Quick Rebound on Demke's Mind at Phoenix Regional

CHANDLER, Ariz. (March 3, 2016) – Top Alcohol Dragster hitter Chris Demke, who typically starts off the season strong at the NHRA Winternationals, is eager to move on after a first-round loss at the season opener last month. The Maddern Racing driver will have his chance this weekend at the NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.

“We had some issues with tire shake at the Winternationals that caused us to go into first round with a tune-up that was too conservative. I’m fairly certain we know the solution to the problem, so I’m just anxious to get back on the track so we can prove it,” noted Demke, a three-time event champion at Phoenix.

Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team have no choice but to fix the shake issue quickly, as the Top Alcohol Dragster class is already so competitive as the class enters just its second race of the season.

“In past years, most teams weren’t as quick at the Winternationals as they were at the Finals a couple months prior. However, this year the track was handing out 5.2s like candy. That just goes to show that a lot of the competition has stepped up. Our team is regrouping and testing some things. We need to step it up a notch. We always have our 5.18 tune-up in our back pocket, and we may need to bring that out based on the competition.”

The Maddern Racing team will be without one of its most familiar members for the first time this weekend. Former tuner and clutch guy Adam Rhoades, who joined the team in 2009, accepted a tuning role on a Top Alcohol Funny Car team for 2016, but worked with Demke and associates at preseason testing and the Winternationals.

“This will be our first weekend racing without Adam Rhoades in quite some time. We spent some time at Pomona trying to shuffle his duties to other crew members, but this will be our first time putting the changes to work in race mode. We have a solid group of guys who know what they’re doing, so I’m confident in our ability to adjust to the changes,” Demke lamented.

Chris Demke and the Peen Rite/Boost Performance Products team will take to the Wild Horse Pass quarter mile for Top Alcohol qualifying at the NHRA LODRS Pacific Division Points Race, March 4-6, starting at 3 PM on Friday. Two additional sessions follow at noon and 4 PM on Saturday, with eliminations firing up at noon 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/Boost Performance Products blown alcohol dragster is owned by Jerry Maddern and crewed by Kevin Watson, Mike Demke, Greg Rice, and Robert Hadaller. For more information on Chris Demke and Maddern Racing, please visit www.Facebook.com/MaddernRacing.

Maddern Racing receives support from the following companies: Peen Rite Inc., Boost Performance Products, B-G Detection, Afco, LA X-Ray, Hoosier Racing Tires, Motorsports Unlimited, VP Racing Fuels, and Morningwood Energy Drink.