows. Final eliminations get underway on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 with the event coming to a close at 5:30. Admission is $20 per day or $50 for the full event.

“This is the premier regional event on the NHRA tour, and it’s a date that we have had circled on our calendar since last May,” said Corey. “The facility is top notch, the fans pack the place wall-to-wall, and some of the best racers in the country will be there putting on a side-by-side show of racing at speeds in excess of 270MPH. Simply put, it’s going to be awesome. We can’t get the KAG car on the track soon enough!”

For additional MBR information and updates, please “like” the Michalek Brothers Racing FACEBOOK page and follow @MichalekRacing on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.

Driver Profile - JP Gutierrez

Driver: JP Gutierrez

Car: MGM Grand Detroit Top Alcohol Dragster

Age: 24

Hometown: Berkley, MI

Occupation: Engine Builder and Engine Machinist

Family: Brother – Phil, Mother – Laura, Father - David

Accomplishments: Owning and Building our Top Alcohol Dragster Operation

First race car: Jr. Dragster

Favorite movies: Hollywood Knights, Smokey and The Bandit, Cannon Ball Run

Favorite music: The Doors, CCR, AC/DC

Favorite TV shows: Archer, Modern Family, Family Guy, Elementary

Favorite sports teams: Detroit Lions

When I'm away from the racetrack I: Work on engines during the day at work and the race car at night.

Favorite racing memory: Working on the Yas Marina Top Fuel Dragster with my brother in Abu Dhabi.

Top accomplishment in racing: Getting my Top Alcohol Dragster Driver License

Toughest opponent: Marty Thacker

Favorite opponent: Brandon Greco

Favorite drivers outside TAD: Mike Dunn and Jack Ostrander

Personal heroes: My Brother Phil

I race because: Racing challenges you everyday to be your best

I race TAD because: I believe it has the best competition in the NHRA, it challenges you as driver, they sound cool and haul ass!

Pre-race rituals or superstitions: Look the car over, get in, and focus on driving.

Nobody knows that I: Work all hours of every day and every night to improve and prepare our race car.

If I didn't race I would: Build the coolest pontoon boat ever with my brother.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GutierrezBrothersRacingINC

Website: Coming Soon!

 

 

Driver Profile - Todd Robertson

Driver: Todd Robertson

Car: Eaton Corporation Top Alcohol Funny Car

Age: 48

Hometown: Harrison Township, MI

Occupation: Drag racer

Family: Wife – Lynne, Son – Grant

Accomplishments: Owning my own race team and staying married for 18 years

First race car: 1968 Dodge Charger

Favorite movies: Snake and Mongoose

Favorite music: Aerosmith

Favorite TV shows: NHRA ESPN2 broadcasts

Favorite sports teams: Anything that overruns NHRA on TV, because that is the only time I watch other sports!

When I'm away from the racetrack I: work on my race car.

Favorite racing memory: Buying my first pro car – a 1994 ex-Darrell Alderman Haas-built Dodge Avenger.

Top accomplishment in racing: 2010 Milan 'Run What Ya Brung' Champion and 2010 Norwalk Door Wars Champion

Toughest opponent: Everyone in TAFC

Favorite opponent: Tony Bartone

Favorite drivers outside TAFC: Don Garlits

Personal heroes: My Dad

I race because: It's fun and challenging.

I race TAFC because: I can.

Pre-race rituals or superstitions: Listen to Aerosmith

Nobody knows that I: Eat, sleep, and breathe drag racing

If I didn't race I would: Restore and cruise Mopar muscle cars.

 

Photo courtesy of Steve Fuhrman