Maddern Racing Gets First Win at Sonoma

Courtesy of THR5 Communications
Photo courtesy of Aimee Maddern

Sonoma, Calif.  – After winning the Sonoma Regional race this weekend, Maddern Racing can now mark that off their checklist of things to do. You see, in the twenty or so years that Maddern Racing has been competing, they have won at every track in California except Sonoma. 

“It feels really great to get this win for Jerry Maddern and the team,” said driver Chris Demke. “We had the car to beat all weekend. Our car was the fastest car out there and that made it even better.”

The path to the winner’s circle was not an easy one. In Friday’s first round of qualifying the Peen Rite / OSI / 801 Racing Team posted a 5.388/269.67 which was good enough for the second place slot. On Saturday, the Team ramped things up and threw down a 5.308/272.17 shot that got everyone’s attention. It also put them in the number one qualifying position. Sitting on top, the Team decided to sit out the third session and remained at the top spot going into eliminations. The interesting thing is how they managed to do so well while the electrical system had a few issues and seemed to have a mind of its own.

Sunday’s first round of racing saw Bill Dunlap in the other lane. Dunlap’s forward driver cockpit dragster had a great view as Demke 5.394/252.47 was enough to take the win. All was not well in the Maddern Racing camp as the car continued to have some electrical hiccups.  The Team headed back to the pits and prepared for the next round against Don St. Arnaud. This time the race was over at the start when St. Arnaud lit the red bulb. Demke managed to get down the track with a 5.335/2693.83. It was now final round time.  Demke and the crew came to the line knowing they had to win this race. Ray Martin was in the other lane, and he too wanted to win. Demke sat in his Top Alcohol Dragster waiting for the light to activate. His mind wondered back to the Woodburn Regional final. In that race, Demke could only sit and watch as the other car won his race. This time it would be different.  Demke got the light, got down the quarter mile, and claimed his victory with a 5.444/263.10 to Martin’s 5.459/263.92.

“This is our first Regional victory with new sponsor OSI, and associate partners A1 Technologies, and Boninfante Friction Products,” added Demke. “They have shown their support of us, and this is the best way I know of thanking them.”

Electrical issues or not, the fact is that at the end of the day, Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team won the Sonoma Regional Trophy. They used every last bit of will, determination, and luck to get the job done. The win also moved them to first place in the Western Region. Valuable points aside, the win gave the Maddern Racing Team the ability to put that big check mark next to Sonoma.  There are other things on that list, and if the Maddern Racing crew and Chris Demke continue with the same Sonoma do-or-die-trying attitude, that list will have a few more check marks. 

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