Deserving fan's story drives Nobile to victory at 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge

This past weekend’s K&N Horsepower Challenge proved to be a perfect showcase for the NHRA’s most competitive class.   Run as part of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the 28th running of the specialty event pitted eight of Pro Stock’s best drivers in a three-round shootout with the winner taking home $50,000.  Despite blistering heat and drenching humidity, the capacity crowd was treated to a day of tremendous racing including numerous hole shots and several surprises.

“After I heard Peggy’s story, the money didn’t matter, the trophy didn’t matter – all I wanted to do was win for her, and I’m so glad I did,” said Nobile, driver of the MountainView Tire Dodge Avenger who also won the race on Sunday, collecting a $25,000 “double-up” bonus from the NHRA in the process.  “She lost almost everything last year in the tornados, so to be able to win that Toyota Tundra for her was absolutely awesome.

“I knew she was someone special from the moment I met her on Friday, and when I heard her story, it really touched me.  Even though I knew I had to win for her, I didn’t feel any extra pressure - it actually made things easier for me.  I’m so happy we were able to deliver for her, and want to thank the Mitsos family, my father and my entire Mountainview Dodge team for giving me such a great car to drive.

“I also want to thank everyone at K&N for putting on this tremendous event and for involving the fans through the sweepstakes, as well as Toyota for providing that gorgeous truck Peggy will soon be driving.  Finally, I want to thank Peggy Coleman for being such an inspiration – she was the real reason I was able to win.”

For Coleman, the trip to the Buckeye State was a welcome pause from over a year of recovery efforts following the devastating storms which wiped out most of their possessions.  Despite the tremendous loss, much like the majority of the Joplin community, she maintained a positive outlook, focusing instead on doing whatever was necessary to put their lives back together.  For example, with husband Gary’s pickup truck having been demolished, she entered the K&N sweepstakes, never thinking she would actually be the one to win the new Toyota.  In fact, when called about being selected as one the finalists, she was somewhat incredulous.  However, from the moment she was paired with the young driver from Dix Hills, N.Y., things just started to fall into place.

“As I told the other contestants, even if we hadn’t won the Toyota, it was great just to be able to get away from everything we’d been dealing with at home for a little while,” said Coleman.  “For the most part, everyone in our town shares our positive attitude and over the last year help has poured in from all over the country, which has been amazing.  So to be selected as one of the eight finalists and flown to Norwalk for the weekend put a big smile on our faces, and winning that beautiful pickup was just an added benefit that I could not believe.  We had an awesome time all weekend with everyone being so nice.

“When I met Vincent and saw his team color was purple I was thrilled because that’s my favorite color.  He was so humble and polite, and his entire family and team were so very nice.  After the first round I heard someone call my name and it was Vincent’s mother, who gave me a big hug and told me he was going to win the race for me.

“Every time I saw him, I kept telling Vincent he was going to do it, and even after he won on Saturday, I told him he was going to win again on Sunday and he did.  From here on out, I’ll be sure to watch the NHRA races on TV and root for Vincent to keep on winning.  On top of everything else that happened during the weekend, when Caitlin from K&N called me on Monday after the race and told me about everyone offering to pay the taxes, it just brought tears to my eyes all over again.  It was just like a wonderful dream, and I want to thank everyone at K&N for making it so special.”

As the story of the Coleman family spread throughout the Pro Stock pits at Summit Motorsports Park, the racing community responded, with several teams volunteering to pay any taxes pertaining to their winning the truck.   After acknowledging the teams’ generosity, the Toyota Motor Company added to their already substantial contribution by including the cost of the tariffs, assuring the Colemans would not have to pay anything for their new custom pickup.

“K&N’s involvement with the Horsepower Challenge has been a tremendous experience, but the circumstances surrounding this year’s event stand above the rest,” said Caitlin Clement, Series and Track Support Manager for K&N Engineering.  “We want to commend all eight drivers for putting on a great show under very difficult weather conditions and congratulate Vincent Nobile on his exciting win. 

“We are also thrilled to be able to present Peggy Coleman with her new K&N Horsepower Challenge Edition Toyota Tundra.  Her story of survival is just amazing, and we hope this new truck helps in some small way with her recovery efforts.  We appreciate all the teams who inquired about paying the Colemans’ taxes, and are grateful to Toyota for volunteering to cover the costs involved.  All in all, the 2012 K&N Horsepower Challenge was a tremendous event, and we are already working to make next year’s edition even better.”

K&N Engineering, Inc. is the world's leader in reusable air filters. K&N High flow reusable air filters, High performance air intake systems and premium oil filters are available at most retailers and directly from K&N. With headquarters in Riverside, Calif., K&N is heavily involved in nearly every form of motorsports from off-road and powersports to drag racing, stock cars and road racing. For more information about K&N Filters, please visit www.knfilters.com

WALSH CLAIMS FIRST EVENT WIN AT SUMMIT NHRA NATIONALS IN NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX

Don Walsh raced to his first career victory in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.  

 

Walsh held off event No. 1 qualifier and Ohio native Troy Coughlin in the final round after defeating David Roemer, Mike Janis, and Kevin McCurdy in earlier rounds. In the final round at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Walsh powered his 2011 Ford Mustang past Coughlin with a performance of 5.893 seconds at 251.95 mph. Walsh posted the second-quickest and fastest pass of the event to take the win.

 

Coughlin had the starting line advantage, but slowed near midtrack when his Chevy Camaro with lost traction and finished with a performance of11.771 at 92.65. 

 

With the victory, Walsh moves to fourth in the series points standing.

 

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx continues Aug. 29 – Sept. 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis with the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

GEICO rider Stoffer suddenly heats up in Norwalk

GEICO Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer roared to the No. 4 qualifying position in the final qualifying session for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park.

Stoffer was outside the top half of the field before Q4, but crew chief/husband Gary Stoffer put a solid setup on the bike, and Karen rode it to a pass of 6.992 seconds at 192.52 mph.

"We kind of waited to the midnight hour, didn't we?" Stoffer said. "I think Gary and I were still on vacation for the first three hits because he wasn't exactly on his game tuning and I wasn't exactly on my game riding. We finally put it all together and realized why we were here, I guess, on the last hit."

Stoffer was being self-deprecating, of course, as her and husband Gary are veterans of the sport who have won numerous races at the national level. Fresh off a vacation to Sweden and Finland, Stoffer made plus-7-second runs in each of Friday's first two sessions, and then Stoffer got out of the throttle early in Q3.

"We struggled. It's a hot, slippery track out there," Stoffer said. "If you look at the Pro Stock bike class, there were a lot of us who improved in the hottest session, and that shouldn't happen unless you were way off on your tuneup. We were definitely in the majority, but luckily we were able to figure it out."

Stoffer said the GEICO team hesitated even making a run in the final session but decided they needed the data for a hot-weather setup.

"The strange thing is we finally got the tuneup for this weather, and now we're going to have wacky, cooler weather tomorrow," Stoffer said. "We'll have a totally different tuneup in the bike, but Gary's pretty comfortable going in to tomorrow. And we needed to figure out hot, slippery tracks. We've got a few more in front of us."

In the first round of eliminations Sunday, which should take place around noon,

Stoffer faces Matt Smith, who qualified No. 13 with a pass of 7.086 seconds at 189.28 mph.

Arana and son crowd top of Norwalk's Pro Stock Motorcycle ladder

Past world champion Hector Arana and his rookie-of-the-year son Hector Arana Jr. earned the second and third positions, respectively, on the Pro Stock Motorcycle elimination ladder of this weekend's sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Arana has now qualified fourth or better on his Lucas Oil Buell in the six NHRA races the bikes have contested this year, a mark that includes three No. 1 qualifying efforts. He actually was No. 1 at this race until just near the end of the final qualifying session when he was nipped by Andrew Hines by .001 seconds, or about two inches. Arana's best time was a 6.962 at 188.02 mph

"I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow," Arana Sr. said. "My major concern so far has been to make sure the bike ran well, especially at the top end, on every run. The last two runs we made, we were able to stay on it all the way through. The bike did not hiccup, and it ran good, so I think we have everything dialed in. Now, I've got to get after my clutch and get back on it so we can run those good numbers and get a win."

Like his father, Arana Jr. also has been impressive in qualifying this year with a pair of No. 2 and four straight No. 3 qualifying results. His quickest pass here was a 6.984 at 192.69 mph.

"Our goal is to be consistent," Arana Jr. said. "Our 60-foots haven't been super killer, but we've been consistent, and the bike's run consistent. If we can do that on Sunday, I think we can go plenty of rounds and maybe even get a win."

Despite their great runs, the talk in the Lucas Oil pit was of the oppressive heat that has plagued the race since it's start.

"There's no escape from it," Arana Jr. said. "We get out of the sun, but the sun's baking the trailer, so the trailer's hot and humid. When we put those leathers on, we can barely get them on. You feel claustrophobic because you can't sit in the bike all the way down because you can't get the leathers all the way on because you're sticking to them.

"You try to put on your jacket, and you can barely get in on. Gloves, you can barely get on. It's really miserable. Then you get on the bike, and you're not 100 comfortable because you're sticking. It makes you totally uncomfortable, but I'm trying to get used to it."

Tall order ahead for MAVTV Pro Stock driver Brogdon

Rodger Brogdon admits to being pleased to have earned a spot in the elimination field of the sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, but by qualifying 15th in the 16-car field, he knows he won't have an easy path to the winner's circle.

"We shook the tires in the first run, so we started the whole weekend out behind the 8-ball," Brogdon said. "Then we had to change motors after the second run, and we just made two bad runs today. After all that, I'm just happy to be in. It's a feat, believe me.

"If you miss one qualifying run in this deal here, it's a serious handicap."

Brogdon coaxed a best of 6.741 at 204.70 mph out of his '09 MAVTV/Lucas Oil Pontiac GXP, a fair bit behind his scheduled first-round opponent Jason Line, who zipped to a 6.697 at 205.94 mph. 

Although he refused to use it as an excuse, Brogdon and the rest of his peers are dealing with unusually high temperatures in Ohio with track temperatures nearing 150 degrees. As one might expect, finding traction has been an issue.

"We've had too much transmission in it the whole race," Brogdon said. "I can't get it to third gear without spinning the tires like crazy. We're all dealing with it, some better than others, obviously.

"They're saying we'll have some cloud cover tomorrow and that it may get a touch cooler. I'm certainly hoping for the biggest change in the weather we can get so everybody will start with a clean slate. The track was bald out there the last session, but everybody went down it. It wasn't too bad. (Ron) Krisher went a 6.70, so the track could hold some numbers, we just had too much transmission for this heat. 

"We'll take a shot tomorrow. That's all we can do."

Team Patrόn Has their Sights Set on Going Rounds in Norwalk on this Holiday Weekend

The Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrόn Toyota Camry Funny Car team has been riding a wave of success and heads into Norwalk, OH with a great feeling of accomplishment and looking to keep the momentum going this weekend at the 6^th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. In the past three races, Team Patrόn, led by ESPY nominated crew chief Del Worsham, has set a 2012 Rookie record, made final and semi-final round appearances, and beat 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion, John Force.

The team’s driver, Alexis “La Patrόna” DeJoria visited neighboring Cleveland, Ohio last month for a media tour and has been looking forward to coming back to compete in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals ever since. “I’ve been here several times in my Alcohol [Funny] car, but never in my Nitro car. Bill Bader and his family operate a great facility and I can’t wait to hit the track for the first time in my Patrόn Toyota Camry,” she said, speaking of the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

“We’ve done so well lately. Our team has come so far in such a short period of time,” said the Rookie of the Year candidate who visits Ohio with her family as they extend their ‘4^th of July’ celebration, taking advantage of the nearby amusement parks. “I made a couple of mistakes this past weekend, but we still managed to get to the semis. Our car is running really good and my teammate [Jeff Arend] won the race, which is awesome, so all is well for Team Kalitta!” she said, referring to last week’s NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.

Norwalk is a big race for Kalitta Motorsports, as it is the team’s ‘home track’ so friends and family will be out at the Ohio drag strip in full effect this weekend. Team Patrόn hopes to put on an exciting show for all their fans and drag racing first-timers making the trip over to Norwalk.

The 8,000 horsepower black-and-green stunner has been running excellent lately, but with another hot weekend coming up, Team Patrόn will have to overcome the challenge of what could be tricky track conditions. “Racing is always a little complicated there because it’s the middle of the summer, and the temperatures are supposed to be in the nineties [degrees] this weekend, which will make for a really tricky race track. Just like last weekend, our main focus going into the race is to really put it all out there during that Friday night qualifying session. If you don’t run well in that session, you’ll be in trouble the rest of the weekend as far as how you’re positioned,” said VP of Kalitta Motorsports’ Jim Oberhofer, referring to how the teams are paired up in Sunday’s eliminations.

“Looking at Chicago, the team deal is really starting to payoff. The two Toyota Camry Funny Cars [the Patrόn and DHL cars] were doing the exact same thing on every run, and with Jeff’s win and Alexis making it to the semis, it just shows how much stronger the team is getting,” he explained of the Kalitta Motorsports Funny Car strategy of having both cars tuned exactly the same. “Hopefully this week, we’ll keep going down the track, go rounds and make another final round appearance.”

The Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrόn Toyota Camry Funny Car team currently sits in eleventh place on the points ladder, just 83 points away from the ‘Top Ten.’ They hope to continue to climb the rankings this weekend, July 6^th-8^th, at the 6th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Funny Car qualifying begins at 4PM on Friday afternoon.

Round wins, consistency on Torrence’s Norwalk to-do list

A cautiously optimistic Steve Torrence said five months ago that he hoped his new Torrence Racing Top Fuel team would be able to run with the best teams in NHRA’s Full Throttle series and, perhaps, be in the top five when the last cars go down the track on November 11.

Eleven races into the 17-event regular season, the driver from Kilgore, Texas is one of the hottest on the circuit.  He has been to three final rounds in the last five races, winning at Atlanta and Englishtown, N.J.  His runner-up finish last Sunday at Joliet, Ill. put him a solid fourth in points going into the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, Friday through Sunday, in Norwalk, Ohio

“It’s always a good weekend when you make the final round,” said Torrence.  “The car was consistent and crew chief Richard Hogan and the guys were great.  But that race is over, now we are concentrating on Norwalk.

“We want to keep everything going the way it has been.  Richard has been doing a good job tuning the car in the hot weather . . . and we hope to take advantage of that.  It looks like it will be hot and humid again in Norwalk.”

Although he prefers to not look too far into the future, Torrence realizes that – barring any unexpected incidents – he will be one of the 10 drivers to qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship that begins Sept. 16.

. 

“We’re looking forward to that,” he commented,” but we want to see how well we can do in the next seven races (before the Countdown begins).  There are a lot of really good teams out there.”

He is one of only two-one car team drivers in the top 10 point standings.  Torrence has 775 points and Clay Millican is 10th with 490.

Torrence trails DSR teammates Tony Schumacher (879), Antron Brown (876) and Spencer Massey (868).

New combination has LE Tonglet enthused about Norwalk race

There’s no rain predicted this weekend for Norwalk, Ohio, a weather report that brings a smile from LE Tonglet.

A year ago, Tonglet – then the reigning NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion – did not qualify for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals after a persistent rain wiped out two qualifying sessions.  It is the only time in his 42-race Full Throttle series career he wasn’t in the starting line-up. 

He returns to Summit Racing Equipment Park Friday prepared to rectify that situation this weekend following a runner-up performance at Chicago last Sunday.  It was his finest outing of the 2012 season and followed a run to the semifinals at Englishtown, N.J. in his fourth race.  It also lifted him from eighth to fifth place in Full Throttle points and injected a giant boost of confidence into the Nitro Fish/Tonglet Racing Suzuki GSXR team. 

“We are very happy with the way the bike responded to the new tune-up in Chicago,” Tonglet said.  “We weren’t able to get the win there this time, but we still have a pretty good chance of running good at Norwalk.  We took the motor out so Vance and Hines could go through it and we got it back Thursday. 

“Everything is ready to go.  We would like to pick up the pace again and get some more round wins . . . even win a race.  We need it.”

Beckman, crew chief Smith producing plenty of Funny Car noise as Schumacher Electric/Valvoline team move to third in points

Jack Beckman continues to climb up the NHRA Funny Car standings.

Beckman and crew chief Todd Smith speak the same language, although Smith does so at a much slower pace.

"I enjoy working with Todd. Just look at how our team has done since he took over with a crew and driver he had never worked with before. That says a lot for him as a person.

"It's obvious he's a very smart, talented man. Just look what we've been able to do on the track."

The duo produced the strongest performing Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing last weekend at Route 66 Raceway at Joliet, Ill.

The team, running a special Schumacher Electric Corp. paint scheme, advanced to the semifinals that enabled them to move up one spot to third in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series standings heading to this weekend's event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

The track just south of Lake Erie and Sandusky has been good to Beckman. He won the Funny Car title there in 2009.

Smith joined as his crew chief after the third event this season and has progressed steadily. Other than the team's victory three events later at Topeka, Kan., the team might have had its most impressive showing at Joliet.

After qualifying third, Beckman and Smith produced the second quickest run in the first round of eliminations and then the quickest in the second round. In the semifinal, Beckman was edged by eventual event titlist Jeff Arend.

FORCE KEEPS CLIMBING THE ROOKIE LADDER

Rookie Courtney Force never dreamed that she would be doing so well, so soon in her professional Funny Car career. Coming down off a ‘first final round high” from this past weekend in Chicago, Ill., Force is as confident as ever in her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, crew chiefs and team members. The entire crew, with newfound fire in their bellies, accomplished a quick turnaround after the successful event, packed up and pointed their haulers East towards Norwalk, Ohio for the sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

“I think I’ve exceeded my expectations personally. I obviously want to get a win this season and I thought maybe down the road that would happen, but getting to a final this early on, I didn’t see that coming. I guess that’s not giving myself and my team as much credit as I should, but I’ve just been trying to take it slow and learn as I go along. It’s definitely been going better than I expected. I really couldn’t ask for a better start to the season,” said Force, who moved up from 9th to 7th in points based on her Chicago performance. “I’m excited and I’m looking forward to Norwalk this weekend,” she added.

Last weekend in Chicago, Force raced to her first career Funny Car final round, taking out fellow Ford driver and friend, Bob Tasca III, teammate and brother-in-law Robert Hight, and fellow rookie in the running for Auto Club’s Road to the Future award for “Rookie of the Year,” Alexis Dejoria before falling to veteran Jeff Arend in the final round.

“Going up there for the final I was pretty nervous, but I was more excited than anything. I have a great team with my crew chiefs Ron Douglas and Dan Hood. My Traxxas Ford Mustang is a great car; it just stumbled a little in the final round. It shook and I tried to pedal it as quick as I could, but Arend went on and he had a great run. He took home the win, but just to be in that final round was huge and it really made me open my eyes and see that this is a goal we can reach and maybe I will get that Wally soon,” said Force.

The current Funny Car track record at Summit Motorsports Park is held by none other than Force’s older sister, Ashley Force Hood. Hood set the record in June of 2010 with an elapsed time of 4.032 seconds.

Force is just two points behind Arend and the 6th place spot in the Full Throttle standings. DeJoria’s final round appearance in Bristol coupled with her semi-final finish in Chicago moved her up to 11th place. Both rookies have been competitive on the track but Force has a decided edge in round wins and has maintained her position in the Top Ten in points throughout the season.

“It’s very surreal almost. That was only my 11th professional race and being a rookie I have high goals for myself, but I’ve just been focused on learning this season and getting qualified for all of the events and just doing the best I can to take it slow and learn with every run, but when you get up there and make it to the final round things change. I’ve always had that drive to win but it just ignites even more when you see yourself and your team making it to the final. My sister has won it before and I definitely want to be up there with a trophy myself. Hopefully it will be soon, but it really does make me feel good. I think our Traxxas Ford Mustang definitely has potential to achieve that goal this season,” said Force.

Arend’s win put him in the 7th spot for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. One more spot remains in the bonus race that will be held in Indianapolis prior to the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend, and will be determined by a fan vote/lottery style drawing out of those who have not won an event so far this season.

Massey seeks perfection with FRAM/Prestone dragster, hopes to improve last year's Norwalk finish by one spot

Spencer Massey believes practice makes perfect. 

In the short week between two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events, Massey was at Don Schumacher Racing headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind., Monday practicing his reaction times.

"You can never get enough practice," Massey said while seated in the cockpit of his dragster parked inside the DSR shop while wearing his FRAM firesuit and using a simulated starting system. "I always want to be better than anyone else at this. I don't like getting left on."

Massey and his team head to Norwalk, Ohio, this weekend for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals for the 12th of 23 events on the Full Throttle schedule.

Massey, who has won three event titles this season, has always been touted as one of the best "leavers" in the business and he's not ready to let that go. He is determined to better his times.

"My crew chiefs Phil (Shuler) and Todd (Okuhara), and all of the guys on this FRAM, team always strive to be perfect in what they do, and for me it's no different.

"The competition in Top Fuel this year is one of the toughest we've ever seen in the class. It seems like all of the drivers have stepped up their game and that's all I'm trying to do too. The only way you're going to get better at something is to practice, so that's why I'm doing this."

Last year at Summit Motorsports Park, Massey had a near perfect weekend. This year he's hoping to bring the Wally trophy home that eluded him last year.

"We were runner-up there last year," he said. "In 2009 I made it to the semifinals and last year I was the runner-up, so I think next in order would be to win the event, right?"

Massey goes in to the Norwalk, Ohio, event third in the points standings and only 11 behind points-leader and DSR teammate Tony Schumacher. Massey is eight behind Antron Brown, another teammate who ranks second. The three DSR dragsters have won six of the first 11 events this season.

"It's awesome that our Don Schumacher Racing teams hold those top three spots, but it would be even more awesome if my name was at the top. Hopefully we can make that happen this weekend."

Lucas has GEICO dragster back on track and revved up for Norwalk

After an extra day in Chicago, Morgan Lucas and the GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster team believe they have cured their recent woes and are ready to take on the summer heat, starting with this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

"The test went great," Lucas said. "The changes we made worked the way we wanted. We're going to face conditions like we saw in Chicago for the next couple of months, so we think we'll be able to get back to the standards we set earlier this year."

In the first part of the season Lucas amassed four No. 1 qualifiers and two victories. He currently sits fifth in the Top Fuel standings and is hoping past success at Summit Motorsports Park will repeat this weekend.

"We went to the semifinals there last year," Lucas said. "It can be a tough race in terms of heat, but if there are clouds you can really make power there. One thing's for sure, the fans are going to pack the place. The fans are always great and the track always has its own excitement."

While many drivers and crews head to an amusement or water park during their stay in the Norwalk area, Lucas prefers a quieter pursuit.

"Just being outside helps me clear my head," Lucas said. "I've not been driving to my capability. I missed the tree against Antron Brown last week. It was close, but I don’t like to settle for anything less.

"Now that the car has started running better I think everyone's confidence is going to return."

Trivial pursuits won't distract Bernstein from fighting for a win in Norwalk

Brandon Bernstein, driver of the MAVTV/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster has never been one to detour from the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals to ride a roller coaster, splash in a water park or shoot a quick 18 on the links. Bernstein is a racer – it's what he'd rather do over just about anything else.

"I've never been really interested in any of that other stuff," Bernstein said. "I like being at the track and being behind the wheel of a dragster. Now as my kids get older, I'm sure I'll get familiar with all the places that are near Norwalk.

"Right now, the focus is getting the MAVTV car back on the winning track."

Bernstein said the team regrouped will after the disappointing DNQ at Bristol by qualifying seventh and making good runs down a hot and difficult track in Chicago.

"I didn't expect anything less from the guys," Bernstein said. "They are a hard working bunch and I knew they would prove that Bristol was just a fluke. I let them down a little in Chicago, and I'm determined not to let that happen again.

"This class is too tight to throw away days when you have a good car. We've lost a little ground in the points. We need to get back to making those semifinal and finals runs we earned in May and June.

Bernstein is eighth in the Top Fuel points with ninth-place David Grubnic hot on his tail. The MAVTV car has two semifinal and one runner-up finish this season.

"Points are at a premium right now," Bernstein said. "And stockpiling as many points as you can is crucial to not just making The Countdown, but also giving yourself as much of an advantage as you can get when it starts."

Summer madness arrives for Stoffer, GEICO Suzuki team

The NHRA schedule has eased the Pro Stock Motorcycle class into the 2012 season, but as summer comes into full-swing, the pace is picking up for Karen Stoffer and the GEICO Suzuki team.

This weekend's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals is the second race of the first back-to-back race weekends of the season for the bike class. Stoffer said the compressed timeframe has its advantages and disadvantages.

"Racing back-to-back is tough," she said. "But it doesn’t give you a lot of time to sulk and think about things for weeks on end. You get the chance to get right back out there on the bike."

However it doesn't allow teams to make major repairs while away from their shops. Stoffer's brand new motor broke during her second round loss in Chicago last weekend and the GEICO team has been left scrambling a little bit.

"I'm not sure what direction we're going to go with our engine program," Stoffer said. "(Crew chief Gary Stoffer) is going to talk with Vance & Hines where we get our motors, and figure out what we're going to do.

"Overall the bike has been good; we've just suffered a few breakages here and there."

Stoffer is in seventh place in bike points and has gone to at least the second round in four of five races this season. Stoffer said the team needs to find some stability before they can push forward.

"We started the stretch with two really good motors and one pretty decent one," she said. "Now we're down one of the good ones. We've been working with Vance & Hines closely to make these motors better. Hopefully we can get to Norwalk and be strong.

"These Suzukis have to run on the ragged edge every single second to be competitive and there's not of room for error right now."

Norwalk remains a magical place for Arana Sr.

A special feeling always washes over Hector Arana Sr. every time he walks through the gates at Summit Motorsports Park.

The track is the site of Arana's first career victory – a breakthrough on the Lucas Oil Buell after nearly 20 years of trying. This weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Arana is hoping that old Norwalk magic shows up again.

"I will never forget Norwalk," Arana said. "And maybe it might bring me my first win of this season."

However the temptations around the track might force him to move some weight off his bike.

"You get a pint of ice cream for a dollar there," Arana said. "You can’t beat that. I'll be eating ice cream every day. The downside, I'm gonna gain weight. Even if it's hot and I sweat off the weight, I'm just gonna have more ice cream. I can't resist."

Arana has been No. 1 qualifier in three of the last four races and made it to the semifinals in three straight, which is good enough for third in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings.

"The bike has been very good," Arana said. "We just need to get past the semis to put ourselves in a position to get those wins."

Last week in Chicago, the Lucas Oil Buell was plagued by engine that wasn't 100 percent in harmony. With races on back-to-back weekends, Arana said there isn't going to be much time for a thorough investigation of the problem before heading to Norwalk.

"By the time you get back to the shop, you really only have one day to be able to work," Arana said. "We have enough parts in the truck that we can get something fixed."

Thrill-seeker Arana Jr. feels right at home in Norwalk

The timid do not pick up racing a Pro Stock Motorcycle as a profession. It takes a special breed of speed freak to hurtle down a strip of concrete and asphalt at nearly 200 mph with nothing but a leather suit separating you from the pavement.

At this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Hector Arana Jr. gets to fuel his favorite passions: racing the Lucas Oil Buell and hitting the thrill rides at the Cedar Point amusement park.

"Norwalk is always a blast and a race we look forward to going to every year," Arana said. "We always go to Cedar Point on Thursday and ride all the rides. We're all adrenaline junkies and we're all searching for the next biggest rush.

"It's a good way to relieve all the stress and forget about the racing, and clear your mind."

Summit Motorsports Park is also a landmark track in Arana's young racing career.

"It's the track where I got my first No. 1 qualifier," he said. "I lost that first round, because I was still a rookie and I had a lot of learning to do riding. Now I'm riding this bike good and hopefully we can go to the finals this weekend."

Arana sits fourth in Pro Stock Motorcycle points this season. He's qualified second or third in every race this year and reached the semifinals in four out of the five races this year.

"We've been having a few problems with our 60-foot times lately," Arana said. "Hopefully we'll get it fixed and Cedar Point can give me the extra rush to get that next win."