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.

Demke Steers Peen Rite Dragster to Quarterfinal Finish at U.S. Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (September 6, 2016) – Top Alcohol Dragster veteran Chris Demke entered last weekend’s 62nd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals with a lot on his mind. Of course he was thinking about winning a second U.S. Nationals title, but he was also trying to shake a mental funk that he picked up after sustaining a dramatic crash at the Seattle regional race just weeks prior. As it turned out, it wouldn’t take long for the past world champion to move past the accident.

Driving Maddern Racing’s spare car, the same car he drove to the 2014 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world championship, Demke started off U.S. Nationals qualifying with another tense situation. He was already halfway down the Lucas Oil Raceway strip when he realized the steering wheel had become detached from the steering shaft upon launch. The Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster was heading for the left retaining wall as it crossed the finish line at around 90 mph, but Demke took matters into his own hands.

“In my mind I was thinking, ‘I’m not ending my weekend like this.’ I grabbed the steering shaft with my hands and cranked it as hard as I could to the right. It felt like I steered it away from the wall, but more than likely the car moved over from the parachutes deploying automatically. Either way, the car remained in one piece to race another round,” Demke said with relief.

While the incident didn’t help in the performance department, it did allow Demke to move on from his jarring crash at Seattle.

“As crazy as it was, that run really helped me put the crash behind me. It was a test of how much I really wanted to race. I just had that thought of, “there’s no way I’m going to let this car hit a wall again.” What I went through in Seattle changed my mentality. Physically I was fine, but mentally I had some demons to deal with.”

The steering situation was promptly fixed by car chief Kevin Watson and the Maddern Racing crew, allowing Demke to pilot the Peen Rite rail to passes of 5.287, 5.324 and 5.303 to qualify eighth in the strong field.

“I really felt comfortable after qualifying. We knew we had a nice, consistent car going into eliminations. However, going into eliminations, especially being at Indy, I felt more butterflies than I did that first round of qualifying. I was extremely nervous, but Kevin got the tune-up right and we ran our low et of the weekend,” Demke recalled of his first-round win, 5.281 over David Brounkowski.

Demke’s time at the U.S. Nationals ended in the second round when the car and driver slowed when their opponent stepped up. Demke cut a .129 light and ran a respectable 5.345 alongside Midwest hitter Mia Tedesco, who ran 5.289 to move on.

“Unfortunately I just messed up on the starting line. After switching to the different car with different pedals, I was having trouble holding my staging rpms all weekend. The rpms dropped and I hurriedly rushed to bring the rpms back up. That distracted me and I had a bad light,” admitted the 2014 U.S. Nationals champion.

Despite the sour points of the weekend, Demke was upbeat about the team’s performance at the prestigious Labor Day race. He’ll have another chance to race for a Wally in a couple weeks at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, September 16-18, at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

“We did much better than we expected. I feel comfortable in the car again, but I think I still need some seat time before I’m back to where I was before the crash.”

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.

Seattle Crash Won't Keep Demke from Racing at NHRA U.S. Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (August 31, 2016) – Less than two weeks ago, Chris Demke was climbing out of his mangled Top Alcohol Dragster chassis after a high-speed crash during the second qualifying session at an NHRA West Region race in Seattle. The crash would’ve put some other teams out of commission for weeks, it not months, but the Maddern Racing team went right to work preparing their spare car for this weekend’s 62nd annual Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Racing at Pacific Raceways’ regional event, Demke was qualified seventh going into the second qualifying session when he encountered traction issues, pedaled a few times, and smacked the wall around the eighth-mile mark. The car then shot sideways across the centerline and hit the right wall, eventually coming to a stop past the finish line.

“Having won the Seattle regional the last three years, this is absolutely not how I wanted things to happen. I’m upset with myself for the driver error and destroying a beautiful race car. I’m very thankful to have a team that can put what happened behind them and move on to the next race,” Demke stressed.

The Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team would’ve worked to prepare their spare car going into any race, but the effort was supercharged due to the fact that their next planned race was the legendary U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Demke won the 60th anniversary edition of the prestigious event in 2014.

“The decision to go to Indy was made the afternoon after I crashed. The team rolled the broken chassis into the trailer and we all knew that if we were going to attempt to go to Indy, the decision had to be made that afternoon. We reviewed our options in a team meeting and the decision was made to make our best effort.”

Demke will roll into Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis with a very capable Uyehara chassis that previously carried the Californian driver to the 2014 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world championship and several race wins.

“Thanks to the Herculean efforts of Kevin Watson [car chief] and Jerry Maddern [team owner] and assistant Robert Hadaller, they pulled our other car out of storage and got her prepared in a very short period of time. We were prepared to go from Seattle to Indy. To change our plans and come all the way back to L.A., perform this work, and get the rig back on the road with a completely different car was nothing short of phenomenal.

“This car is the car I won the 2014 championship with and we used it through the Vegas national and regional earlier this year. We’re very familiar with this car and I’m very comfortable driving it; it’s not a huge change. Thankfully we took as little as possibly off of it when we put together this last car, but it was still a major task to get it ready for Indy,” Demke commented.

Fortunately, the Maddern Racing blown alcohol dragster was the only thing that was injured during the crash.

“The crash was violent as most crashes are, but all of the safety equipment worked flawlessly and I was able to walk away unscathed,” Demke recalled. “I had some tenderness, but nothing that a little Advil didn’t take care of. Honestly, I played some Ultimate Frisbee last week and I was sorer after that than I was after the crash.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster will take to the legendary Lucas Oil Raceway quartermile for the first two Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying session on Friday, September 2nd. Another two sessions will follow on Saturday morning. The first two rounds of eliminations will be contested on Sunday. The semifinals and final round will run on Labor Day, Monday, September 5th.

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.

Northwest Nationals Finalist Demke Seeking Fourth Consecutive Seattle Regional Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of Ron Lewis

KENT, Wash. (August 18, 2016) – While most of the top NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster teams are racing at the Brainerd national event this weekend, 2014 TAD world champion Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing team will be competing for their fourth consecutive event title at the Pacific Raceways regional event, August 19-21. The decision to race Seattle was an easy call for the California-based driver, who raced to the final round at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways a couple weeks ago.

“We’ve won this race the last three years. We needed some in-region races. We missed out on the Woodburn and Mission races, so we figured we’d hang out in Seattle for the regional race then head east for the U.S. Nationals in Indy,” Demke said.

Demke’s Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster was running on the edge at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. Demke qualified number three with a wheelstanding 5.221 et at 273.66 mph. His first-round 5.219 et was the tenth quickest pass for a blown alcohol dragster. The Maddern Racing team then earned two more round wins over Shawn Cowie and James Stevens. Demke was scheduled to face rival Joey Severance in the final round before rain showers forced the rescheduling of the race. The final round will be completed during qualifying at the NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas in September.

The Maddern Racing group also spent the weekend celebrating the engagement of Demke’s younger sister, Aimee, and car chief Kevin Watson, who was celebrating his birthday during Friday qualifying.

As the Jerry Maddern-led Peen Rite team moves on to this weekend’s regional event, they must adopt a different tune-up than the one that carried Demke to the final round at the national event.

“At some tracks it helps to race there back-to-back, but I don’t think that’s the case with Seattle this year. The track prep won’t be as good as it was at the national event – it was incredible – and the weather was cool. It’s a completely different situation here for the regional with the temperatures expected to be 15 to 20 degrees warmer, as well as elevated track temps,” noted Demke.

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster will take to the Pacific Raceways quarter-mile for Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying sessions at 5:30 PM on Friday and noon and 3:30 PM on Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at noon 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 visitwww.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.

Last-Minute Decision Results in Demke's Second JEGS Allstars Title

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

JOLIET, Ill. (July 13, 2016) – Past JEGS Allstars Top Alcohol Dragster champion Chris Demke made the most of his last-minute trip to the Route 66 Nationals last weekend when he drove the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster to another JEGS Allstars win and semifinal finish in the Route 66 Nationals. The Maddern Racing team performed flawlessly in the Allstars race, then worked through traction issues to claim a late-round finish on the national level.

While most of the eight JEGS Allstars competitors earned their spot in the prestigious race, Demke was actually invited as the sixth alternate for the West Region.

“One of the cool things about the Allstars is it’s the best of the best who earned their way there, even though we didn’t earn our way there,” Demke laughed. “With the last-minute invitation to go and our decision to accept that invitation, it was awesome to actually make something of it.”

Demke qualified fifth for the Allstars race with a 5.362 at 273.88 mph, pairing him up with Gord Gingles, who he defeated in the final round at the Tulsa regional event in June. The Peen Rite machine stepped up to a 5.236 at 276.01 to defeat “The Bull” A/Fueler and qualify number two for the Route 66 Nationals.

“We pretty much took our results from qualifying and Kevin (Watson, car chief) came up with a tune-up for first round. Once we ripped off that 23, we knew we had our hot rod back. Next round was against Randy Meyer. You can never take Randy lightly. I had a little tire shake but still ran a 5.326, which was enough to get past Randy.”

The Maddern Racing team lined up against their blown alcohol rival, Joey Severance, for the final round, where Demke ran 5.264 at 272.34 to Severance’s 5.277 at 274.01. The 2016 JEGS Allstars trophy now joins Demke’s 2012 Allstars award in the trophy case.

“Our teams either fail miserably against each other or we run one of the best rounds of racing. This time it was a great final round. Things finally went our team’s way for the first time in a while against those guys,” Demke said.

As the focus shifted to Route 66 Nationals eliminations on Sunday morning, the team struggled to continue the consistency that carried them to the Allstars win. Demke first survived a wild pedalfest against Ken Perry, winning a 6.689-to-6.929 race.

“I wasn’t 100% in agreement with the tune-up. I thought it would take a quick pedal job to get the car down the track. I figured we’ll just go with it and see what happens. As it turned out, it took more than a quick pedal job to get the car to the finish line. The monkey earned his banana on that one,” added Demke, a three-time Route 66 Nationals champion.

The Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster returned to the 5.2s with a 5.258 victory over Gord Gingles’ tire-smoking effort in the second round, but the semifinals would require a bit more effort.

“Once again, we were paired up with good ol’ Joey (Severance) in the semifinals. Like I said, our teams either do something stupid or make it a great race when we line up against each other. This time we both pulled off something stupid. In our case, it was absolute driver error. I goofy-footed it on the starting line and launched at a thousand rpms too high and smoked the tires. I pedaled it a couple times to recover, but by then I could see Joey motoring on down the track, so I let off the throttle and gave up. That’s very unlike me. I have a million excuses, but I was just tired. Next thing I knew, I saw his pipes go wet, meaning he had an engine problem. I got back on the throttle and tried to run him down, but he won by three tenths of a second.”

While filled with regret over the loss, Demke still noted the positives for the weekend. He also realizes there are plenty of opportunities left to win on the NHRA national event level this season.

“We ran a team-best et and speed for this track, which we’ve done at every race since Phoenix this year. That really says something about the group of guys we have making the calls and working on the car.

“I saved the second round of the JEGS and the first round of the national event, but I’m still beating myself up over that semifinal. I know I can do a better job. It’s going to be soon when the car’s consistency and the driver’s consistency come together to get that national event Wally that’s eluded us in 2016.”

Fox Sports will air their coverage of the JEGS Allstars and Route 66 Nationals on FS2 at 7 PM ET on Thursday, July 14. Ten additional replay dates are scheduled throughout July on FS1 and FS2.

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.

Demke Enters Chicago as Unexpected JEGS Allstars Contestant

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

JOLIET, Ill. (July 7, 2016) – As of a few weeks ago, back-to-back-to-back and defending event champion Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing team weren’t planning on racing at this weekend’s K&N Filters NHRA Route 66 Nationals. A last-minute invitation to represent the West Region in the prestigious JEGS Allstars shootout race was all it took to coax the team from their base in Southern California to the heat and humidity of the Chicagoland area.

Demke, the 2012 JEGS Allstars Top Alcohol Dragster champion, wasn’t one of the top two in West Region JEGS Allstars points before the invitation was passed down to him.

“I’m just really excited to be a part of the Allstars race. I wasn’t really the number two guy. I was number six on the list, so it was a real surprise for our team to be going to Chicago. Shawn Cowie pulled out and the division director started calling numbers three, four and five, but nobody wanted to go. It came down to us. Our team really enjoys the JEGS Allstars event. Based on our past performance at this race, we just couldn’t say no,” Demke said.

Demke finds himself refocused heading into the Chicago race weekend, moving on from a first-round loss at his last race, a regional event in Denver. His starting line routine was thrown off by the unconventional staging process utilized by a torque converter-equipped car in the other lane, resulting in a sizable holeshot loss. Demke was the number two qualifier.

“I’ve put it behind me,” Demke reassured. “I hate losing like that, but I have the mental fortitude and the experience to go out, put it behind me and focus on the next event.”

Demke knows his crew, led by team owner Jerry Maddern and car chief Kevin Watson, will provide him with a car capable of winning rounds in the Midwest heat. Crew member Greg Rice is also returning to the team for the first time since undergoing surgery last month.

“I have every confidence that Jerry and Kevin will have the car running as quick as ever. Those guys aren’t afraid of hot conditions. I’m sure we’ll be in contention for both events.

“Greg Rice will be at this event. We’re very happy to have our full team back in gear. It’s going to be necessary at Chicago. To win both events, it will require a total of nine rounds of qualifying and eliminations passes. We’ll need all hands on deck, and with Greg present I’m sure we have the crew to get the job done.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products Top Alcohol Dragster team will hit the track for two qualifying sessions on Friday, July 8. They’ll move on to first round of the JEGS Allstars race on Saturday morning, which will also count as their third and final qualifying session. JEGS Allstars eliminations continue on Saturday. Eliminations for the K&N Filters NHRA Route 66 Nationals will take place 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.

Demke Wins Tulsa Debut, Moves on to Denver's 'Thunder on the Mountain'

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

MORRISON, CO (June 15, 2016) – After a physically demanding weekend in the Tulsa heat, Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products Top Alcohol Dragster team were able to add the first event win to their 2016 scorecard last weekend. Demke seeks to pick up another NHRA regional event Wally this weekend as the Maddern Racing team competes at Denver’s Bandimere Speedway for the first time in a decade.

Driving the team’s experimental “X-car”, Demke qualified number two at the NHRA Central Region event at Tulsa Raceway Park with a 5.330 elapsed time at 267 mph.

“We had the X-car out for its second race of the year and after two qualifying sessions on Friday, I thought we weren’t pushing that car as hard as it’s capable of running. While consistent, it wasn’t showing what we are capable of. Saturday morning, [car chief] Kevin Watson, [team owner] Jerry Maddern and I sat down and talked about where we were with things and formulated a strategy for the day and what tactics we would use to implement that strategy.”

A strong 5.346 at 268 mph was enough to defeat former Top Fuel driver Spencer Massey’s tire-smoking run in the steamy first round. Demke and his team knew it would take quicker performances to compete with the nitro-injected A/Fuel cars as the temperatures dropped for the later rounds.

“Going into second round, I was nervous about implementing the tactics we had discussed earlier, as it was time to get more aggressive with the tune-up. Kevin Watson stuck by his guns and the car responded by stepping up a good half a tenth,” Demke said of his 5.281 defeat of Mike Manners. “That gave us what we needed to win the second round. We turned the knobs a little harder going into the final and just squeezed one out by seven thousandths of a second against Gord Gingles, a very tough competitor.”

The Maddern Racing team has raced in a wide range of conditions, but Tulsa’s summer heat tried its hardest to handicap the 2014 world champions.

“The race in Tulsa was extremely challenging,” Demke stressed. “Not just from the perspective that we’d never been there before, but the temperatures, the heat index, the humidity, and the water grains were all in the ‘red zone’ on the meter. It brought the team to its knees, but the entire team stepped up to the challenge and persevered to do what it took to win the Wally.”

The Tulsa win was the team’s first under the tuning guidance of longtime car chief Kevin Watson, who took over the main tuning duties earlier this season.

“I have to hand it to Kevin. I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am and what a great job the guy is doing. It’s giving me great confidence in driving the car, too,” Demke noted.

Moving forward to this weekend’s “Thunder on the Mountain” NHRA Central Region event at Bandimere Speedway, the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team will face even more challenging conditions. The density altitude is expected to approach 10,000 feet. Furthermore, the team’s Denver data log’s most recent entry is from 2006.

“The biggest challenge is we haven’t raced there in 10 years. A lot has changed since then. Even though I have great records from 10 years ago, I don’t know that that information is still applicable. We’re just going to have to make some educated guesses on where to start with some of those tuning variables. We’re very capable and I have faith that we can at least make a decent showing,”

Included in that data log, though, is the 1999 NHRA national event at Denver, when Maddern Racing qualified number one, won the race, and set low et and the track record with Darren Nicholson driving. Demke realizes a much lower et will be required to even qualify this weekend.

“I think that track record run was like a 5.69. Since then, I think a good et there is in the 5.4-second range. Supercharger and cylinder head technologies have advanced significantly and we’re excited to see what our current pieces are capable of doing up on the mountain."

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at the Bandimere Speedway “Thunder on the Mountain” race kicks off with one session at 4 PM on Friday, June 17. Two more sessions are scheduled for 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM on Saturday, June 18. Eliminations kick off at noon 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.

Demke, Maddern Racing Adding Tulsa to List of Tracks Raced

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of David Smith/PSA

TULSA, Okla. (June 8, 2016) – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team have raced across the country for over two decades, so it’s not often that the California team pulls into a track they’ve never raced at before. That’s the scenario this week, though, as Demke will compete at the NHRA Central Region event at Tulsa Raceway Park, June 9-12.

“We try to squeeze in a new track every year just to keep us on our toes. We’ve talked with other teams about Tulsa and it sounds like a great facility with a decent racing surface. I don’t think there’s anything different that we do at a new track other than try to enjoy it. It’s like taking a vacation to a place you’ve never been to before. There’s always some added fun and excitement to it,” said Demke, the 2014 TAD world champion.

On a somber note, Demke hopes to honor the memory of past Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster champion Shelly Howard, who passed away in a freak racing accident at Tulsa along with her son, Brian, in 2005.

“I try to remember those who passed away while competing and I won’t forget that this is where Shelly Howard lost her life. It was a very tragic situation. She was a very talented blown alcohol dragster driver,” Demke added.

The Maddern Racing team will be short a couple hands this weekend, as crew member Greg Rice was originally scheduled to miss this race after undergoing knee surgery, but he might still be on-hand to support his teammates.

“Greg is a major asset to this team and it will be a challenge to fill in his place this weekend. He’ll try to make it out to the race to help guide the team as best he can as long as his doctor allows him,” noted Demke, who himself was a Maddern Racing crew member before getting the chance to drive.

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team will hit the track for Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying sessions at 5 and 8 PM on Friday, June 10. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Saturday at 4 PM and conclude at 10 PM.

“That type of a schedule is more of a challenge for us than it being a new track. Our team is more used to going to a regional event and getting one qualifying run on Friday, two on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. Taking away a qualifying run introduces some new challenges and squeezing everything into two days really will test our abilities to get things done in a timely manner,” Demke concluded.

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.

Demke Qualifies No. 2, Races to Kansas Nationals Semifinals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

TOPEKA, KS (May 25, 2016) – A strong qualifying effort and semifinal finish was the result for Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Chris Demke at the NHRA Kansas Nationals last weekend. The Maddern Racing team kicked off the Midwest portion of their 2016 season at the Heartland Park Topeka event, where Demke qualified number two with a 5.26 et at 272 mph.

“We were happy to start off the weekend with a 5.28 off the trailer for the provisional number one spot. The blower belt came off for reasons other than the blower belt failing on its own on the second run. Then to run the 5.26 and holding on to the number two spot behind Megan [Meyer] after final qualifying, we couldn’t have been happier – well, unless we were number one,” Demke laughed.

The Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster moved on to the first round of eliminations to face Kansas local Gary Cooper. Demke again lost the blower belt, but Cooper handed the win to the Peen Rite team when he left before the green light came on. Demke’s second-round opponent, James Stevens, also red-lit, but Demke was ready for a race with a 5.324 at 268 mph performance.

“Luck was a big part of going rounds, but then we were able to lay down low et of the round on Sunday morning. Once again, we had more mechanical issues and we were thrashing to get back to the starting line for the semifinals against Joey Severance. We did get everything back together, but we didn’t get a chance to look closely at how the car had ran the run before to make any tuning modifications. The car ran the same number, a 5.32. We just got beat. Joey stepped up and that’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Demke said of the 5.291-to-5.329 loss to his rival.

Though they came up one round short of adding a fifth Topeka final round to Demke’s career total, the California-based team was impressed with their first Midwest showing of 2016.

“I’m amazed at [car chief] Kevin Watson’s ability to step up and tune the car as well as he has. The weekend exceeded our expectations. We made six runs without tire shake this weekend. That’s one of the things we’ve been lacking. While the car has been running quick since the start of the year, we didn’t have consistency. This weekend we were running fast, consistent times. If we didn’t have those few mechanical bugs, there’s a good chance we could’ve been holding the Wally at the end of the day.”

Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team will have three weeks off before jetting back to the Midwest for NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Denver, Colorado.

“Tulsa is a track we’ve never raced at before. We don’t know anything about the surface. We’re going back to Denver, where we actually set the track record in 1999 with Darren Nicholson driving. The track record is much lower now. We haven’t been back there since 2005, so we’re looking forward to being back on the Mountain.”

Fox Sports 2 will air their Lucas Oil Series sportsman coverage from the NHRA Kansas Nationals on Thursday, May 26 at 9 PM. A re-air date is set for 9 AM on May 28th on Fox Sports 1.

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.

Demke in Search of Elusive First Kansas Nationals Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

TOPEKA, Kans. (May 17, 2016) – Former Top Alcohol Dragster world champion Chris Demke and his Maddern Racing team are more than ready to dust off the cobwebs after over a month off since their last race. The SoCal team is making the tow out to Heartland Park Topeka for the NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 20-22, a race where Demke has been to the finals four times in his career.

“I have been to the final round and lost at Topeka more times than I want to talk about. The fact that the track wasn’t on the schedule at the beginning of the season had our team bummed. We usually go to this race but we’ve never been able to win the national event. For as many times as we’ve been here, I would’ve expected that record to be better. We’re excited to have at least one more chance to win a national event Wally at Topeka,” Demke said.

The Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team’s strategy isn’t complicated. They’re just going to keep doing what they’ve been doing. It seems to be working, as Demke has been to the final round at the last two of his three races in 2016.

“We’ll just try to continue the momentum,” Demke admitted. “The team is itching to get back to the track. Our last race was the Vegas regional, which was postponed due to rain. We were scheduled to go to Houston but pulled out because of what looked to be bad weather. Topeka was the next race on the list so that’s where we’re headed.

“We’ve laid down some incredible numbers this season, we’re just lacking consistency. With Jerry Maddern setting the strategy and Kevin Watson implementing the tactics, I think it’s just up to me to drive the car to the finish line. I think everything is lining up for us.”

Competing with Demke for the Kansas Nationals Wally will be a full field of strong competitors, including local legend Randy Meyer, who stepped out of the driver’s seat this season to tune his daughter, Megan, to a win and two runner-up finishes in her rookie season.

“I’ve been keeping track of the entry list.” Demke noted. “It’s looking like a 50/50 split for blown cars and A/Fuel cars, which is rare these days. Megan has been entered for some time, but Randy just recently entered. I was actually happy to see that because when Randy is in one of his cars it distracts him from tuning his other car. I think it helps everyone else when he’s in the seat. Hopefully he doesn’t go out first round and give all of his attention to Megan’s car. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Top Alcohol action at the NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 20-22, kicks off with qualifying sessions at 3:30 and 6 PM on Friday. A final qualifying session is scheduled for noon on Saturday, followed by first round of eliminations at 3 PM. Eliminations continue bright and early Sunday morning with second round set for 9:30 AM.

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.

Demke Races to Las Vegas National Event Final Round, Moves on to Regional Event

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

LAS VEGAS (April 6, 2016) – Chris Demke is no stranger to racing defending NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Joey Severance. The two blown alcohol superstars have faced off countless times in one another’s recent championship battles, and already twice in final rounds this year. The most recent Demke-versus-Severance match race was the final round of the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend.

 

Demke qualified his Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster in the No. 2 position after laying down a 5.254 elapsed time, which was a career-best Las Vegas run for Demke. The run’s 272.45 MPH speed was also good for Top Speed of the event by the end of eliminations.

 

“That 5.25 was by far our career-best and goes along with what I expected for this tune-up based on how we performed at Phoenix in similar conditions. We were number one going into final qualifying until my Boost Performance Products teammate, Garrett Bateman, took it away from us,” Demke said of his qualifying effort.

 

Demke dipped into the 5.2s again in the first round when he defeated A/Fuel rookie Jndia Erbacher, daughter of European Top Fuel champion Urs Erbacher, with a 5.293. Another twenty was likely in the second round, but Demke had to pedal out of tire shake to run 5.300 to beat Shawn Cowie’s 5.386. Tire shake plagued the Maddern Racing entry again in the semifinals, though Demke was unopposed.

 

“Because of the way the ladder shakes out for an eleven-car field, the number one qualifier gets the bye run into the second round, but the number two qualifier gets the bye run in the semifinals. You just have to earn it by winning the first two rounds. We were able to take advantage of that,” Demke noted.

 

That free semifinal run sent Demke into the final round to face his rival.

 

“It’s a familiar place; a final round against Joey Severance. He had lane choice and was running very consistently. We knew if we could run near our qualifying time we would have a good chance, but tire shake got the best of me, I pedaled it and the blower belt came off. My hat’s off to Joey. Congratulations to him. He tried to give me another one like at Phoenix, but we weren’t able to capitalize. He dropped a cylinder at the hit and didn’t pick it up until about two seconds into the run, which is rare for an alcohol car,” Demke commented.

 

After a marginal start at the Winternationals, two consecutive final round appearances have Demke and his Peen Rite team confident in their abilities as they prepare for this weekend’s Lucas Oil Series regional event at The Strip.

 

“I have to hand it to my crew. They’re doing a great job. Kevin Watson is really taking charge of directing things and making decisions on the tune-up. We’re going rounds. For the last two races we’ve gone as many rounds as possible, we just haven’t been able to seal the deal in the final round. With the performance that we’re currently displaying, I’m confident another Wally is right around the corner.

 

“I’m very excited. We have the right ideas. We’re getting data and learning what this car needs to run fast in its current configuration. Who won this regional race last year? That would be the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster. We’re the defending champs, and I’m confident we can make a good run at the win again this year.”

 

Fox Sports 2 will air Sportsman coverage from the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals on Thursday, April 7th at 9 PM ET.

 

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, 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.

Demke Racing in Memory of Late Friend Mark Lyle at Las Vegas

 

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
Photo courtesy of Bill Swanson

LAS VEGAS (March 31, 2016) –  Like everyone else in the NHRA community, Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Chris Demke enters this weekend’s Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals with a heavy heart after the unexpected loss of friend and NHRA Chief Starter Mark Lyle earlier this week. Demke and his Maddern Racing team will race this weekend in Lyle’s memory.

“Lyle and our team go way back. We knew him back when he was the Division 6 starter. We hung out with him on and off the track. We were really excited when he was promoted to NHRA Chief Starter. He was one of the good guys. He did his job and he did it very well. You could always trust Mark to tell you what was going on. He would have the track properly prepared. He will be sadly missed. Such a tragedy and a surprise. Lyle was the man,” Demke said of his late friend.

Traditionally a track that gives the West Coast blown alcohol dragster team some trouble, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is where the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team will find themselves for the next two weekends. Despite his spotty past at The Strip, Demke feels confident this time around after qualifying No. 1 and reaching the final round at the Phoenix regional event last month.

 “Las Vegas is one of the best facilities on the west coast. It’s not a track we usually do well at, but we have our moments. There are four races at this track per year – two nationals and two regionals – and we won the spring regional last April. It’s challenging, but it’s a great track surface. It’s at a moderate elevation so we need to adjust our tune-up. If our Phoenix tune-up transfers to Vegas then I have very high expectations as far as what we’re capable of.

“We did better than we expected [at Phoenix], but we can’t get cocky heading into this race. We need to maintain that process that we put together and carry that through to Las Vegas. We had some good luck at Phoenix, but a good part of the success was performance driven. We ran our team best at that altitude. That altitude is similar to what we’ll see at Las Vegas. We have the ability to run career-best Las Vegas numbers this weekend,” Demke predicted.

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, April 1-3, begins on Friday with sessions at 12:15 and 4 PM. Final qualifying is set for 11:15 AM Saturday, followed by first round of eliminations at 2:30 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday afternoon.

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, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. 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.

Demke Chasing Fifth NHRA Winternationals Victory

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion
TAN photo
 
 POMONA, Calif. (February 10, 2016) – Just as he finished last season, Chris Demke will kick off this 2016 season at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with his usual positive demeanor. The Circle K NHRA Winternationals, February 11-14, is a big race for Demke and his Maddern Racing team, who have won the season-opening race in four of the last six years. It’s a clean slate; everyone’s first stop in the pursuit of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster world championship.

“The Winternationals is always an important race because it’s the first race of the season. If you can do well here, it gives your team great momentum going in to the early part of the season. Fortunately for our team, we’ve won the Wtinernatiaonls the last two years and four total. I have great memories at the Winternationals. My first national event win was at the 50th anniversary Winternationals in 2010. It’s the race where I’ve had the most success,” said Demke, who lives nearby in Valencia.

Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team are coming off of a second-place finish in LODRS national points in 2015. The season started strong with a victory at the Winternationals, but the season finale left something to be desired.

“Last season ended on a bad note with an ignition problem that cost me first round against Johnny Ahten. We just did some testing in Las Vegas with the primary goal of making sure we fixed that problem. Testing went well, and I feel that we’re ready for the new season,” Demke claimed.

The state of the Top Alcohol Dragster class going into this season is very similar to what it looked like as the season wrapped up at the Auto Club Finals last November. Don’t expect much of a difference in the hard-charging, fun-loving attitude of the Peen Rite team either.

“There are a few new players in the class. No major rule changes. A couple new drivers and teams, as well as a lot of the same strong players that have been there in the last couple years. It’s always interesting to see how things shake out early on. As I always say, I just want to go out and have fun, but winning is pretty fun,” Demke laughed.

There will be one major change in the personnel side of things at Maddern Racing, as clutch guy and tuner Adam Rhoades has accepted a new position with a Top Alcohol Funny Car team.

“As most everybody has heard, Adam Rhoades will be leaving the team. He was with us at testing and will be with us at Pomona as we transition his duties to other team members. Certainly our beer budget will drop,” Demke joked. “His departure is amicable. He found a great opportunity and I understand why he’s taking that opportunity. Our relationship will remain strong. It’s a good decision for him and I can’t contest that. I’m gonna’ miss the guy. He’s not only my friend, he’s also a great racer and our team will miss his presence. However, our team already has a lot of skill and I’m sure we’ll be able to maintain the level of performance that we’ve had in previous years.”

Aside from the departure of Rhoades, the crew member line-up will remain the same with team owner Jerry Maddern at the helm. The team’s proven supercharged, methanol-burning Brad Anderson powerplant will stay in place, as will the team’s sponsors.

“I’m happy to renew my sponsorship agreements with Boost Performance Products and Hoosier Racing Tires. I’m grateful that they both continue to see value in our team representing their products.”

Chris Demke’s 2016 season will officially kick off when Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying session number one begins on Thursday at 4 PM Pacific. Another session is scheduled for 2:15 PM on Friday with a final qualifying session at 11 AM on Saturday. First round of eliminations will follow at 2:15 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday following the first round of Pro eliminations.

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.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, Morningwood Energy Drink, and Motorsports Unlimited. 

TAD's Chris Demke Enters U.S. Nationals as Defending Event Champion

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (September 2, 2015) – Top Alcohol Dragster national points leader Chris Demke enters the prestigious 61st Annual Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals as the defending event and world champion, but he isn't overly confident heading into the sport's most storied race. Demke's performance at his last two races in Seattle provided a reminder that no matter the number on the wing or amount of Wallys in the trophy case, anything can happen when it comes to 3,500-horsepower racecars.

“It was a shock,” Demke said of a first-round loss at the NHRA Northwest Nationals last month. “It was a round we should have won, but we swapped engines after the last round of qualifying and a small bolt didn't get tightened in assembly. It didn't show up in the warm-up, but it certainly got our attention at the one-two shift when it shut the car off. The only thing damaged was our team's ego.”

Demke and his Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products teammates rebounded at the Seattle NHRA regional race a couple weeks later when the California native grabbed a holeshot win over Garrett Bateman in a 5.294-to-5.294 final-round decision.

“We knew we had to win that race to get any points out of it. Mission accomplished.

“That race was way harder than I expected. After seeing the performance of the west coast alcohol dragsters at the Woodburn regional, I thought, 'These guys have lost it.' As it turned out, not one round of eliminations was a gimme. Every one of those teams who raced us swung for the fences and connected. If it hadn't been for a total team effort on the Maddern Racing end, the results may not have been as they were,” Demke noted.

After a thorough freshening, the Peen Rite blown alcohol dragster has made its way to Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis for “The Big Go”, the U.S. Nationals. Demke won the 60th running of the race last year, and reached the final round in 2013. Maddern Racing also won Indy in 1998 with Darren Nicholson driving.

“Indy is a huge race. Everybody who matters is going to be there and then some. This race has huge points implications towards the championship, but I'm just trying to treat this as another race. I want to enjoy what Indy is, and it's a huge celebration of drag racing,” Demke said.

With 24 Top Alcohol Dragsters entered for the U.S. Nationals , including eight other top 10 drivers in national points, there will be no room for mistakes.

“This race is not going to be easy by any means. The best of the best will be there. We'll just go there and give it our best. Based on how things have gone this year, if we can make it past first round, I'm confident we'll do well. My team knows how to go rounds, and I have every bit of confidence in them. We'll put our best effort forward, because every round matters from here until the World Finals at Pomona.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products Top Alcohol Dragster team will have four chances to qualify for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, Sept. 2-7. Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:45 and 4:45 PM on Friday, 12:30 PM on Saturday, and 9:45 AM on Sunday. First round of eliminations will take place at 5:45 PM Sunday evening. Eliminations continue on Labor Day Monday after first round of NHRA Mello Yello Series competition.

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.

Points Leader Chris Demke Bringing Red-Hot Peen Rite TA/D to Seattle

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

KENT, Wash. (August 6, 2015) – Red-hot NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Chris Demke is back on the west coast after a dominant Midwest tour, which ended with a total of three race wins in four attempts. Demke, who leads the NHRA Lucas Oil Series national points, is set to compete in the NHRA Northwest Nationals near Seattle, with full knowledge that he'll face competitors and conditions he hasn't seen in months.

“No doubt the last few races have given us great momentum but you can never take it for granted. As we head back west we're going to be facing a whole different set of players, each presenting their own challenges. We're leaving the heat and humidity of the Midwest and heading back to the oxygen-rich Northwest. We traditionally run well at Seattle. I have high expectations for our car's performance, and we're going to need it because we're going to run head-to-head with our strongest competitor, Joey Severance,” noted the Peen Rite-sponsored driver.

“We have that momentum,” Demke added. “Now it's going to be important for our team to continue what we're doing. The points and the championship chase are important, but we never want to lose sight of the fact that we go to the races to have fun.”

The Northwest Nationals is one of the most memorable and successful stops on the tour for Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster team. They went to the final round in half of their last six Seattle appearances, including an infamous coast-fest with a former rival in 2012. Demke's Seattle memories aren't all positive, though, as the Top Alcohol Dragster community lost one of its most universally respected competitors in 2010.

“The coast-fest final round with Jim Whiteley was a very exciting way to win a race, but losing Mark Niver in 2010 will always hold a higher position in my memory. That was my second win, and it taught me that winning isn't always fun. I always go to Seattle with Mark Niver in my mind and in my heart.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products Top Alcohol Dragster team will hit the Pacific Raceways quarter-mile for qualifying at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, August 7-9, beginning with sessions at 2 and 5 PM on Friday. Teams will get a third qualifying session at noon on Saturday before first round of eliminations at 3 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday afternoon.

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.

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.

JEGS Allstars Qualifier Chris Demke Carrying Norwalk Win Momentum to Chicago

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

JOLIET, Ill. (July 9, 2015 ) – Chris Demke's trophy case contains just about every award a NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver can earn; national and regional event Wallys, a JEGS Allstars trophy, and even a Lucas Oil Series national championship Wally. However, he was missing the coveted billet ice cream scoop that comes with a win at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals. After a long, hot race day in rural Ohio, Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team earned their ice cream scoop.

“It was awesome to see the size of the crowd and the general excitement of the fans at Norwalk, and what a great show the Bader family puts on. It was just so wonderful to be a part of that. I even told Mr. Bader when he presented me that ice cream scoop, 'Don't get me wrong; Wallys are great and I definitely need the points, but I came here for the ice cream scoop,' and that's what we left with. That was a very satisfying accomplishment,” said Demke, the defending Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol Dragster world champion.

The weekend was off to a promising start on Friday when Demke shot to the top of the qualifying order with a 5.355/269 mph lap in the first session. A consistent 5.376 et followed in the second session, but the Peen Rite machine went up in smoke early in the third qualifying session, which also counted as the final round from the rained-out Chicago regional race. A/Fuel star Mia Tedesco ran a 5.317 to take the race win and No. 1 qualifying position.

“We feel our car has not been running to its full potential lately, and we're struggling to figure out what was wrong. We only had two qualifying runs to try to figure it out. We knew the Dave Hirata-tuned A/Fueler of Mia Tedesco would run quick and we weren't going to beat them with a mid-to-high five-thirty run. We hopped it up a little but didn't expect it to smoke the tires. My hat's off to them. They ran hard when they needed to and she deserves that win.”

The Jerry Maddern-owned blown alcohol dragster was back to its consistent mid-five-thirty performance when eliminations rolled around. Demke ran a 5.374 to take out class veteran Mike Kosky in the first round, then a weekend-best 5.344 et to shut down Randy Meyer's 5.391. A 5.360 was enough to beat Brandon Booher's 5.433 in the semifinals, lining up a final round pairing with Corey Michalek, one of the rising stars of Top Alcohol Dragster. Demke and Michalek were ready for each other on the tree with .022 and .019 lights, respectively, but the Dreher Motorsports A/Fueler of Michalek slowed while Demke powered through for a 5.357-to-5.478 victory.

“It was a challenging weekend. Our car wasn't performing as well as expected but we were still quicker than a majority of the cars so we gave up on going faster and backed up into survival mode. After smoking the tires on Q3 we just wanted to get the car to the finish line consistently. Consistency is what won that race.

“The Dreher family is an awesome bunch of people and they had their car running consistently quick. I was watching Corey's reaction times all weekend and they're stellar. He certainly knows how to drive a drag car, and he got my attention. I honestly went into that final round knowing I had as good a chance to lose as I did to win. Knowing the reaction times that kid was pulling, I knew I had to dig deep to stay competitive. I knew there was a good chance I could lose that race on a holeshot,” Demke admitted.

Demke and the Maddern Racing team will have another shot at a big win this weekend when the NHRA Mello Yello Series rolls into Joliet, Ill. for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, July 9-12. Because of his performance at LODRS regional events in the past year, Demke earned a spot in the eight-car JEGS Allstars race, where he'll face some of the other top competitors from around the country.

“We're going to be competing against the best of the best,” Demke said. “Our team takes this race very seriously. If you look at the sides of our trailer, the only stickers on it are our JEGS Allstars qualifiers stickers because we're so proud every time we're able to qualify and represent our division or region. On top of the Allstars, you still have the Route 66 Nationals. We won that race the last two years, so combined with last weekend's win we have a lot of momentum coming into this weekend.”

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.

Demke Chasing Two Wallys, Norwalk Ice Cream Scoop at Summit Nationals

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (July 1, 2015) – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver Chris Demke has some unfinished business to settle when he gets to Summit Motorsports Park for the 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this weekend. The California native is scheduled to complete the final round from the Chicago regional race during qualifying for the Norwalk national event, adding another level of excitement to the Fourth of July weekend.

Back at Route 66 Raceway's NHRA North Central region event in June, Demke qualified the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products dragster in the No. 2 spot before scoring round wins over John Paul Gutierrez and Jake Sanders. He'll face Mia Tedesco in the Hirata family's A/Fuel dragster in the final round, set to take place during the third qualifying session at the Summit Nationals.

“From a tune-up perspective, we'll just need to find our race tune-up quicker,” Demke said of the impact on the team's qualifying strategy. “We don't get as much of a chance to experiment or try anything crazy. From a driver's perspective, I don't get three qualifiers. That just means I have to be race-ready sooner. We've had to do this before, and our team knows how to work through the situation.”

Once Demke and the Maddern Racing team get past qualifying and the Chicago final round, their focus will shift to eliminations at Norwalk, a race known for a spectacular fan turnout, patriotic fireworks displays and, of course, the $1-per-pound ice cream.

“We're going to Norwalk not just because we want to get ready for the Allstars weekend in Chicago, but who wouldn't want to go racing in Norwalk, Ohio? The Bader family, the track owners, put on a great show and we're excited to be a part of that program. Our real goal is to earn that silver ice cream scoop,” Demked added.

Also chasing the coveted Norwalk ice cream scoop and NHRA Wally will be a field of over twenty other Top Alcohol Dragster competitors, many of whom Demke and team will see at the Route 66 Nationals and JEGS Allstars race in Chicago next weekend. “Looking at the entry list, it's a tough group of cars that we'll be competing against. There's no one there that we can take lightly.”

Even though he's one of the veteran drivers in the class, Demke has only raced at the rural Ohio track once. He went to the semifinals at this race last year and wrapped up his Ohio trip with a win at the National Trails Raceway regional event just a couple hours south in Columbus.

“This race was a challenge last year, but we learned a lot about our tune-up and what it takes to be consistently quick in the Midwest's summer conditions. We were able to take advantage of that knowledge through the rest of the season, and we plan to continue that this weekend.”

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster will take to the track for qualifying at the 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 3-5, on Friday at noon and 3 PM. The Top Alcohol Dragsters will be back for a final qualifying session at noon on Saturday before first round of eliminations at 3 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday and will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 12th at 1 PM ET.

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.

Demke Seeking First and Potentially Last Kansas Nationals Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 21, 2015) – NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national points leader Chris Demke and his Peen Rite team are kicking off their 2015 Midwest tour this weekend at the NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka. The four-time Topeka finalist is seeking his elusive first Kansas Nationals Wally, and with Heartland Park Topeka's future in jeopardy, this might be his last chance.

“[Tuner] Adam Rhoades texted me a couple weeks before the race and said, 'Looks like this could be the end of the Topeka event, we're gonna have to win it,' so we've got our marching orders. I've been to the finals here plenty of times, but I've yet to win the national event. We went to the regional event for the first time last year and won. We know how to win at this track. We just haven't been able to put together the four runs necessary to win the Kansas Nationals,” Demke admitted.

Even though the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team is more than capable of stringing together win lights in the hot, humid conditions Topeka is known for, they thrive in cool weather where every bit of performance can be squeezed out of the Jerry Maddern-owned entry. A quick look at the forecast shows the possibility for ideal conditions is there.

“Our team has been going to Topeka as long ago as 1999 with Darren Nicholson driving,” said Demke, who served as a Maddern Racing crew member at the time. “That's the only year I can remember being there and the weather being under 80 degrees. It looks like this weekend promises some excellent weather conditions and fast air densities. The track surface is great, it just never has good weather to support quick elapsed times. I'm looking forward to racing at this facility with good weather conducive to quick ets and fast speeds. It might be a fitting farewell to Heartland Park Topeka.”

With an 18-car entry list, made up primarily of nitro-injected A/Fuel dragsters, Demke won't have it easy. He especially has his eye on A/Fuel veteran Randy Meyer, the local favorite who defeated Team Peen Rite in the Gatornationals final round earlier this year.

“There are going to be plenty of fast cars there, but Randy Meyer is at the top of that list and we'll keep him firmly in our cross-hairs. He scares me outside of the car when we're standing side by side, but he doesn't scare me when we're both strapped in,” Demke laughed, referencing the obvious size difference between the two drivers.

The Kansas Nationals mark the end of a month-long break for Demke and the Maddern Racing team. Following the Topeka event, Demke plans to attend the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio and the Route 66 Nationals and JEGS Allstars event near Chicago.

Top Alcohol Dragster competition at the NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 22-24, begins on Friday with qualifying sessions around 3:30 and 6:30 PM CST. The action continues with final qualifying at 11:15 AM and first round of eliminations at 3 PM on Saturday. Eliminations conclude on Sunday and will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 31st at 11 AM EST.

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.

Demke Races to Third Gatornationals Final, Third Final of 2015

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18) – Top Alcohol Dragster driver Chris Demke raced to a runner-up finish at the 46th Annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida last weekend. The Californian driver battled hot conditions all weekend before dropping the final round match to A/Fuel guru Randy Meyer. The final was Demke's third consecutive money round finish since winning the 2014 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster national championship.

“One thing about our team is we know how to go rounds,” Demke boasted. “I'm so proud of our team. It was a tough weekend and my crew worked extremely hard to get to the finals. I'm a little disappointed that we weren't able to win the race but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Knowing Randy Meyer ran a 5.21, we really didn't have anything for him. If the car ran where we had it tuned for, he still would have won.”

Demke qualified the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster in the No. 3 spot with a 5.280/272 MPH performance. Another 5.28 was used to take out Matt Cummings first round, followed by a pair of 5.27 elapsed times to get past the A/Fuel cars of Mike Manners and Rich Bourke. In the final round, Demke and opponent Randy Meyer left the starting line with nearly identical reaction times, but the nitro-injected A/Fueler held the lead for the rest of the race. Demke recorded a 5.33 ET, while Meyer won with a 5.21.

Demke was quick to pass on congratulations to Meyer and his team. The Maddern Racing and Randy Meyer Racing teams have faced off for years in some of the quickest and most prestigious races.

“Congratulations to Randy Meyer, Ted Lake and the rest of his team. They're a great group of people. We run into each other to race all the time and they're a great team. Those were the guys that we didn't want to have to race in the final, but that's racing for you. My hat's off to them. That's a well-deserved win for Randy.”

The Gatornationals was an enjoyable race for Demke and his Maddern Racing team not just because of their performance or the history and prestige surrounding the race, but also because the race has turned into such a social event. Most of the east coast teams come out to play for the first time, and a lot of the racers congregate in one place after the day's racing activities have concluded.

“It's always fun going to Gainesville. It's one of the 'majors' and everyone is there. We stayed at The Lodge, which is right across the street from the Gainesville Alehouse, where all of the Pro teams hang out after the races. It was nice to spend time with all of the race teams. Our team has come of age and the Pro teams know who we are and treat us like we're a Pro team, too.”

Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team have returned to the Maddern Racing shop in California to prepare for their next race, which is currently scheduled to be in Las Vegas. Until then, fans can tune in to watch the Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol coverage from the Gatornationals on ESPN2 on March 28 at 10 AM ET.

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, Ron Mann 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.