Topeka, KS – After an early exit from the Houston race, the Maddern Racing Team were given a homework assignment. Their task was to head back to the shop and work on their race car. It sure beats calculus or writing a twelve page essay on African tree frogs. This weekend at Heartland Park Topeka, they will present their findings to the class, the Top Alcohol Dragster class that is.

“I am looking forward to going fast,” said Maddern Racing driver Chris Demke. “The boys have been working hard on the combination, and I am confident the car will respond.”

Port Allen, LA - It’s not every day when you get a phone call asking if you would like to drive a Nitro Funny Car for the weekend. That’s just what happened to 801 Racing driver James Day last week. Here he was wondering when would get a chance to drive again, and low and behold the call came in. The regular driver for the Candies and Hughes Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car was unable to make the IHRA Nitro Jam event and they needed someone to fill in. Day didn’t have to think twice. To make things even sweeter, Day and his new teammates went out and won the race.

Baytown, TX – Steve Gasparrelli likes racing at the Houston stop on the NHRA series schedule. This past weekend at the O’Rilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals, Gasparrelli took his ECS/801 Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car all the way to the finals. Although he didn’t win the race, Gasparrelli believes things could have worked out differently.

Baytown, TX – Chris Demke and the Maddern Racing Team left the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals with a homework assignment. After being schooled in the second round of eliminations by Mark Taliaferro, the team is going into research and destroy mode.

“We just got beat,” said Demke. “It happens, and we are not happy about it. Now we are going to have to find a few more hundredths. Our quest for more horsepower is on. I know the Maddern Racing brain trust will find what we need.”

Baytown, TX - Chris Demke and his Peen Rite Top Alcohol Dragster are heading down to Texas to start another winning streak. A semi-final loss at the Vegas National event stopped a 2-0 start to the year. A few weeks off provided the time needed to freshen things up on the Peen Rite/801 Racing entry. The confidence from those wins at Pomona and Gainesville are still with the Team.

Las Vegas, NV - With only about ten laps on their current engine combination, Garrett Bateman and the HipLink Dragster are proving they are quick on the track, and on the uptake. Going to the semi-finals at the SummitRacing.com Nationals this past weekend, Bateman is a happy man.

“Going to the semi’s was an exciting deal,” said Bateman. “It has come together quickly, and the car gets better each round we go. We had a great weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, despite the loss.

San Antonio, TX - Kristen Dennis and her Ladies’ First Pro Fuel Dragster went big Texas Style. That is putting it mild. Dennis captured the IHRA Nitro Jam Ironman trophy and the crowds couldn’t get enough of this Texas native.

Las Vegas, NV - When you are passionate about something, it shows. Cody Perkins is passionate about Drag Racing, and even more so about winning. After not competing up to his standards, Perkins was determined to make an impression on the SummitRacing.com Nationals. The 801 Racing sponsored driver and car then set off to do something about it.

Las Vegas, NV – Johnny Ahten came to the SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the confidence of a winner, having just won a race. He left the track still feeling like a winner, even thought the Island Renovations/801 Racing Dragster didn’t hoist the trophy. After a loss, Drag Racers begin thinking about the next trip down the track. After Ahten was done racing for the day, planning for the next outing was in motion.

Las Vegas, NV - Chris Demke went to Vegas to do what he had already done. Beat Jim Whitely, and win a National event. Unfortunately he did neither. Demke had beaten Whiteley the previous weekend in the Regional final, but a timing malfunction at the finish negated the run. The re-run was scheduled for the third round of qualifying at the National event. The outcome did not go as planned. Then during National eliminations, after two consecutive National event wins, Demke was once again deprived of pleasure by Mr. Whiteley.