:::MoparMax::: Mopar Memos

Dutch Classic and Hemi Challenge return to Maple Grove Raceway

Gary Wolkwitz is the defending HEMI Challenge at The Dutch champion.

Fans of NHRA Sportsman drag racing will get one more chance to catch action on the track in 2012 as the NHRA Pennsylvania Dutch Classic comes to Maple Grove Raceway Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 11-14.

Over 600 drivers from nine different classes, including Competition Eliminator, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Snowmobiles, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street, will be competing for a purse totaling over $87,000 in the NHRA Northeast Division’s season-ending event.

Also being contested is the HEMI Challenge at The Dutch that features the best Super Stock/AA HEMI-powered cars from around the country. There is a $10,000 purse, plus contingencies, thanks to Penske Truck Leasing. Jesel is an associate sponsor. That race will be held Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Returning this season is the P.C. Richard & Son American Muscle Stock Eliminator Class, which features late model Mustangs and Challengers. That race will be contested on Friday.

For more information contact Maple Grove Raceway at 610-856-9200 or visit MapleGroveRaceway.com [10/11/2012]

Gaines takes surprise Pro Stock win at Maple Grove

(Todd Dziadosz photo)

V. Gaines was victorious in a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger in Pro Stock on Monday, Oct. 8, in the rain-delayed conclusion of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa. For Gaines, it marked his first win of the season and fourth of his career.

Gaines used a lap of 6.515-seconds at 212.26 mph in the final round to pick up the win over Dave Connolly, who fouled out on a red light. On his way to the final Gaines downed Warren Johnson, Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The victory over Line, who is currently second in points, also greatly benefitted Pro Stock points leader Allen Johnson in his chase for a first Pro Stock title. Gaines opened the event as the No. 4 qualifier, and also recorded a career-best elapsed time of 6.489-seconds in the quarterfinals on Monday en route to the victory.

V Gaines celebrated his first Pro Stock win since Phoenix in 2008, where he was victorious over Line. (Debbie Gastelu photo)

“We finally showed this weekend that we can compete in the cold weather conditions,” said Gaines. “I wish I could say it was all because of the driver, but our car is so fantastic right now. We wanted to hang on to the No. 1 qualifying spot, but we still won the race. We’ll get the No. 1 spot sooner or later.”

Johnson, the current Pro Stock points leader, drove his Mopar Dodge Avenger to the quarterfinals at Reading, where he fell to Dave Connolly on a red-light foul. The native of Greeneville, Tenn., was the No. 6 qualifier and was paired up with teammate Vincent Nobile in the opening round, which was run on Sunday, Oct. 7. Johnson used a pass of 6.526/212.43 with a reaction time of 0.018 to win the Mopar vs. Mopar match-up with Nobile, who countered with a 6.547/211.36 and a blistering reaction time of 0.007.

The opening-round victory at Reading marked the 300th round win of Johnson’s career, which has spanned 17 years in a Mopar-powered Pro Stock car. With two races remaining in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Johnson holds an 82-point lead over Line. [10/11/2012]

Mopar Memos

Volume VII, Issue 10 - October 11, 2012 - Page 1 of 1

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Comments (30)

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#30 By Wesley Young in Kettering Ohio on 12/17/2012 at 17:51

To Randy Lindamood- only class I know of might be the Super Stock GT classes. Hey aren't you Roger's son? Met you one time at Mickey D's in Dayton.

#29 By Richard Kratz in Santa Clarita, CA on 12/07/2012 at 15:53

Now actually! See out story about the new Mopar Performance Calibration program: http://www.moparmax.com/features/2012/Chrysler-Performance-1.html

#28 By Randy Lindamood in Warren, MI on 12/07/2012 at 15:41

Where can a 2011 Challenger with a gen II Hemi Race?

#27 By Con in Australia on 05/18/2012 at 03:11

Can sombody plaese get some facts on dodges future in nascar????

#26 By market apps in market apps on 03/29/2012 at 06:58

Hi, possibly i'm being a little bit off topic here, but I was browsing your site and it looks impressive. I'm building a blog and trying to make it look neat, but everytime I touch it I mess something up. Did you design the blog yourself? Could someone with little experience do it, and add updates without messing it up? Anyways, good information on here, very informative.

#25 By jim power in fontana,ca on 03/02/2012 at 18:49

Am I the only one that getting kinda sick of hearing about Alex??.. no offence Alex, I sign on to read about mopars, not you.

#24 By Wesley Young in Kettering Ohio on 01/26/2012 at 12:36

It is obviously NOT a Hemi...look at the valve train. The engine is a 1959 Rambler 327...not kidding.

#23 By bruce bodenschatz in summerhill on 12/07/2011 at 13:01

cant get thru email contest looks like 354 or 392 hemi

#22 By Kay Burk in O'Fallon, MO on 09/09/2011 at 13:39

Mopar Memos are updated weekly. And, what's, with, the, commas?

#21 By KERRY,BLAIR in athens,tn on 08/17/2011 at 23:37

you,idiots,could,update,at,least,once,aweek,with,something,new,same,old,crap,for,a,month,between,you,and,big,ho,dot,com,i,aint,got,nuttin,2,read,lets.see.some.koverage,of,the,mopar,events,from,the,little,ones,to,the,big,ones,see,you,at,bristol,thats,my,kar,they,got,on,the,mailer,its,fun,and,growing,that,is,a,nice,place,nice,people,and,i,invite,everbody,up,sept,2,3,4,something,for,everone,

#20 By Wayne Graefen in Under the X in Texas on 06/02/2011 at 15:01

That '59 Chrysler is not a limousine, it is an airport sedan and likely built by Stageway in Arkansas. The only limousines throughout that era were built for Chrysler by the Ghia Carrozzeria in Turin Italy on Imperial chassis. How do I know? I own Nelson Rockefeller's '60 Crown Imperial formal limousine by Ghia ordered when he had just become governor of New York state.

#19 By create barcode in US on 04/13/2011 at 23:44

This is a great achievement for gray to be in finals. Nice post.

#18 By Calcium Carbonate in Calcium Carbonate on 04/11/2011 at 23:31

convertible car one the most superbly design cars in the world....gr8 work.
love to see this soon...n exciting abiut its drive

#17 By Geoff Stunkard in on 03/31/2011 at 15:12

I am DIGGING how the two Drag Pack Challengers look head-on; hard to decide which one I like the best!

#16 By bruce bodenschatz in usa on 03/17/2011 at 12:16

about the force hemi. mike dunn says its about the same motor they just moved a little metal here and there. what pisses my off is the ford pro stock motor. just look at the valve covers it looks just like the dodge. mopar should sue.

#15 By Eben Hedman in Burlington, WA. on 03/12/2011 at 03:33

That looks like a Big block chevy in that crashed '64 Dodge. Am I missing something?

#14 By MoparMax in O'Fallon, MO on 03/08/2011 at 16:02

Craig, according to our sources, John Force's FC motor is a standard Top Fuel funny car motor, just with Ford branding. NHRA regs prohibit teams from developing their own engine design for both competition and safety reasons, so the only major differences between Force's engine and that of anyone else would be minor.

#13 By Craig Richard Thomas in Otsego, Michigan on 03/08/2011 at 08:56

I would like a strait and true answer also. What is the engine that John Force racing use's in it's funny car's.
Is it a Boss Hemi or a Chrysler Hemi. It look's no different than any other fuel engine on the circuit. Other than it has
Ford and Boss all over it. Is it a Chrysler design? Nobody seem's to know the answer to this question. Is it a Chrysler Hemi in
Ford Clothing for Ford sponsership dollar's?

#12 By con perdikooris in Sydney Australia on 02/17/2011 at 07:37

Hi, guys. I have heard that John Force is running a FORD engine in his funny car???? is this true or is ford plastering their brand all over a mopar design?
i have seen a couple of pics of it and it still looks like a mopar hemi design.

#11 By iron furniture in iron furniture on 01/27/2011 at 02:13

If it will success, i will definitely introduce to it in next month. I was also waiting for new car.

#10 By KERRY,BLAIR in TN on 01/26/2011 at 18:14

U,SAID,CHARGER,LOOKS,LIKE,70,CHALLENGER

#9 By Chris Hatfield in Washington Pa on 01/07/2011 at 15:07

have any of the TRUE MOPAR fans picked up the latest issue of Drag Racer they did a story on the SS/AH cars and on the cover was Harry Holtons car it was a very good story.

#8 By Jimmy Ray in Atoka, TN on 12/10/2010 at 22:24

Correction to the Holly Springs, Miss. race........

Jerry Miles was NOT the overall NSS winner (he did win NSS/F Class and runnered up in the overall). Gabriel Ray was the overall winner, and NSS/C Class winner.

Thanks for making this correction in a future issue,
Jimmy Ray (proud winners Dad, and NSS/D Class Winner!)

#7 By della woods in lake orion, michigan 48362 on 12/01/2010 at 09:13

great Mag....

#6 By Moparmajic /Flying Arrow in Oxford ,Ms. on 11/19/2010 at 10:01

Hey folks pretty good mag and has gotten the attengtion of my tech/secretary. Yea female that I am training that just loves MOPARS- esp. Vipers and the current Challenger get her fired up. Here family owned a Mopar dealer at one time so.... Yes she had worked on a Viper at my shop . Specialize in BMW/Mini somePorsche/Vipers, BUT my heart is with Mopars. Have a 77 Arrow Super Gas car i built about all by my self in the early 90s and ran it awhile until my biz got crazy. Now trying to get back in afer a bad divorce that should be over soon. Running small block parts that I bought from Herb Mc Candless/Hensley Motorsports/Hays Performance and Ed Hamburger back in the day. Trying to get a 414 and a 398 going from all the parts laying around... Matter of fact have 1 of 12 of the INDY designed cranks that Mopar had when developing the Indy engines back in the later 70s or 80s, got it from a friend on mine out of PA that also runs a cuda with Ray Barton power...

#5 By MoparMax.com in O'Fallon, MO on 07/23/2010 at 18:22

Bruce,

We're working on it! We had a reporter at Chryslers at Carlisle. Look for a complete report soon.

Matt Schramel
MoparMax.com

#4 By bruce bodenschatz in new germany on 07/19/2010 at 13:23

this is mopar max right where is your coverage of chryslers at carlisle im beginning to visit your site less because your behind in whats going on

#3 By MoparMax.com in O'Fallon, MO on 07/13/2010 at 14:00

Carolyn,

Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, and Matt Hagan drive for Don Schumacher Racing. Here is a link to their contact information: www.shoeracing.com.

Matt Schramel
MoparMax.com

#2 By Carolyn McConaughey in Pennsylvania on 07/13/2010 at 13:59

Reprinted from "Letters to the Editor"
-----

I was wondering if you could help me get a fan mail address for the Mopar Funny Car team?

#1 By Jim Richey in Lake Orion, Michigan on 07/13/2010 at 13:57

Reprinted from "Letters to the Editor"
-----

Awesome restoration. I never saw it myself but often do see Della Woods and her brother Bernie. Wish they could still own it, they are very deserving people.

Ed. Note: Our article about restoring Della Woods’ car ran in 2008. Here is the link: www.moparmax.com/features/featurecar/iii_11-della-1.html.


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