Second Round Winternationals Appearance Excites Ahten

Second Round Winternationals Appearance Excites Ahten

Pomona, CA. – Going rounds is always a good thing, and doing it at the first race of the year is even better. At the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Johnny Ahten qualified his Island Renovations/801 Racing/Fireman’s Brew dragster in the tenth position with a 5.457/256.36.

“We were happy to qualify 10th in a quick field with some heavy hitters,” said Ahten. “Throughout qualifying we were fine tuning the fuel system and working on the off-season rust. The conditions were fantastic and the track was very tight. We wanted more, but we tried to listen to what the car wanted and concentrate on making the right changes. We are still working on some changes and dealing with a fairly new combination.”

The first round of eliminations saw Ahten paired up with number seven qualifier Megan McKernan. Ahten got the starting line advantage and rocketed down the quarter mile. Ahten was out in front, and then one of the cylinders started pouring out raw fuel. As the two cars raced for the finish line, McKernan was gaining ground, but Ahten had enough to hold on for the round win. The margin of victory was a scant .032 seconds.

“We had a malfunction in the fuel system that almost cost us that one,” added Ahten. “We were spewing Nitro down the track but the “Stump Puller” had enough to get the win. The whole team was excited about racing on Sunday in Pomona.”

The less than thrilling part was facing a teammate on Sunday. Ahten had to race the fellow 801 Racing Performance Oil sponsored team of Chris Demke and Maddern Racing. The advantage of superior lubricating would be in both lanes for an epic battle to see who would advance to the semi-finals. Ahten Racing crew chief Al Ahten and Johnny Ahten took apart the fuel system in preparation for the match up. The premier racing surface at Pomona also chunked an almost brand new set of tires so a new pair of rear meats were bolted on. Johnny and the Ahten Racing crew prepared as well as they could for Sunday’s second round. At the drop of the lights, Demke got the advantage. The fuel system thought to be complete once again failed and Demke went on for the win with a 5.359/267.32 to Ahten’s 5.494/249.63.

“Racing Chris was tough, and we owe him a few, but what is really disappointing is the fuel system issue,” said Ahten. “We tested everything and it was fine on the bench. It turned out to be an air bottle problem which didn’t show up when we went through it. Now we know, and with the information we gained in Pomona, we are all excited about the Vegas race for another shot at it.”

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Island Renovations understands the complexity of Hawaii's homes and their customers’ needs. Whether you are looking to build, remodel, or replace your existing windows and doors, Island Renovations is there to provide outstanding service and products to give your home added value with the satisfaction and peace of mind from a company that puts their customers first. Visit us at www.islandrenovations.net

We believe true happiness comes from blazing down the blacktop with the pedal to the metal and our hair on fire. The whiter our knuckles get, the better. If it were up to us, cars wouldn't even have brakes, just two gas pedals. It's this never-ending need for speed that drives everything we do. We spend countless hours in the lab and lying awake at night plotting and planning how to get more speed by any means possible. After decades of research and innovation, we've developed a complete line of performance and car care products designed to ensure that your ride lives up to its potential on the street and on the track. We know what you want. We got what you need. We are 801 Racing. For more information on 801 racing, please visit: www.801Racing.com

Fireman's Brew grew out of two Los Angeles based firefighter's vision to create premium handcrafted beers that would quench their thirsts after an exhausting day on the firelines. Originally created by firefighters for firefighters, Fireman's Brew is now available at bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout Southern California, Arizona, Illinois, Colorado & Nebraska. Visit them at www.firemansbrew.com

Release courtesy of THR5 Communications