LASSITER WINS BUT LOSES AT THE ROCK

Graham, NC's John Lassiter used a near perfect .001 final round reaction time to take home the $5,000 winner's purse Sunday before rain washed out the last day of the annual Memorial Day at the Rock Bracket Nationals at Rockingham Dragway.

With a .018 of a second advantage at the starting line, Lassiter cruised to an easy victory over Lumberton's Eddie Davis. Nevertheless, he lost his bid for one of the three IHRA "Ironman" trophies up for grabs during the weekend when he lost a runoff with Sunday

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Footbrake champion Roger Rhodes of Pikeville. Terry Long, Raeford, and Tommy Plott of Winston-Salem were Sunday's Top semifinalists.

The second "Ironman" went to Saturday Top Eliminator winner Georgia Thomas of Lumberton in a runoff with Footbrake champ Steve Alford of Angier. The third of the special trophies was to have been awarded Monday along with the biggest share ($10,000) of the purse, but will be awarded when the race is completed on a date not yet determined.

Other winners of the holiday event included Rodney Pleasant of Coats, who drove his sister Lisa's Corvette to victory in the Top Eliminator Gamblers race on Friday; Brian Thompson of Sneads Ferry, who won the Footbrake Gamblers race; and Casey Martin of Creedmoor, the Jr. Dragster winner on Saturday. [6-3-2005]

MISSOURI DRAGSTRIP UP FOR BIDS

Thunder Valley Raceway in Bethany, MO will be sold to the highest bidder at 2:00 p.m. on June 10, 2005 on the steps of the Harrison County Courthouse. The eighth-mile track owners, Bill Langley and Ben Horsman, have defaulted on the loan for the facility, which includes 113.2 acres and also has pits for mud racing and a small dirt circle track. [6-3-2005]

PLANNING YOUR NITRO NUPTIALS AT IRWINDALE?

After setting world and Guinness records on their half mile for Rose Parade floats at 29 mph and radio-controlled cars at 111 mph, holding Accordion Nights, Flame-Throwing Tanks, Twins and Triplets Nights, Irwindale Raceway and Dragstrip are getting into the marrying spirit for June brides.

The promotion this month is to get married at the Speedway right on the start/finish line in front of all the fans during the month of June. They'll pay for the cake and give you 50 free tickets to your own wedding! This deal is also available for drag racing fans on the starting line at the Thursday night NHRA Street Legal drags for your wedding. For more info contact Doug Stokes (626) 358-1100 (Drawing by Dianne Patrizzi)  [6-3-2005]