They Feel The NEED... You Know The Rest!

After blazing a trail of new records in 2008, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University jet drag racing team is positioned in 2009 for an even bigger racing season, with 24 major racing venues already scheduled.

In 2008, the team pulled out all the stops, setting the top speed and low elapsed time of the event in the majority of its races, in some cases against nitro-powered cars.

Performing for 1.6 million spectators in more than 30 events in 14 states, the Embry-Riddle racers were once again the nation's leading exhibition jet dragster team. At the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, WI, veteran dragster driver Elaine Larsen (above) set her all-time best top speed exceeding 300 mph.

The Embry-Riddle jet drag racing team will expand its relationship with NASCAR at multiple events, starting with four full days at the Daytona 500 in February. The team will also be featured this year at select Indy Racing League events. The Embry-Riddle team has again been asked to be the feature exhibition team of the NMRA (National Mustang Racing Association) and NMCA (National Muscle Car Association), two of America's most prominent approved drag racing sanctioning organizations.

2009 Embry-Riddle Jet Racing Team Schedule

• Feb. 12 – 15  Daytona Beach, FL  Daytona Speedweeks (static display only)
• Feb. 27 – 28  Belle Rose, LA  Pinks All Out
• March 7 – 8   Bradenton, FL  NMRA
• March 20 – 21  Belle Rose, LA  Pinks All Out
• March 28 – 29  Bradenton, FL  NMCA
• Apr. 18  Norwalk, OH  Summit Raceway Park
• Apr. 20 – 26  Lakeland, FL   Sun N Fun (static display only)
• May 2 – 3   Bowling Green, KY  NMCA
• May 16  Norwalk, OH  Summit Raceway Park Cavalcade of Stars
• June 6 – 7   Reading, PA  NMCA
• June 11  Livonia, MI  Roush Museum
• June 13 – 14  Milan, MI  NMRA
• June 27  Atlanta, GA  Atlanta Dragway Night of Fire
• July 11  Chicago, IL  NASCAR
• July 18 – 19  Chicago, IL  NMRA vs. NMCA Superbowl of Drag Racing
• July 26 – Aug. 2  Oshkosh, WI  EAA AirVenture (static display only)
• Aug. 1  Norwalk, OH  Summit Raceway Park Night under Fire
• Aug. 8 – 9  Charlotte, NC  Z Max Dragway
• Aug. 28 – 29  Cordova, IL  World Series of Drag Racing
• Sept. 5 – 6  Columbus, OH  NMRA
• Oct. 3 – 4   Bowling Green, KY  NMRA Finals
• Oct. 17 – 18  Memphis, TN  NMCA Finals
• Nov. 28 – 29   West Palm Beach, FL  Citrus Nationals
• Dec. 5 – 6  Bradenton, FL  Snowbird Nationals

The jet dragster, designed and built in 2004 with the help of Embry-Riddle aerospace engineering and aviation maintenance students, is a feature attraction at air shows and drag racing events during the year. The Embry-Riddle team will continue its green fuel research program in 2009, using a variety of biomass-based fuel combinations in the car's engines.

FMI: www.lmsjets.com, http://jetdragster.erau.edu