Corey Michalek Posts Runner-Up Finish to Defending Nat. Champ Chris Demke at Norwalk

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing

 

 

Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) and Dreher Motorsports entered the 9th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio on a mission to mix it up with some of the best Top Alcohol Dragster racers in the country on 4th of July weekend. Corey Michalek returned to the driver's seat hoping to feed off the momentum built during the team’s semi-final finish in Houston just a few months back when brother Kyle Michalek was behind the wheel. This marked the first time that the younger Michalek had piloted the Dreher Motorsports A/fueler since bowing out early at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina this past March.

"I preached it before the race and I preach it every time someone asks us about driving… Kyle and I make less than 10 runs a year,” Corey stressed. "We put so much emphasis on taking advantage of every single opportunity that we get to stand on the gas in one of these cars. When we pull up to the line, I believe we have a different approach, a different sense of urgency than maybe a driver who runs 12-15 races a year. If we throw away an important qualifying run or a pass in eliminations, that’s it for us for the year. We just want to do whatever we can to make as many runs as possible."

Corey hit the track for qualifying on Friday afternoon and promptly opened up the weekend with a 5.371 second pass at nearly 266MPH; good enough to sit in the preliminary #3 qualifying position. The team then followed up their opening run with strong 5.412 and 5.365 second laps to enter eliminations in the #5 spot to set up a first round matchup with Brandon Greco. This would mark the first time that Michalek and Greco had squared off in competition and Corey never trailed in the race, winning with a 5.401 second lap at 263.51MPH. The team’s performance was good enough to earn lane choice over the nitro-injected machine of long-time A/fuel juggernaut Rich McPhillips on Sunday.

The tuning duo of Randy and Jared Dreher put their minds together on Saturday night and Sunday morning prior to the quarterfinals matchup with McPhillips and set the car up for its best run of the weekend in which the Kenan Advantage Group A/fuel dragster covered the quarter-mile in 5.330 seconds at over 262MPH.

"The 5.33 to kick off our day on Sunday really started building momentum for us,” said Corey. “The Drehers just flat-out made a heck of a call. That was our quickest pass of the weekend by over 3-hundredths of a second and it was the second-quickest pass of the round. It was at this point that it dawned on me how similar this weekend was playing out to the way the 2014 Four-Wide nationals race played out. In that race, we qualified #5, we took out a blown car in the first round that had their ‘chutes come out during the run, we faced the #4 and #1 qualifiers (both of which were some of the best A/fuel cars in the county), and then there would be a stout blown car waiting for us in the final if we made it there."

Before thinking about racing for the trophy, Corey would have to get by Mia Tedesco, the event’s #1 qualifier. Mia not only qualified on the pole, she also ran low elapsed time of the event in the quarter-finals and held lane choice in the matchup by nearly a tenth of a second. When the light turned green, Corey had a sizeable jump off the starting line and the Dreher horsepower was able to hold off a late, hard-charge by Tedesco by .004 seconds (about 20 inches) to propel MBR and Dreher Motorsports into a final round matchup against Chris Demke.

"The semi-final win was huge,” said Corey. "We managed to claw past the number 1 qualifier and it set us up with the defending NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster National Champion, Chris Demke, with a Wally on the line. When you dream about winning a race, you dream big. You want to do it by beating the best. That opportunity was now right in front of us."

Demke, the #2 qualifier, lived in the mid-5.30’s all weekend and owned lane choice going into the final round. Both Corey and Chris charged off the starting-line with nearly identical reaction times, but from there Demke was able to steadily pull away to claim his second national event win of the 2015 racing season. Corey reflected on the team’s successful weekend.

"We gave it everything we had and just came up short; no excuses,” said Corey. "It stings to get that far and to come so close to sealing the deal, but we can't hang our heads with the results. The Dreher Motorsports team worked tirelessly to get the car ready round-after-round and we were in it until the very end. Major props to Chris Demke and his team for a job well done!"

With the conclusion of the 2015 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Michalek Brothers Racing now shifts its focus towards acquiring additional partners and working towards an expanded schedule for 2016.

 "Even though our on track time was brief in 2015, we made the most out of our opportunities bringing home semi-final and runner-up finishes and can't thank Dreher Motorsports, the Kenan Advantage Group, and Champion Spark Plugs enough," said Kyle. "We have great partners and could not do this without them. We have a lot of work ahead of us getting ready for the 2016 season, and we're looking forward to getting back to the track and putting some fire in the pipes!"

Permatex/Follow A Dream Team Earns Biggest Win Since 2006

Courtesy of Follow A Dream Inc.

At the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, Jay Blake's Permatex/Follow A Dream team earned its biggest win in nine years and moved into third place in the NHRA national standings. Driver Todd Veney singled in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final when opponent D.J. Cox broke on the burnout, collecting his first national event title and the team's fourth overall.

"Winning an NHRA national event is a dream come true," said Veney, who grew up about 50 miles from the track, in Wadsworth, Ohio. "It's been my number one goal my whole life, and I have Jay and the entire Follow A Dream team to thank for it. We ran 264 mph three times, qualified No. 3, and didn't have any mechanical problems at all, so it was just a great weekend all around."

"This was a true team win," said Blake, whose Permatex/Follow A Dream crew also won the 2005 Spring Nationals in Houston, and in 2006 won the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla, and the NHRA Finals in Pomona, CA . "Everybody on the team did a perfect job, everybody worked together, and now we're as high in the national standings as we've ever been."

Veney qualified No. 3 with a 5.59 at 264 mph and instead of racing No. 14 qualifier Wayne Butler (who crashed in qualifying) in the first round, took down alternate Jay Payne, the winningest alcohol driver now that many-time world champion Frank Manzo has retired. After overcoming an early lead by Dan Pomponio in round two, 5.61 to 5.88, Veney dispatched Paul Noakes in the semifinals with the team's best run of the event, a 5.57.

Cox's car broke on the burnout in the final round, paving the road to the winner's circle for the Permatex/Follow A Dream team. The afterglow won't last long, though - the next race, the Route 66 Nationals, is this weekend in Chicago.

The SummitRacing.com Nationals from Norwalk, Ohio will be televised this Sunday, July 12, at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

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.

MBR and Dreher Motorsports Looking to go to Work Over Holiday Weekend at Norwalk

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing
Photos courtesy of David Smith/PSA

 

 

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) rolls into the Buckeye State this weekend for its annual stop in Norwalk, Ohio. Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) and Dreher Motorsports will join forces once again to field an entry in the ultra-competitive Top Alcohol Dragster class at the 9th running of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

With the drag racing world shifting its attention to northwest Ohio for the holiday weekend, MBR driver Corey Michalek looks ahead to getting back on track after being idle behind the wheel since early March.

“Anxious is probably the most appropriate term,” said Corey. “It’s been a long 4 months of being out of the driver’s seat since Charlotte. As a part time driver running a limited schedule, there is so much emphasis put on every opportunity that you get to stand on the gas, and it’s a challenge to get into any type of rhythm with such long gaps in between races. The main objective for me coming into the weekend is to show up mentally in midseason form the way Kyle did in Houston.”

Norwalk marks the second consecutive race of the season that MBR will pull up to the starting line with primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG). MBR states its goals for the weekend are simple: perform well on track, and just as important, help KAG find qualified applicants to join its team. KAG will have a full staff on site in Nitro Alley to engage and interact with prospective employees. Any current CDL holder or mechanic is encouraged to stop by the KAG booth to learn more about job opportunities and for a shot to win a free iPad mini. Additional details can be found at THEKAG.COM/RACE.

With additional backing from Champion Spark Plugs, Fel-Pro, Speed Pro, Sealed Power, and GoPro cameras, MBR and Dreher Motorsports will go toe-to-toe with a field of more than 20 of the country’s best Top Alcohol Dragster teams for the third straight year. Focused on the weekend, Corey reflects on his brief 3-race career piloting a 3,500 horsepower A/fuel dragster.

“Since the 2014 Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, it’s been a humbling experience for me behind the wheel. We have been fortunate enough to be able to come out and make a bunch of A-to-B runs and get the car qualified into a couple of stacked fields, which is a victory in itself, but we’ve run into a string of really tough luck going into eliminations the past two times that I’ve driven,” said Corey. “I know the Drehers are ready to throw down this weekend and I’ve been training since the Monday after Charlotte to be fully prepared for any situation that we may face on track so we can be contenders come Sunday. I’m ready to drop the visor and go to work.”

The team kicks off its weekend this Friday with 2 qualifying runs at 12:00PM and 3:00PM. Action resumes on Saturday afternoon when the KAG A/fuel dragster makes its third and final qualifying pass at 12:00PM, followed shortly after by the first round of eliminations at 3:00PM. The 8 remaining Top Alcohol Dragsters will then square off for the final 3 rounds of eliminations with a Wally on the line Sunday at 12:15PM, 2:25PM, and 3:40PM.

“It’s 4th of July weekend at the Bader’s house and we can’t wait to get the KAG A/fuel dragster on track in front of a packed house at Summit Motorsports Park,” said Corey. “This is MBR’s home track and we count down the days each year until we get the opportunity to come back. Fireworks, $1/lb ice cream, and nitro…it doesn’t get any better than this!”

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

Corey Michalek Qualifies the KAG A/Fuel Dragster into Stout Norwalk Field

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing
Photo courtesy of David Smith

The MBR/Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster entry sponsored by the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) and Champion Spark Plugs qualified #11 amongst a field of 21 of the nation’s premier Top Alcohol Dragster drivers at the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, OH. Taking place over the course of a picture-perfect 4th of July weekend, this was the team’s third NHRA national event appearance as competitors; all of which MBR has successfully made the qualifying field.

Rookie driver Corey Michalek returned to the seat for the second time this year, and the team started the weekend out with a strong 5.455 second elapsed time at 262.03mph during Q1. During the second round of qualifying, the team had an aborted run due to tire shake and ended day 1 in the #10 qualifying spot. The 3,500 horsepower KAG A/fueler took the track one last time early Saturday afternoon and improved on its initial qualifying time by running a 5.445 second lap at 257.73mph to secure the #11 spot in the ladder. Unfortunately, during the process, parts attrition took its toll and MBR’s weekend came to an end before contesting the first round of eliminations.

Fresh off his second event of NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster competition, rookie driver Corey Michalek evaluated the team’s performance.

“Obviously we want to do well every time we show up at the track,” said Corey. “There is definitely a sense frustration when we don’t do well because Kyle and I have such an intense desire to win, just like our teammates, Randy and Jared Dreher. But we’re also realistic because we have been around the sport long enough to fully understand that sometimes there is only so much that is in our control. When you put nitro inside of a race car, parts are going to malfunction and weekends like this are going to happen, unfortunately.”

Michalek wasn’t totally down on the final outcome of the weekend, however.

“On the positive side, though, we persevered enough to rise above the mechanical issues in order to solidly qualify the KAG / Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster in the #11 spot. Considering the competition that was on the property, and the fact that the current national points leader was unable to make the show, that was quite the accomplishment.”

The 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals also marked the first time that the younger Michalek had piloted a race car down the esteemed Norwalk racing surface. Corey happily recalled his experience of finally getting an opportunity to race at his home track in front of a capacity crowd filled with friends and family.

“Turning the corner in front of the huge Summit Motorsports Park grandstands for the first time was an awesome moment. After standing along those fences for years, to moving behind the car on the starting line as a crew member, it was great to finally be in the position to make a lap down the Norwalk quarter-mile,” said Corey. “Having a huge contingent of family, friends, and MBR supporters on-hand in the stands and in the pits all weekend long was the icing on the cake. Kyle and I are beyond grateful to have the backing of such an awesome support system.”

With 2014’s three scheduled races in the books, Michalek Brothers Racing now shifts their focus to next season and beyond.

“Each year MBR strives to move forward and 2014 has been a year of great progress,” said Kyle. “With the addition of KAG to our team, and the continued support of Champion, Fel-Pro, Sealed Power, and Speed Pro we were able to bring home a National Event win at the Charlotte NHRA Four Wide Nationals. This provides momentum and inspiration to continue building our program so we can increase our participation within the class. We’re confident our team has a lot to offer both on and off the track. We will take the next couple months off to focus on building relationships with current and future business partners, and look to come back strong in 2015. But, if an opportunity comes up to hit the track again this year we won’t think twice about it!”

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

Demke Reaches Semifinals at First Norwalk Appearance

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (July 8) – A semifinal finish at one of the toughest races of the season, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, puts Chris Demke at the top of the Top Alcohol Dragster national points standings. A close race against another stout blown alcohol competitor ended Chris' day in the penultimate round, but the upbeat Californian driver is still content with his recent performance.

Demke qualified the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products dragster in the No. 5 spot, running 5.413, 5.344, and 5.434 in the Midwest heat. The Jerry Maddern-owned entry continued to perform in the low 5.4-to-5.3 range as eliminations began on Saturday with a 5.349 first round win over a tire-smoking Dan Page.

Chris eliminated successful Super-class racer Mia Tedesco in the second round in a 5.401 to 5.483 decision. His day would end in the next round when an uncharacteristically-late reaction time and 5.334 pass weren't enough to beat driver Mark Taliaferro and multi-time world champion tuner Norm Grimes, who ran 5.287 to move on.

“What I learned in Chicago is that you always have a chance,” Demke said, referencing his recent upset win. “I certainly went into the semifinals feeling like the underdog. Mark has Norm Grimes tuning his car, and you can see by his elapsed time and mile-per-hour on that run that Norm turned the knobs on high. That makes me feel good that he respects us enough to pour the coals to it when we're in the other lane. We knew we'd have a challenge. I think it's a race that both of our teams have been waiting for all season. They're a great group of guys and I'm glad that we were able to make a good race out of it. 5.28 to 5.34 – I have nothing to complain about. I just need to be on my game on the tree next time.”

This was Maddern Racing's first visit to Summit Motorsports Park, a popular track on the NHRA Mello Yello Series tour. Chris and his team enjoyed their time at the Norwalk, Ohio facility, and they're already feeling prepared for a return trip.

“Norwalk is a fun track,” Chris claimed. “I got a pound of ice cream for a dollar and I really enjoyed myself. The Bader family puts on an exciting show, and hopefully I'll be back here next year.

“The facility is great. The starting line was challenging. The air density was better than the track would typically hold, so we were challenged to get the car through low gear without tire shake. We fought that all weekend. We had an electrical component fail on the semifinal run and the car didn't shake as a result. Sometimes it takes a situation like that to teach you what you should've been doing all along. I think we'll have a better tune-up for the track if we come back here.”

Demke, who has finished second in the national points championship on multiple occasions in recent years, is excited about the rest of the season, thanks to his latest performances.

“This is the third race in a four-week stretch of races. We have two wins and this semifinal finish so I have nothing to complain about. I came into this race tied for first place with Joey Severance so I think this puts me solidly in first place. However, we're only halfway through the season and there's a lot of racing left. I'm just happy to be back in the thick of things,” Chris 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/Operational Solutions/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Adam Rhoades, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.MaddernRacing.com.

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

Randy Meyer Struggles to Repeat Success at Norwalk National

Courtesy of Randy Meyer Racing

July 8th 2014 – With momentum of winning the past two races, the Randy Meyer Racing Team expected to deliver more success at their most recent race this past weekend in Norwalk, Ohio for the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.

A 14th qualifying position did not make a strong impression on Driver and Team-Owner Randy Meyer, as his Top Alcohol Dragster struggled to get down the track with parachute problems and losing traction, resulting in the car to run a 5.67 E.T. at 152 mph for the first qualifying pass, a 5.55 E.T. at 167 mph for the second session, and a 5.48 E.T. at 184 mph for the final qualifying session.

Facing the seventh qualifier, Rich McPhillips, for the opening round of eliminations, Randy did his best to tune the car to make a strong pass to defeat McPhillips, but with a difficult track and no lane choice, Randy immediately smoked the tires after launching off the starting line. Randy then backed off the throttle until he saw McPhillips struggle, and got back on the throttle only to smoked the tires once again. However, when finishing the race a head gasket damaged the motor, and Randy was late on letting out the parachutes, causing him to safely stop the car in the sand trap at the end of the track.

“It was a less than expected weekend for us,“ said Randy. “We were hoping to get our third win in a row, but we had a different outcome this weekend. We will take a break for a few weeks and get the car straightened out and ready to race for our 7-week tour that starts with the NHRA race in St. Louis in August.”

This race will air on ESPN2 on July 12th, at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET/3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PT

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

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

Steve Harker Grabs the Wally at Norwalk

Words and photos courtesy of Speed City Racing

From Top Qualifier to Event Winner, Steve Harker swept the Top Alcohol Funny Car Class in his Speed City-CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Motor Oil and new sponsor, Crane Trucking, Monte Carlo at this past weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 3-6 in Norwalk, Ohio.

Australian racing veterans and longtime NHRA competitors, Steve Harker and wife, Jenelle debuted at this past weekend’s event in only their 7th national event since returning to the sport after a three year break and proving they hadn’t missed a beat. Harker took the top honors of being the number 1 qualifier in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Class after impressive runs of 5.55et at 265.12mph and 5.54et at 264.39mph.

Consistency is the game and Harker proved his experience as tuner and driver throughout the event, kicking things off in round one with a 5.58et at 263.41mph win over a red-lighting Todd Robertson.

The consistency continued in Round 2 as Harker again laid down another bracket car performance with a 5.58et at 262.82mph pass to defeat Fredd Tigges’ 5.60et at 261.47mph pass.

Semi-Finals time paired Harker and Todd Veney in a wacky battle that saw Harker getting the win light with his slowest run of the weekend 5.65et at 262.74mph defeating Veney’s 5.81et at 252.19mph pass.

In a wire-to-wire battle Harker faced off against Central Region Champion Chris Foster in a race that had the fans cheering in the grandstands. Both drivers where out to win and left nothing on the table with Harker pulling a 0.026 reaction time to Foster’s competitive 0.063 reaction time fighting Harker all the way to the 1320ft finish line. A half a car length is all it took for Harker to drive around Foster to win the event that was decided on the start line as Harker defeated Foster’s quicker 5.61et with his slightly slower 5.62et at 240.77mph pass.

Once again the folks at the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park put on a great event for the fans and the racers. Show casing spectacular weather and great performances all weekend, the Speed City-CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Motor Oil team can now notch the Norwalk Ohio racetrack off their wally list.

With support from NGK Spark Plugs, Hedman Hedders, Leanders Clutch, CAM2 Blue Blood Racing Motor Oil and Speed City, Steve Harker and team now look to take a few weeks off before competing at the LODRS Central Regional Event in St Louis, MO August 8-9.

Michalek Brothers Racing Staring Down Toughest Test Yet at Norwalk

Courtesy of Michalek Brothers Racing
Photos courtesy of David Smith

Corey Michalek to make Summit Motorsports Park competition debut amid stacked field

It has only been 44 days since Michalek Brothers Racing pulled off the Summit Motorsports Park property at the conclusion of the 8th annual Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars race, but for brothers and teammates Kyle and Corey Michalek, it feels more like 44 years. The wait, however, comes to an end this weekend as the team, partnered with Dreher Motorsports, returns to Norwalk, Ohio alongside 24 of the best Top Alcohol Dragsters in the country to vie for the coveted Wally that is up for grabs at the 8th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

MBR returns to Norwalk for the second time in 2014, this time with Corey getting behind the wheel, in the midst of an already eventful campaign. The team started the 2014 racing season strong at the 5th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. With Randy and Jared Dreher making the tuneup calls, the Champion Spark Plugs/Dreher Motorsports A/fuel dragster took home the wally in Corey's national event debut.

“Charlotte was a dream weekend for us; there’s no getting around that," said Corey. "The Drehers worked their tails off to provide us with a race car that was capable of going the distance and we were fortunate to catch a few breaks along the way."

The younger Michalek, looking ahead to his second race in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster competition, was quick to halt the trip down memory lane.

"Charlotte is in the past now and what we did at that race has zero bearing on what’s going to happen this weekend, as the regional race proved. My goal for this race is first and foremost to qualify. I know that sounds very underwhelming after winning in Charlotte, but with the 24 other cars that will be in attendance, this is going to be one of the toughest fields to qualify for all year. We want to have one of the 16 quickest cars come 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon and then we’ll re-direct our approach from there.”

"On top of that, I really want to make as many runs as possible just to develop into a better driver. At this point I would say that I'm still going for a ride and trying to play catch up each time down the track rather than being ahead of the car and driving it. I cringe re-watching some of the Charlotte runs because I know I need to be so much better at so many aspects of the driving process."

Michalek Brothers Racing will once again rocket down the Norwalk quarter-mile carrying primary sponsorship from the Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) to actively recruit new mechanics and CDL truck drivers. More information about great nationwide job opportunities with the KAG team can be found by browsing and applying for available positions here (https://intelliapp2.driverapponline....?r=raceRacecar). Longtime MBR supporters, Champion Spark Plugs, Sealed Power, Speed Pro, and Fel-Pro, will also be featured on the Dreher Motorsports A/fueler as Corey makes his maiden voyage down the track at which he attended his first drag race.

“Even though I live in New York now, I still consider Summit Motorsports Park to be my home track. It’s the first drag strip that I ever visited as a fan and I’ve been there for more races than any other facility on tour, but this weekend will be the first time that I’ve driven there. I’m really excited to finally have the opportunity to compete in front of our friends and family at the same place where it all began for me.”

Fans attending the event will be treated to non-stop action all weekend long as "America's Racetrack" celebrates the baddest race cars on the planet with $1/lb ice cream and the Bader family's signature fireworks show. MBR hits the track twice on Friday to kick off the weekend with runs at 12:00PM and 3:00PM. The team returns for their third and final qualifying pass at 12:00PM on Saturday with the first round of eliminations following soon after at 3:00PM. 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 12:15PM, 2:25PM, and 3:40PM.

"It's well known that whenever you come to Norwalk it's going to be a great time, said Kyle. This coming weekend will be extra special with the 4th of July celebration. What is more patriotic than side by side racing at over 270 MPH, and nitro burning engines pushing out over 3,500 horsepower; all capped off with a Bader family fireworks show?! We're looking forward to running hard and having a great time!"

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

Demke Enters Summit Nationals with Momentum from Route 66 Nationals Win

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion

NORWALK, Ohio (July 1) – West coast Top Alcohol Dragster hitter Chris Demke won the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals for the second year in a row, winning his second race in as many weeks. Racing at Route 66 Raceway near Joliet, Ill. last weekend, Demke also competed in his seventh JEGS Allstars event. Now Chris and his Maddern Racing teammates carry momentum as they head to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 3-6, for the first time.

Demke qualified No. 1 for the JEGS Allstars shootout race with a 5.39 pass. While typically an advantage, qualifying No. 1 lined up Chris against West Region teammate Joey Severance in the opening eliminations round. Chris improved slightly with a 5.377/268 MPH pass, but Severance improved greatly with a near-perfect .001 reaction time and 5.344 elapsed time.

“The team felt like we were punched in the gut,” Demke said of the first round loss. “We cherish the opportunity to race at the Allstars event. We have done well at the race recently, winning in 2012 and taking runner-up last year. We felt very confident in our chances.

“Going out early was tough to handle, but it gave us all day to take a look at what went wrong. We were able to come up with a solution before we went into national event competition on Sunday.”

Demke and the Peen Rite/OSI/Boost Performance Products team would get another chance to take down Severance, this time in the regular Route 66 Nationals eliminations. Chris first shut down Brandon Booher and Robin Samsel with 5.316 and 5.361 passes, respectively. The semifinal race between Demke and Severance would be epic, with both drivers cutting .038 lights and Chris finishing just one thousandth of a second ahead of Joey – 5.322 to 5.323.

“I figured, 'Okay, this is going to be my last run of the day but I'm going it give it my best.' With Joey's performance lately, not only his car's performance but his performance as a driver, I truly didn't think I had much of a chance. My lights were sub-standard, and I knew I had to dig deep to get to the final. When you feel like the serious underdog and you actually pull off a round win against somebody of his caliber, it's extremely exciting,” stated Chris, who is now tied for first in NHRA national points.

The California team faced another tough opponent in the final round. Both car and driver played equal roles in winning the round, but it was Demke's reaction time that sealed the deal. Finalist Mike Manners ran a 5.305, but Chris' slower but winning 5.313 was enough to win – on a holeshot.

“I was feeling like we had already won the race after our semifinal race against Joey, so it was hard to get up for the final round. Mike Manners ran a 5.26 in his semifinal round, so again I went in feeling like the underdog. We just kept our performance consistent and didn't try anything stupid. The fact that I won it on a holeshot is icing on the cake,” added Demke, the back-to-back Route 66 Nationals champ.

Now Chris and the Jerry Maddern-owned Peen Rite team head to Norwalk, Ohio's Summit Motorsports Park for the 8th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 3-6.

“Every year our team tries to go to a new track that we've never visited. For the last few years, all of the eastern teams have told us that we need to go to Norwalk. After hearing everyone's reviews, I'm really looking forward to experiencing all of the positive aspects of the track for myself – especially the pound of ice cream for a dollar,” Chris laughed.

Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying begins on Friday with runs at 12:30 and 3:30 PM. A final session is set for noon on Saturday, followed by first round of eliminations at 3 PM. Eliminations continue on Sunday.


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

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