Meyer Celebrates Third Consecutive Spring Nationals Victory

Courtesy of Randy Meyer Racing

April 27, 2015 – The Randy Meyer Racing Team took home the win this weekend in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway for the third year in a row.

Randy Meyer, Top Alcohol Dragster driver and team owner based out of Spring Hill, Kansas, claimed the victory after defeating David Brounkowski, who red light in the final round and automatically giving the win to Randy.

On Friday and Saturday, Randy qualified his A/Fuel Dragster with a best run of 5.378 ET at 271 mph to claim the fifth position, out of 16. All elimination rounds were held on Sunday, which gave Randy the chance to make experienced tuning adjustments to have the quickest times on Sunday, making him unbeatable.

“We didn’t do as good as I wanted to in qualifying,” Randy said. “I changed some things on the motor before first round, and we were very happy with the results.”

Randy got his first taste of success with a 5.294 ET at 271 mph to defeat Aaron Tatum in round one of eliminations. As the only dragster to run in the 5.20s, Randy had lane choice in second round over competitor and veteran Jim Whiteley, and his 5.279 ET at 271 mph took out Whiteley’s 5.359 at 267 mph.

Randy continued to knock down the competition, and defeated Lee Callaway with a 5.264 ET at 272 mph in the semi-finals, laying down the quickest, and third fastest, Top Alcohol Dragster pass of the weekend.

Although Randy’s dragster slowed down to a 5.327 at 271 mph in the final round, his destiny was already set as he was declared the Houston Spring Nationals Champion, for the third year in a row, once he left the starting line.

“It was nice to be able to come back to Houston and come away with the win year after year after year,” says Randy. “There were some very tough competitors that we raced this weekend, but our car ran great and our crew worked very hard to make it all happen. After red lighting in Charlotte, and losing in Dallas last weekend, this win this weekend helped build our momentum back up to keep going rounds. I want to thank all of our sponsors for supporting us and standing behind us.“

You can watch Randy make his way to the winner’s circle on ESPN2 at 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET on May 3rd.

Now third in points for the NHRA Lucas Oil National Championship, this was Randy’s second win of the 2015 season, out of four races, and gives all the credit to his dedicated crew and family. The next stop for the Randy Meyer Racing Team is May 22-24 at their hometown track, Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, KS, for the NHRA Kansas Nationals.

The Randy Meyer Racing Team would like to thank 2015 partners and sponsors: Lucas Oil, Smart Chicken, NGK Spark Plugs, GUNK, Quik-Latch Products, Boninfante, Taylor Cable, ARP, MAHLE Clevite, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Hedman Hedders, Moroso.

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Kyle Michalek Looks to Build on Past Texas Success in 2015 Debut

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing
Photos courtesy of David Smith

Over the course of five years in the early-2000’s, Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) made a habit of turning in dominant performances in the state of Texas while working as pit crew members for Mark Thomas Racing. During the span of 2003-2007, MBR racked up an impressive résumé with 2 victories, one runner-up, one semi-final appearance, and one quarter-final appearance. Now, after a 7 year absence from the Lone Star State, MBR arrives in Houston with a hunger to continue its history of success; this time in the driver’s seat.

Michalek Brothers Racing driver Kyle Michalek is gearing up for a weekend of new opportunities as he zeroes in on the 28th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals. Michalek, entering his third season behind the wheel of the Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster, will be making his 2015 debut in Texas, the state that he now calls home. This event also marks the first race west of the Mississippi for an MBR driver, bringing along with it a new batch of competitors different from the list of drivers the team has become accustomed to lining up against in the Midwest and along the east coast.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back in the driver's seat and taking on new competition at a new facility," said Kyle. "We have experienced success in Texas before and we're looking to pick up right where we left off. They say everything is bigger in Texas; a win here would be just as big as any we've had up to this point and there's no reason we can't put the KAG car in the winner's circle this weekend."

MBR rolls into Houston with primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) looking to not only succeed on track, but also on a mission to help North America's largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider find qualified applicants to join its team. KAG will have a full team on site in Nitro Alley to engage and interact with prospective employees. Any current CDL holder is encouraged to stop by the KAG booth to learn more about job opportunities and for a shot to win a free iPad mini.

 "We are really looking forward to spreading the good news about all of the exciting career opportunities at KAG again this year," said Kyle. "There really is something for everyone from owner operators, to company drivers, mechanics, and tank washers; KAG is a growing company eager to tap into the talented NHRA fan base. I'm excited to talk to fans in person at the track about these opportunities; however, if you can't make it to the track you can still get in on the action by visiting www.thekag.com/race to learn more!"

MBR races into Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, Texas for its second stop on the 2015 tour. In addition to partnering with the Kenan Advantage Group, Champion Spark Plugs, Speed-Pro, Fel-Pro, and Sealed Power, and GoPro cameras, will be featured on the side of the Dreher’s injected-nitro machine.

Kyle Michalek kicks off the event this Friday with two qualifying runs at 11:30AM and 2:30PM. The team takes the track for its third and final qualifying pass at 11:00AM on Saturday with the first round of eliminations following soon after at 5:30PM. The eight remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then battle it out for the Wally with the final three rounds of eliminations taking place on Sunday at 1:00PM, 2:15PM, and 3:30PM.

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

Royal Purple Raceway Fighting to Keep NHRA Sanction

Courtesy of Geiger Media

BAYTOWN, Texas (Sept. 10) - Officials from Royal Purple Raceway are taking steps to protect the interest of racers and their fans, as well as the sizable and long-running investment in southeast Texas, from an adjacent business that is jeopardizing the racetrack's sanction with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

Recently, a commercial recycling company, HPP Materials Inc., began concrete-crushing operations on a tract of land east of Royal Purple Raceway. A large concrete debris pile has been growing daily, with the prevailing winds in the area blowing dust and debris from the site onto Royal Purple Raceway property.

At an event at the track in July, the wind was so strong and the debris so thick that all on-track activities were forced to be halted so the track could be cleaned to ensure the safety of the racers.

NHRA officials were briefed about the situation and have indicated the NHRA sanction for the track could be in jeopardy for 2014. That would mean the NHRA SpringNationals is at risk of coming off the 2014 schedule, which would force Royal Purple Raceway to close after 27 years of operation.

"If HPP Materials is allowed to continue with its current business plan of operating a concrete crusher and industrial-waste recycling facility next door to an outdoor motorsports park that attracts more than 500,000 participants and spectators annually, then we will have no choice but to cease doing business as a motorsports park," RPR Vice President & General Manager Seth Angel said. "Unfortunately, should we be forced to close our doors it will immediately halt the substantial economic impact our venue brings to the region, specifically to the city of Baytown and its hotel and restaurant industry."

Track officials have attempted in good faith to work with HPP Materials in an effort to come to a compromise agreement. One such compromise offered by RPR was to move the rock-crushing and recycling operations to another location on the company's property, but so far RPR's efforts have been to no avail.

HPP Materials has applied for an air permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and track officials plan to protest the granting of the permit. A TCEQ Public Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and RPR officials are encouraging race fans, local merchants, business partners, and others to attend to show support for the racetrack.

"We know how loyal race fans are, and we're asking everyone to come and support us at this public meeting," Angel said. "The future of professional drag racing in Houston is at stake."

The Chambers County Community Building is located at McLeod Park at 10717 Langston Drive in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Click here to view a map.

The track also has filed a lawsuit in Chambers County, Texas, to address the operations of HPP's facility and its impact on Royal Purple Raceway.

In addition, Angel addressed a letter to NHRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Graham Light asking that the track be kept on the 2014 national event schedule. In the 2014 schedule released by NHRA last week, Royal Purple Raceway was given the April 25-27 weekend for the race.

"Royal Purple Raceway is fully engaged to prevent HPP Materials Inc., the owner of the facility, from operating in such a manner that interferes with the activity of our Raceway," Angel said in the letter.

About Royal Purple Raceway

Built in 1988, the Park is situated on 500 acres on the eastern edge of the greater Houston metropolitan area and is Houston's only major multi-purpose motorsports venue. The dragstrip, sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, boast a three-story tower building that incorporates 23 VIP suites, a media center, and race-control facilities equipped with state-of-the-art timing and scoring equipment, and is home to the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals.

About the TCEQ Public Meeting

What:     TCEQ Public Meeting: HPP Materials Inc. Air Permit #101641

When:     7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013

Where:    Chambers County Community Building McLeod Park

                10717 Langston Drive 

                Mont Belvieu, TX  77523