Jim Maroney and Maroney Racing of Phoenix, Ariz. will debut their new Top Fuel Dragster and team at the Dodge NHRA National presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway October 31 – Nov 3, 2019. 

Although the team is newly formed, Maroney is no stranger to drag racing. Competing for over 26 years, Maroney had a successful career in the Western Fuel Altered series, as well as an IHRA championship as a crew chief. Later he drove Top Fuel for a limited schedule in 2018 with another team. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been my own owner and tuner and made my own decisions. After having partnered up and having rented other top fuel teams, to rent someone else’s car and to not have that control how money is being spent or how the car ran the way it did, it was time to do my own thing.” Maroney went on to say, “Going into this, not being on a multi-million-dollar budget, the whole idea putting this team together is to put together the best people, the best parts that we can afford and to make sure the car is as perfect as we can make it. Part of that process is to have Johnny West and Eric Lane on board to sort through those things.”

Veteran tuner Eric Lane has joined the newly formed team and with the assistance of Johnny West, Lane will be calling the shots. Lane has a remarkable history in drag racing including working on some of the most prolific teams in the NHRA. Lane has previously spent time with John Force Racing and most recently Bob Tasca Racing.

Joining long-time partners of Torco Racing Oils and Lubricants and Western Washington Division Conwell Tools, comes two new partners. Dixxon Flannel Co will join Maroney Racing full-time and Firehouse Subs will join the team for Las Vegas. 

“I like aspect of the racing and competition and this is a local team [for us]; a Gilbert [Arizona] team. We are all about supporting locally so instead of dishing product or money to a large team, I really like that these guys are from Gilbert, Arizona,” said Justin Ahumada, manager of Dixxon Flannel Co. 

“It is always an honor and a privilege when we get to come out and watch some awesome racing at The Strip, Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We are super excited for our new partnership with Maroney Racing and can’t wait to see them hit the track and enjoy our amazing subs,” said Brandon Case, local district manager of Firehouse Subs. 

Being a solid team and doing things right is how Jim Maroney and team plan on doing this first race. “My expectation for this first race is a learning experience,” said Maroney. “Our intent is to go out and make all four rounds of qualifying, qualify for the event, hopefully do decent first round and see where it goes from there. Our ultimate goal is to go out and make five laps and not tear up a bunch of parts, and learn from every lap; progress from every lap. The first couple of passes will not be full passes. We don’t expect them to be. We hope by the end of the weekend we make huge strides at being a consistently fast car and going down the track every time.”