TORCO Northern Nationals & Doug Foley Drag Racing School - August 2006

August 10, 2006 - Rockdale, TX - New Breed Racing, Ayrton and Alesi Gerthe, along with parents Duane and Lisa made a surprise visit to Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car team by attending the TORCO Racing Fuels Northern Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan held August 5 & 6, 2006. Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owners Terry and Rhonda McMillen, through the IHRA Adopt A Jr. Dragster Program, sponsor the IHRA Division 4 Junior Dragster Team from San Antonio Raceway, along with Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets and NGK Spark Plugs.
“We had an awesome visit, Duane and Ayrton helped the crew with the funny car, Alesi observed all the marketing work held at the event and I was able to see my family enjoy spending time with friends doing what we love…drag racing,” explained Lisa. “We enjoyed our visit with Mark Adelizzi of Flatout Gaskets and it was great to be at the event where Terry and his Amalie Oil InstiGator TORCO powered Funny Car team made their first final round appearance of the 2006 eMax Drag Racing series,” continued Lisa. “Terry and Rhonda adopted our kids last year through IHRA and they have gone above and beyond to help Alesi and Ayrton fulfill their drag racing dreams and in a way, we’ve adopted them also and wanted to travel to Michigan and show our support.”
Alesi was presented the opportunity to attend Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School, thanks to TORCO’s Evan Knoll, Latrell Preston and Terry McMillen.
“It was an awesome experience and I’ll never forget it,” said Alesi. “I’d like to gain more seat time this year and compete at all 2007 eMax National events, we’ll see; right now I’m just relieved to have the licensing behind me and Mr. Foley was an excellent instructor.”
Alesi completed the required runs and earned her IHRA Quick Rod Competition License with her final quarter-mile pass of 8.45 @ 160 mph, which enables her to make the move from jr. dragsters and continue to reach for her goal of becoming a professional drag racer.
Lisa said, “On the flight back to Texas, Alesi made reference to there being a lack of female driver’s in the professional classes of IHRA and I told her we better let Dad get comfortable with her speed in Quick Rod and she said, ‘He’d better get ready, someday I will go faster, much faster if I want a Top Fuel License.”