Daniel Pharris set the Radial vs. World record at 3.578 at 214 mph during the Quick 16 at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

Rich Bruder broke the X275 record set by Rob Goss. Goss ran 4.237/169 as low qualifier setting the record for the class and then Bruder broke that record during the final round with a 4.235 ET.

 

We’ll have the full race report tomorrow in DRO.   (Tom McCarthy photos) [03/26/19]

If there were records broken, it must be time for the NHRA Tech Dept. to make some rules changes. That is what has happened after the spectacular performances at the Gatornationals.

In Pro Mod, the nitrous oxide-aided teams without a lock-up torque converter have been granted a 25-lb. weight break. Although Khalid alBalooshi recorded the quickest nitrous quarter-mile time in history at 5.710, it was more than half a tenth behind the quickest times of the supercharged and turbocharged entries.  (Adam Cranmer photo)

Drew Skillman reset the national ET record at 7.718 in his Mustang. His father, Bill, had qualified his Mustang at the top of the field with a 7.744, more than a tenth of a second quicker than the Drag Pak or COPO Camaro competitors.  (Adam Cranmer photo)

 

For the Factory Stocks (as posted on NHRARacer.com):  The NHRA Technical Department is increasing the supercharger top pulley size on the 2019 COPO 350 combination from 3.350 inches to 3.500 inches and the 2019 Cobra Jet 327 combination from 3.250 inches to 3.500 inches. This will decrease the 2019 COPO 350 combination supercharger overdrive from 147.5 percent to 136.6 percent overdrive or 10.9 percent. Additionally, this will decrease the 2019 Cobra Jet 327 combination supercharger overdrive from 146.2 percent to 128.6 percent or 17.6 percent. As a reminder no other changes may be made to all approved superchargers, including, but not limited to: (upper or lower pulley sizes, gear ratios, cases, rotors, etc.). All other permitted combinations in the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Show. [03/26/19]

On a weekend when James Caulder and son Connor celebrated victories in Top Eliminator and Jr. Dragster, respectively, Allen Furr stole the show by twice beating himself, once in the semifinals and once in the final round to dominate the Footbrake portion of the annual Racers Appreciation bracket championships at Rockingham Dragway.

 

Furr, the reigning Rockingham track champion, gave himself a leg up on a second straight title by driving his venerable 1962 Chevy II to a runner-up finish on Saturday and a win on Sunday when he advanced to the final from both sides of the bracket.

 

That meant he raced himself in the final and despite what the pundits say, beating himself was as sweet as it gets in bracket racing.

Nevertheless, Sanford’s Ricky Bullock denied Furr a perfect weekend by beating him in the Saturday final.

James Caulder topped Chris Dean of Sanford to claim the $2,000 cash purse as winner of Sunday’s Top Eliminator title after Connor Caulder had won Jr. Dragster on Saturday, giving the St. Pauls’ bracket contingent two big reasons to celebrate.

 

The other $2,000 Top Eliminator prize was snatched up by Rowland’s David Lowe, who stopped Jerry Martin of Aynor, SC, in the money round on Saturday while Dylan White or Cordesville, SC, claimed the Sunday Jr. Dragster title.

 

The two-day event, which had been rained out on its original weekend, also awarded points applying toward Rockingham’s 2019 track championships and berths on the Rockingham team that will compete in the NHRA’s Summit Super Series this fall.   [03/26/19]

Demolition of the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park began last week, marking the true end of an era in New Jersey drag racing.

 

The Napp family closed the drag strip, but drifting, go-karts and motocross has continued. Insurance Auto Auctions Inc. is in the second year of a three-year agreement with the Napps to store cars on the facility.  [03/26/19]

Ten different drivers ended up as event winners at the IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular season-opener at Farmington (NC) Dragway. It was the largest IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular to date with over 300 entries each day.

Michael Paschal from Greensboro, NC, won the Moser Engineering Saturday $5,000-to-win top prize for the Top division.

 

Paschal went down the track in 4.696 seconds at 147.01 mph against a 4.70 dial-in paired with a .019 reaction time to beat Chris Mancini of Allison Park, PA, in the final round. Mancini had a .014 reaction time and then posted a 6.297 elapsed time at 108.28 mph against a 6.31 dial-in.

 

Roger Robertson from Blowing Rock, NC, took the Top division’s $5,000 top prize for Battle Born Batteries Sunday.

 

Corey Hawks from Winston-Salem, NC, captured the $2,500-to-win Footbrake title when opponent Brandon White from Hillsville, VA, red-lighted in the final round. With the race in hand, Hawks eased down the track in 10.747 seconds against a 6.30 dial-in. White was just -.007 too quick at the starting line.

 

In the Junior Dragster class, Phillip Radford from Radford, VA, had a solid run of 9.056 seconds at 67.38 mph against a 9.03 dial-in after a .071 start. Runner-up Ben Gibson posted numbers of 8.013 seconds at 80.72 mph against a 7.97 dial-in. Gibson had a .059 reaction time.

 

Two other races at Farmington included the Street and Teen divisions.

 

Brad Carpenter from Galax, VA, won on a holeshot in Street .065 to .123 for runner-up Darrell Hobbs from Lexington, NC. Carpenter’s final package included a 7.584-second run at 87.65 mph against a 7.56 dial-in. Hobbs finished in 8.07 seconds at 84.81 mph against an 8.05 dial-in.

 

In a teen final of North Carolina racers, Nick Smith from Lenoir was the victor with his .086 reaction time faster than the .188 start by Bryce Childress from Mocksville. Smith made it down the track in 11.034 seconds at 60.54 mph, while Childress made an 11.508-second pass at 61.97 mph.

 

More big money was on the line Sunday and Robertson claimed another $5,000-to-win top prize in the Top division. He was quick off the starting tree with a .023 reaction time and then motored down the track in 5.816 seconds at 115.98 mph against a 5.78 dial-in. Anthony Briggs from Lexington, NC, finished in 5.995 seconds at 114.53 mph against 5.95 dial-in and claimed the runner-up spot.

 

Jamie Houston from Wytheville, VA, captured the $2,500-to-win Footbrake victory. He had a .029 reaction time and then ran 6.382 seconds at 103.26 against a 6.37 dial-in. Nick Lucas from Seymour, TN, finished runner-up with a 6.851-second run at 107.17 mph against a 6.59 dial-in, along with a .033 reaction time.

 

Ozell Brown from Renick, WV, denied Radford’s bid to sweep Junior Dragster victories. His quick .038 reaction time and an 8.216 elapsed time at 71.35 mph against an 8.15 dial-in outweighed Radford’s final run of 9.225 seconds at 67.38 mph against a 9.06 dial-in with a .073 reaction time.

 

In the Street division, Chris Gibson from Lexington, N., took the win over Bob Goss from Advance, NC, who red-lighted in the final. With a .053 reaction time, Gibson cruised down the track at 11.798 seconds against an 11.86 dial-in. Goss came painstakingly close to a perfect start, going -.005 too quick at the tree. He was spot-on down the track, posting an 8.082-second run against an 8.08 dial-in.

 

The Teen final featured a rematch with this time Childress coming out on top with an 11.553-second run at 62 mph against an 11.50 dial-in. He had a .042 reaction time, while Smith fouled -.009 at the start. Smith’s final run was 11.050 seconds at 63.25 mph against a 10.94-second dial-in.

 

The IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular moves to State Capitol Raceway, Port Allen, LA, on March 29-31. [03/26/19]

The Holley EFI 7-Second Club was created for the first five NMCA Factory Super Car drivers who ran the quarter mile in under eight seconds. Geoff Turk was the first to enter the club at the first race of 2018. Exactly a year later, at the first race of the 2019 season, Muscle Car Mayhem in Bradenton, FL, four drivers dipped into the 7’s to round out the club: Chuck Watson Sr., Leonard Libersher, Scott Libersher, and Carl Tasca.  (Mike Galimi photo) [03/26/19]

Kentucky Dragway in Clay City, KY, has joined the NHRA Division 3 as a member track. The track will be operated by Aaron and Carrie Sipple.

 

The eighth-mile track originally open in 1963 as Mountain Park Dragway. It was completely overhauled in 2001 with new grandstand, bathrooms and concrete barriers and a name change to Kentucky Dragway. Most recently, improvements to track lighting and concessions have been done. [03/26/19]

JEGS Paint Spraying Rack allows you to paint, repair, and prep vehicle panels of various shapes and sizes quickly and easily. Ideal for doors, hoods, trunk lids and more. Height is adjustable from 33 to 59.75 inches. Made of yellow powder-coated steel. Includes four 22-inch arms, four 21-inch arms.  [03/26/19]