The 2014 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing national series is officially underway with a familiar face returning to the Winner Circle in Pomona. Former Top Alcohol Dragster champion Demke not only qualified number one; he won the event giving him a “clean sweep” to start off the season.

"One race doesn’t win a championship but it defiantly helps,” Demke admitted. “Jerry Maddern my team owner and crew chief is making maximum horsepower and my car chief Kevin Watson has all the parts to make it happen.”

Qualifying quickest and winning was not easy.

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying was rain shortened to just one session on Friday followed by two sessions on Saturday along with the first round of eliminations.

In Friday night’s session Demke ran a 5.34 second elapsed time; enough to put him ninth on the charts. On Saturday morning, Demke blistered the quarter mile with a 5.218 second run; fourth quickest in blown dragster history and quick enough to solidify the number one qualifying position.

“I honestly didn’t expect to qualify number one,” Demke said. “I thought one of the A-Fuel cars (Bateman, Shields) would have been able to utilize the extra one percent of nitro that was given to them for 2014.”

With only 15 Top Alcohol dragsters making the first round call, Demke benefited with a bye-run, however he ran as if there was a competitor in the other lane.

Demke did not change the tune up and ran a 5.23 second elapsed time giving him lane choice headed into Sunday’s second round of eliminations.

“Just not changing anything made us so consistent,” Demke stated. “Our car was running at the best it’s ever done, so we just left it alone.”

Sunday’s track conditions changed as the day progressed. Demke faced tire shake in both the semi-final and final round of competition. Having past experience dealing with tire shake, Demke was able to catch it quick to get past Don St. Arnaud in the final round to win the event.

“The track got better than our tune up and that is what caused the little tire shake,” Demke explained. “If we would have been a little more aggressive we would have got through the shake zone essentially.”

Winning the season opener gives Demke’s team even more confidence to win the 2014 championship; however he knows the potential of the A-Fuel Dragsters.

“I think Gainesville will be a big instigator in seeing how the extra percent of nitro will aid the A-Fuel dragsters,” Demke stated. “However, with the win at the season opener it really gives my team a boost in confidence.”

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