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Pro Sportsman Association hires Todd Veney
 The newly formed Pro Sportsman Association announced today the hiring of veteran racer/journalist Todd Veney to handle media and marketing duties for the 2012 season. Veney and the PSA will work to increase media exposure and fan awareness of the Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car categories.
Veney, son of drag racing legend Ken Veney, has an extensive résumé as not only a journalist but as an alcohol driver. He worked as an associate editor at NHRA’s National DRAGSTER from 1988 to 1999 and has free-lanced for the past 12 years. On the track, after several stints with his own car, he now drives Jay Blake’s Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car and finished seventh in the national standings the past two years.
With the start of the racing season right around the corner, Veney is excited about starting his new job with the PSA. "This is right up my alley and something I'm really looking forward to," he said. "I've loved alcohol cars above all others since... [Read More]
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Pro Sportsman Association becomes official
 We are pleased to announce that the Pro Sportsman Association is now an official entity. The Pro Sportsman Association has filed as a nonprofit corporation. Much like a group of dairy farmers who form an association to run ads like the ‘got milk?’ commercials, we are seeking to increase our fan base and subsequently race track demand for our classes by improved and increased promotion.
The PSA will operate within the scope of their mission statement: “The Pro Sportsman Association is a non-profit organization formed to build the value and ‘brand’ of Top Alcohol racing. We are an organization primarily funded by the membership dues of racers, racing businesses and fans who have a vested interest in seeing Top Alcohol racing reach the proverbial ‘next level.’ We plan to reach our objectives through the hiring of a dedicated PR and Marketing team. Our objective is to increase the support, participation and profitability of NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol racing. We intend to specifically... [Read More]
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2011 Champions crowned, Browells honored as ‘Winners Persons of the Year
12/12/2011
 The 2011 North Central Division champions were crowned at the 45th annual Land of the Winners Awards Banquet held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites with special guest Morgan Lucas. Along with the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Summit Racing Series, Jegs Super Quick Series and NHRA Jr. Drag Racing champions being recognized a number of other special awards were presented.
Brian and Deb Browell were announced by Division Director Jay Hullinger as the Land of the Winners “Winners Persons of the Year to close out the evening. The couple was honored for their contributions in creating the Competition Eliminator class shootout and bonus program.
Bill Reichert claimed his ninth Top Alcohol Dragster crown and was voted the Division’s Pro-Sportsman Driver of the year, as well as the Crew chief of the Year.
Other Driver of the Year honorees through voting on the division’s website were David Rampy as... [Read More]
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Third Annual International Motorsports Industry Show Biggest, Best Yet
Exhibitors, Attendees, Show Officials Thrilled with Quality of Hardcore Racing Trade Show
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 12, 2011) – The third annual International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) came to an end at 4 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Dec. 10. And, while packing up to head home, exhibitors, attendees and show officials offered rave reviews for the hardcore racing trade show.
“There was a point on Friday when I looked at my watch and it was 10 a.m., and the next time I looked at my watch it was 4:30 p.m.,” said John Harper of Concord, N.C.-based Brown & Miller Racing Solutions. “No breaks for lunch, bathroom or anything. It was easily the busiest day I’ve had at a trade show in years. We were very impressed with the show this year. There were a lot of visitors through our booth all three days. Good, quality people from all over the country. We saw people who are really into racing who we can develop relationships with.”
IMIS is the United States’ premier hardcore racing trade show, conducted each year at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis and owned by Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. From car builders to tire manufacturers to parts suppliers, every... [Read More]
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Foster wins second Division 3 Championship
Finishes 9th in national points standings
 DAVENPORT, Iowa – While there were definitely some up’s and down’s along the way, Chris Foster and the Foster Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team were able to score their second NHRA Division 3 Championship in three years in 2011. A strong scorecard of three wins and two runner-ups were able to place the team 9th in national points standings, their second top-ten finish in NHRA competition.
In contrast to their 2009 Championship where they won by winning their last race of the year in late October to clinch the championship, Foster and his Will Hanna led team wrapped up the title in August this season.
The team debuted a new 2011 Mustang body on their Brad Hadman chassis and started the year with a win at the Division 4 event in Houston. After their strong debut, the team struggled to find traction at the Division 3 opener in Indianapolis, smoking the tires on each run in qualifying and failing to make the show. The... [Read More]
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Clint Thompson Finishes Second in Division, Eleventh Nationally
 Pomona - The Thompson Racing Team ended the year in pretty good shape, finishing second in the Northwest Division 6 Top Alcohol Funny Car standings and just missed the top ten nationally by finishing eleventh. To have made the top ten, Clint Thompson needed to win the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.
Unfortunately, Thompson was unable to reach that benchmark. The team began fighting gremlins on and off beginning at the Reynolds, Georgia division race “We had ignition problems. The car was shutting down as it was going down the track then it would start up again. We came home to Oregon and serviced the car before the Las Vegas races and I thought I had the problem fixed. On the second round of qualifying at the national event in Las Vegas, the car shut itself off so it didn’t get it fixed” Thompson said.
The team got the ignition problem fixed Friday night at the nationals but then another problem popped up as the team began burning... [Read More]
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Alexander Wraps Up 2011 Season
 Smith Mountain Lake, Va. – Blake Alexander and the Larry Miersch-owned Exide Technologies Top Alcohol Dragster team wrapped up their 2011 season this past weekend at the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. The weekend made up for the results of the previous outing in Las Vegas.
“Larry (Miersch) drove the car at the Las Vegas divisional after we didn’t qualify at the national event a week prior, trying to sort out the issues. We got them fixed during qualifying at Pomona, with the best pass being 5.52 at 261 MPH. I entered eliminations lined up against #4 qualifier, Megan McKernan. I have raced her before, so I knew that I would have to be on my game,” claimed Alexander.
Blake certainly was on his game. His .080 light put him in the lead at the starting line and the car kept him in the lead through the finish line. Blake’s 5.42 was too much for McKernan, who ran 5.50. The next round would yield different results.
“The crew gave me a quick and... [Read More]
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Perkins Wild Ride(s) in Pomona
 Pomona, Ca. – The concept of Drag Racing is simple. Run your car in a straight line as fast as you can to the finish. Cody Perkins found out at the 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals that it is never dull. The 801 Racing sponsored Top Alcohol Dragster provided a few memorable trips down the quarter mile.
“There was something exciting every time down the track,” said Perkins. “We never had a boring run.”
The first few qualifying attempts gave Perkins a great view of the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The idea of a straight line was somewhat lost during these sessions. It wasn’t until the second qualifying round on Friday that the power of the 801 Racing Dragster was unleashed. A blistering 5.328 elapsed time at 265.80 miles per hour propelled Perkins to the number seven slot. The run was quite the thrill ride for Perkins because when the parachutes hit, one of the front tires blew.
“We took advantage of the... [Read More]
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Duane Shields Wins the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Championship
 Pomona CA - After fourteen years of trying, Duane Shields’ bid to win the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Championship was accomplished in dramatic fashion at the NHRA Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. "After fourteen years of trying it feels pretty awesome but it still hasn't sunk in." the newly crowned Champion said.
The drama in Pomona unfolded as only one competitor, Joey Severance, could pass Duane at the final race of the year to win the championship but he would have to win the race in order to do it. Duane could not claim any more points so all he could do is to draw Severance sometime in eliminations and take him out of competition but the two never met up during eliminations.
Severance struggled in qualifying but made the show and beat John Finke in round one as Finke jumped gun and left early. Duane would now have to wait until the final day of the 2011 season to be crowned the Champion. Also in round one, Duane faced Michael... [Read More]
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Ahten Looking for Another Race After Pomona
 Pomona, Ca – Johnny Ahten had one thing on his mind after the Automobile Club of *Southern California NHRA Finals. Where can he find another race? After three consecutive weekends racing, Ahten and his CleanBoost Team were physically worn out, but they wanted more.
The reason Ahten wanted another race was because they found what they were looking for. In Las Vegas at the Big O Tires Nationals and the Division 7 race, Ahten and the team were close. They just could not put all the pieces together. Those pieces came together during Friday’s first session. Ahten piloted his Top Alcohol Dragster to a 5.327 elapsed time at 253.56 miles per hour.
“It’s always good to qualify in the top half of the ladder,” said Ahten. “It had more in it because at 1000ft we had at least five holes out. The early numbers were good, and it can run better.”
On Saturday, during the first round, Ahten was up against Mark Taliaferro. Early tire shake ended the season for... [Read More]
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