Dirt
Rock-It Racing
Daren and Veronica Poole- Adams encourage the next generation of racers By Kelly Wade
Daren and Veronica Poole-Adams have a longstanding habit of sharing what brings them joy in order to enrich the lives of others . Daren , a lifelong drag racing enthusiast who accompanied his dad to Santa Pod Raceway in England before moving to the United States as a teen , knows first-hand how drag racing can have a positive impact on a child . Veronica – his wife of 30 years – loves the sport just as much , particularly the friends and racing family they have acquired through the years . With that community spirit in mind , the two have launched Rock-It Racing , a program born to inspire , encourage , and support the future of drag racing .
“ We think it ’ s important to nurture the next generation of racers , and that ’ s really what we ’ re trying to do , in our own way ,” said Daren , who owns a fleet of COPO Chevrolet Camaros and races Stock and Super Stock . “ We want to keep drag racing alive , and we ’ re happy to do our part to make that happen .”
Although it ’ s only become official in this new year , Rock-It Racing has been quietly forming for years under the Poole-Adams Racing , Inc . umbrella . Daren and Veronica have often gathered children from church and within the community for a trip to the dragstrip to gain an understanding of the sport , from learning about the cars in the pits to seeing them compete on the track . While Daren and Veronica have taken great joy in introducing the sport to anyone who has expressed a hint of interest , they ’ ve also signed on to sponsor racers already active in the Jr . Drag Racing League , most recently Midwest competitors Jeggie and Claire Weets .
Additionally , they are committed long-term to the Jr . program of young Langdon Foley . The six-year-old son of racers Brooke and Steve Foley , who drives one of the couple ’ s COPO Camaros , is the reason behind the Rock-It Racing name . Unable to pronounce “ Ms . Veronica ” when he
Persistence Pays Off
Andy Jensen returns to NEOPMA winner ’ s circle at Cecil County Dragway By Nate Van Wagnen
It ’ s been a frustrating start to the 2023 season for the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association , as the first race of its 31st season was rained out completely at Maryland International Raceway and the second race at Maple Grove Raceway was rained out after qualifying . But persistence paid off for both the series and one of its longtime racers , Andy Jensen , when NEOPMA rolled into Cecil County Dragway for the June edition of the Strange Engineering Outlaw Street Car Shootout series .
The event ran smoothly without interruption from Mother Nature , allowing the series to crown winners from the Maple Grove race – Chris Rus-
first met her several years ago , he called her “ Ms . Rock-It .” She ’ s been known as such ever since .
Daren and Veronica have used Lucas Oil products in the Poole-Adams Racing , Inc . race cars for years and are proud to have recently formed an official partnership with the brand . Daren says that young racers should not be surprised to see him randomly walk up with Lucas Oil for their Jr . Dragsters . For Daren and Veronica , it ’ s just one more way that they can carry out the Rock-It Racing mission of supporting the next generation of drag racers .
“ You know , we ’ ve lived a blessed life ,” said Poole-Adams . “ If this is what I get to do , I ’ m not going to miss out on anything . I want to do the best that I can , and I want to leave a positive mark . DI
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK TINARI AND TARA BOWKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROCK-IT RACING AND AUTO IMAGERY
40 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 183