NORTHEAST DRAGWAY

Northeast Dragway Hosts 4.90/5.90 Index Racing

April 26, 2008

By Wendy Curling

 

 

            Northeast Dragway held their first index race of the season Saturday night treating fans to exciting side by side, heads up competition. Index racers leave on a four tenths pro tree similar to the NHRA televised events. Unlike the NHRA, drivers must dial 4.90 or 5.90, depending upon their class, and not go faster than their dial.

            Jimmy Williams of Chesapeake dominated the 4.90 class in his Chevy Cavalier he calls “The White Witch.” Williams was paired with Steve Butler of Chesapeake in the 57 Chevy owned by McDonald Farms Racing. Williams nailed the tree with a nearly perfect .401 reaction time and ran 4.95 to take the win in a hole shot over the quicker, but losing Butler in the final round. When asked about the name of his car, Williams quickly dispelled any rumors about its namesake and confessed that he named his car after a favorite golf course  in Jamaica. So the truth is, when Jimmy’s not spending his time in “The White Witch” taking hits at the tree, he may be seen at “The White Witch” taking swings at the tee.

            The celebration was on for Brad Ward and his crew as he won his first ever 5.90 class event in his 1968 Chevy Camaro powered by a mighty 421 cubic inch small block motor. Ward brought his confidence to the table,  predicting himself to be the number one qualifier and  the winner of the race days before the event. His prediction came true with a .476 reaction time and a 5.94 E.T. at 115 mph in the final round against Willie Corl of Chesapeake.

            Bracket racers were also on their game as proven by Steve Osborne of Virginia Beach and Lee Brown of Chesapeake in the Top Eliminator class. Osborne and Brown, with almost identical reaction times, both broke out on top end by five thousandths of a second.  Osborne, with the slightly better reaction time, got the win light by a virtual fraction of a second.

            In the modified class, Jesse Casper of Edenton had all the horses unleashed in his 1990 Ford Mustang as he charged the tree with a .507 reaction time and ran dead on his 6.07 dial to claim the win. Barry Gillard of Elizabeth City was runner up in his E&G Trucking Chevy S-10.

            Street class regulars, Phillip Wiggins and Tony Boone faced off the final round with Wiggins adding another tally mark to the  win column with his trusty little Hyundai Excel.

            Kelvin Bradley of Portsmouth made his first trip to the winners circle in the Pro Bike class this season with his final round win over Big Kev Richardson of Norfolk. Bradley ran 6.22 on his 6.21 dial at 114 mph to take the win.

            In the Junior Dragster class, Travis Maine of Gates and Carey Curling of Chesapeake faced off for the win with Maine claiming the first place trophy. Maine ran 7.97 on his 7.90 dial while Curling broke out by two thousandths of a second.

            Racing action continues this weekend beginning with Test and Tune Friday from 7 to 10 pm followed by Points Race #two on Saturday. Gates will open at 1, time runs begin at 3 with eliminations at 5. Log onto www.northeastdragway.net for more details and upcoming events.

 

 

 

 

 

Points racers battle it out at Northeast Dragway

May 3rd, 2008

By Wendy Curling

 

The second points race of the season was held Saturday night at Northeast Dragway bringing out the competitive fire in all. The winner circle played host to back to back winners as well as some who broke long winless streaks.

 

Louis Eure of Suffolk didn’t collect a lot of points due to his second round loss, but he was able to secure the first place trophy in the Top Eliminator class. Eure opted for the buy back and drove his Chevy Nova to the win with a near flawless run in the final round. He posted a .504 reaction time and ran 5.97 on his 5.96 dial. John Walsh of Chesapeake was runner up. Eure is sure to be a strong contender in the 5.90 index race scheduled for May 10.

 

In the Modified class the final round opponents were each hoping to end their winless streak as both had been at least two years without a win. Perry Mark and Ricky Bateman staged up in the final round with their eyes on the trophy.  Bateman left .004 of a second early resulting in a foul that gave the win and the first place trophy to Mark.

 

Shawn Smithdeal saw his quest for the Street class trophy fade as he was unable to catch the Hyundai of Phillip Wiggins in the final round. Wiggins had Smithdeal on the tree by nearly a tenth and ran dead on his 12.08 dial to collect his second straight win.

 

Willie Warren of Portsmouth and Big Kev Richardson of Norfolk were the final pair of the night in the Pro Bike class. Both riders had great runs but it would be Warren taking the win light with his .510 reaction time and run of 7.326 on his 7.32 dial.

 

It was rookie against veteran in the Junior Dragster class as current points leader and last weeks race winner Travis Maine was paired with newcomer Megan Poyner in the final round. Although Poyner ran closest to her dial, Maine had the better total package and took the win by a margin of .068.

 

Exciting side by side 4.90/5.90 index racing returns this Saturday with new gate times. Gates open at 3, time runs begin at 5, followed by eliminations at 7 pm. Test and Tune will be held Friday night from 7 to 10 with gates opening at 6. Log onto www.northeastdragway.net for more details and upcoming events.