What a difference a week makes!

Last Friday, rain that would be followed by snow wiped out the entire racing weekend, including the first Dragway 42 "All Out" event. This week, several sunny days in the 60's and 70's will set up a great Friday night at Dragway 42.

For 2008 the Friday Night program at Dragway 42 sees the addition of two new events, one on the first regular Friday event of the month and the other on every Friday night.

Beginning this Friday (and on the first Friday night in the remaining months of the year) Dragway 42 "All Out", presented by Akron Horsepower features the 8 closest elapsed time cars of the evening's racing program being matched up "All Out" in a heads-up, no breakout race using a pro tree for a minimum purse of $200.

There is no extra charge for the Dragway 42 "All Out" program. Every car going down the race track on Friday night is making a qualifying pass towards being selected for a position in the "All Out" eliminations.

Since Dragway 42 "All Out" matches the closest 8 cars of the night, it may be eight 9 second cars or it may be eight 15 second cars, but they will be racing in a no sandbagging, judges decisions final, "ALL OUT" event. The first round of the "All Out" eliminations will begin at 9 PM.

Dragway 42 is also proud to announce the addition of the Friday Night Gambler Race sponsored by Big 3 Racing of Hinkley, Ohio to each Friday night's racing program. For Friday night participants looking for a chance to be involved in a race event with a cash purse, this optional 1/8th mile gambler race will have eliminations beginning at 8:30 PM. A separate $20 entry fee for the gambler race will fund a 100% payback purse to be divided between the winner and runner-up or winner, runner-up, and semi-finalists depending on the number of entries for the race.

The "All Out" eliminations and optional gambler race is in addition to Dragway 42's regular Friday Night program of an all night long street race, gambler race, and test & tune program on the 1/4 mile.

Gates open Friday night at 5:30 with the first vehicles hitting the track at 6 PM. Racing action will continue until at least 10 PM.

For participants, the car and driver or bike and rider entry fee is just $15.00 while adult spectators are admitted this season for just $5.00 on Friday nights. Children 14 and younger are admitted free of charge to all Dragway 42 events.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

While lousy weather has been a regular visitor to weekends, Tuesday's at Dragway 42 have featured sunny skies and seasonal temperatures and this week is no exception.

The Tuesday night program at Dragway 42 features 1/4 mile test and tune, street race, and grudge race action in addition to the 100 MPH Club qualifying. Gates open at 5:30 PM with action continuing until 10 PM. Qualifying sessions for the 100 MPH Club are held at 7, 8, and 9 PM.

For 2008, a custom trophy is awarded every Tuesday night to the top MPH car and driver from qualifying sessions for the 100 MPH Club for street legal cars, presented by Akron Horsepower. Last Tuesday night, Barberton's Chris Young took home the trophy based on his run of over 120 MPH in his Evo 9.

Young was one of six racers who became members of the 2008 edition of the 100 MPH Club and received member decals for their cars.

For Tuesday night events at Dragway 42 participant fees are $15 for car and driver or bike and rider while adult spectators are admitted for only $5. Children 14 and under are admitted free of charge. Those who would like to take a shot at joining the 100 MPH Club pay just $1.00 to make a qualifying attempt.

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          120.66 MPH • Chris Young • Barberton, Ohio • 2006 Mitsubishi Evo 9
          115.72 MPH • Bernie Walls • Lakewood, Ohio • 2004 Ford Mustang
          109.98 MPH • Jason Wikoff • New Philadelphia, Ohio • 1994 Honda Civic
          106.91 MPH • Deon Rosegreen • Canton, Ohio • 2004 Dodge SRT-4
          103.95 MPH • Joel Martinez • Loudenville, Ohio • 2002 Subaru WRX
          102.68 MPH • Zhong • Copley, Ohio • 2003 Jaguar

Friday, April 11, 2008 - 3:00 PM

The thunderstorms forecast for this afternoon have arrived, causing us to cancel tonight's scheduled Test & Tune and "All-Out" event. With the forecasters calling for one last blast of winter for Saturday and Sunday, we have also made the decision to postpone the test & tune and 51st Anniversary Racer Appreciation events scheduled for those two days.

"The free race that we offered last season was such a success, we immediately knew that it was an event that we wanted on the 2008 schedule," stated Dragway 42's Toby Ehrmantraut. "With the rainout this weekend throwing a monkey wrench into the schedule, we needed to make a decision on what to do with the 51st Anniversary Racer Appreciation event."

That "decision" was to move the Racer Appreciation to next Sunday, April 20 and to push back the start of the 2008 IHRA Summit SuperSeries season by one week, to April 27.

The schedule for the upcoming week will now be:

Tuesday, April 15th: 1/4 mile Street race, Grudge race, and Test & Tune program with qualifying for Dragway 42's 100 MPH Club, presented by Akron Horsepower.

Friday, April 18th: 1/4 mile Street race, Grudge race, and Test & Tune program, Akron Horsepower "All-Out" event, and Big 3 Racing sponsored gambler race.

Saturday, April 19th: Special opening weekend Test & Tune and Gamblers Race. Gates will open at Noon, with Test & Tune from 1 PM until 5 PM. A gamblers race will begin at 5 PM. There will be a $20 money class with 100% payback as well as free Trophy and Junior Dragster classes.

Sunday, April 20th: 51st Anniversary Racer Appreciation Free Race and IHRA Ironman Classic presented by Drag Review Magazine. Gates open at 9:30 AM. There will be separate $1,000 to win classes for both Box and No Box as well as eliminators for Junior Dragster and Street class racers. All 4 class winners will receive a new design, official IHRA Ironman trophy! There will be a $10 general admission for all adults. Kids 14 and younger are admitted free of charge. In addition, all competitors receive a free race entry for this event!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

It appears that the weather forecasters have decided to pay everyone back for the recent, lousy weather by offer nearly perfect springtime temperatures for the first Tuesday night race event of the 2008 season at Dragway 42.

Gates will open at 5:30 PM for the evening's on track activities that will run from 6 PM until 10 PM.

On tap for Tuesday night is 1/4 mile street race, grudge race, and test & tune action as well as the first night of qualifying for the 2008 edition of the 100 MPH Club for street legal cars, presented by Akron Horsepower.

In addition to the presentation of special "2008 Member" decals and recognition on Dragway42.com for each racer who exceeds 100 MPH during the 3 qualifying sessions each Tuesday night, Akron Horsepower has increased their support of this program for 2008 so that the top MPH car of each Tuesday evening from the 3 qualifying sessions will be also be awarded a custom trophy to recognize and reward that top driver and machine of the night for their accomplishment.

Qualifying sessions for the 100 MPH Club will be held at 7, 8, and 9 PM. Racers pay just $1.00 extra to make an 100 MPH Club qualifying attempt. Racers may make a qualifying attempt in as many sessions as they wish and will be credited for the highest MPH recorded during the 3 sessions.

Eligible cars for the 100 MPH Club must run full exhaust (no open headers), DOT tires, and basic street equipment such as working lights, wipers, etc.

Entry fees for the Tuesday night program at Dragway 42 for 2008 is $15.00 for racers and just $5.00 for spectators. As always, kids 14 and under are admitted free of charge to all Dragway 42 events.