News

 
2008 has been a historic year for Lex Joon Racing, we won as team and driver more rounds then any other TF team in the European Championship and still we had to settle with a second place finish. Loosing by the smallest margin possible is though but part of the deal, disappointing as well because the final round which was the decision maker for the Championship has not taken place.
With the knowledge that I gathered more points then any other Top Fuel driver in Europe the four years we are campaigning our own Top Fuel team I feel we have still a future in dragracing.
The puzzle has to fit before we can continue. I have come a long way to become the driver/owner I'm right now and this is another obstacle to take, without the help and support of my family and friends it would not have been possible. We will find the solution to keep on going, remember, we always do!
 
On behave of our team and business associates I want to wish you happy holidays and a healthy and good 2009.
 
Lex Joon
Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer, Lex Joon has decided to investigate his opportunities for racing in the USA in 2009.

After the news regarding my plans to sit out the 2009 season Lex  received a lot of reactions from his loyal fans, “I want to thank you all for the kind and warm reactions you sent me” says Lex.

 

It will be a challenge but we are planning to move our racing business to the USA, the NHRA organize 24 races a year. The idea is to start with a limited schedule and expand when business opportunities allows us to do so. The current economic situation can be an handicap although the LJR team believes that it has a good and strong program that will be interesting for certain types of companies. We are looking for the businessman who is interested to advertise and market his products in a powerful and convincing way.

 

We have found a representative in the USA who will work for us on sponsorship-related issues, we have a couple of options to lodge our car and start a workshop.

During the last race this year this year at Pomona Raceway (CA) we met a lot of people who are more then willing to help us and who think it’s a great idea that we continue our racing adventures in their country and on their great tracks, according the Flying Dutchman.

 

There are still a couple of issues which need to be addressed but the team has managed to create a firm stepping stone for their racing future in the US.

Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Lex Joon has announced that he will not be racing in 2009  without the right deal to arise. Lex, 2005 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion and runner-up in 2007 and 2008, said that he will be concentrating  more on maintaining and developing his US car business in his home town of Zaandam.

"When we started our own Top Fuel Team in 2005 I really tried to make a living out of it. The sport consumes you, but that’s what is required to be successful and we can’t continue in the sport without a one hundred per cent commitment. There’s no way to shortcut the job - for us it’s all or nothing. I wanted to race the absolute best of the best in Europe, to see how I would stack up, and obviously I did pretty well.

"I always dreamed of doing this for a living. But owning a professional Top Fuel team in Europe does not give you enough stability. With only five races in the FIA Championship and no race track in our own country it is very difficult to find a sponsorship deal with enough funding. Without races added to the Championship the future will not look very different. So there are too many variables in this business to be doing it for a living at the moment. "The real living I need to make at the moment  is in my shop, and that's where I need to stake my claim  .

"I've had great people in my crew. They are all volunteers but they did it for me and because they love the sport so much: Sebastian Visser, Arjan van Bemmel, Simon van Luit, Tom Stone, Karim ElBaze, Maxim Spaans, Patrick Duyzers, Hans Kramer, Hans Brings and of course my wife Gerda. A big thank you to all the great people at the MPM International Oil Company who stood behind me from the beginning of my Top Fuel career. I thank you all.”

"This doesn't mean I am quitting. I never had any intention of quitting and I am definitely leaving the door open. If and when a deal arises, and if it's the right deal, I will be back. MPM Oil Company have stated they want to stay involved with Lex Joon Racing when a new opportunity arises.. That's why I don't want to say I am retiring. I'll make that decision myself, as it is my decision to make. If this does end up being the end of it, then I've had a great career."

After 3 years running with the same colours and paint scheme our MPM TF dragster will have a new look for the 2008 season. Our main sponsor MPM Oil Company chanced their logo at the end of last season and now its time to get the new style image on the Top Fuel machine as well. After the race car is finished our new trailer is the next in line to be fitted with the latest logos and colours.

 

Our new crew shirts are already finished, they replace the old ones that serviced our team for 5 years. The shirts are made in the USA by a company called Dirty Girls, (www.teamdirtygirls.com) they are specialised in making apparel and clothes for all kind of sports.

      

 

The first race we will attend is the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, click at the calendar button for details.

Bye bye winter, its time to start burning nitro again and welcome our fans for a new and challenging season.