NHRA
Chris Demke Bakersfield preview
PEEN RITE TEAM BUILDING MOMENTUM ONE RACE AT A TIME BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Auto Club Famoso Raceway will host the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for two days, Sept. 18th and 19th. The race is the sixth of seven on the NHRA Pacific division ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:12 PM
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PEEN RITE TEAM BUILDING MOMENTUM ONE RACE AT A TIME
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Auto Club Famoso Raceway will host the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for two days, Sept. 18th and 19th. The race is the sixth of seven on the NHRA Pacific division calendar and the Jerry Maddern Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team is looking forward to some home division cooking.
The Peen Rite sponsored Blown Alcohol Dragster based in Sunland, Calif. began a tour of America's heartland two weeks ago at the historic US Nationals held in Indianapolis, Ind. A first round exit and a damaged engine did not provide a happy ending to the story they hoped to tell. The team then traveled west, through the corn fields of Earlville, Iowa for the Division 5 LODRS event held last week. The crew, lead by team owner Jerry Maddern operated a man short, as team clutch specialist Adam Rhoades was unable to attend.
"I was able to communicate with the team through cell phone conversation with our driver, Chris Demke," noted Rhoades. "The boys sure made me proud with the end results at the D-5 event." The results Rhoades spoke of were a well earned final round appearance for the NHRA Division 7 based team.
Demke literally squeaked by the A/Fuel Dragster of Indiana's Dave Hirata in round one. The margin of victory was less than two inches. In the semi-final round Demke and the Maddern Boys dispatched the events number one qualifier, Dan Kracht from Gretna, NE rather easily to set up a final round appearance against the current National Points leader, Jim Whiteley. Demke and his team put forth a gallant effort, but Whiteley and his crew chief Norm Grimes were just a bit too strong for the California invaders.
"That makes six final round appearances this year for this team in twelve events entered," Rhoades commented. "The efforts of Jerry, Dixie, Kevin, Mike, Chris and Mr. Mann have been noticed by this clutch guy. We are very close to breaking through with our first race victory. I hope we can do it close to home this weekend at Famoso. The boys deserve it."
The Peen Rite team won the LODRS event at Auto Club Famoso Raceway last year. If past performance is an indication of future returns, Demke and his team will be a threat to break through for their first event victory of the 2009 NHRA season.
Demke and his hard working crew of Maddern, Kevin Watson, Mike Demke and Rhoades will hit the famous Famoso quarter mile for three qualifying sessions scheduled at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Eliminations will begin on Saturday at 4 p.m. General Admission tickets including a pit pass are available for $20.00 each day. Children 11 years old and younger are admitted free with a paid adult. On Saturday, Sept. 19, admission is free after 3 p.m.
-credit: cdPR
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