Arguably, this has been a very odd race for us at DragStory.com. The teams, crews, fans, staff and overall race was exceptional. We continue to make strides with all aspects of the site and having the opportunity to add the live audio for the last 2 races has been a great bonus for our visibility!
It was different though. Perhaps it was unusual because this was our first time at ‘The Rock’. Or maybe it was different because it was our first DragStock experience. We can’t seem to put our collective finger on the why, we just know we seemed a little distracted and just could not do coverage like we have over the last several events. It just might be we need to concentrate on the how and not the who…or is it the other way around?
To that end I am going to change up the way I write up my coverage for this event. Let’s face reality, with all of the folks covering this series, many in real time, there is no way you’ll ever scoop somebody with the normal race happenings. Well before I ever have the opportunity to write a single word the who and how of the race will already have been sent around the world via live audio and real time reporting of the results through the great folks at Drag Race Central. To me this means my coverage becomes a ‘perspective’ type of writing. So what does that mean? Well it just means I’m going to tell you the story from how I saw it. Yes, I’ll still include plenty of pictures and the results, just not going to rehash the facts as reported by other agencies. I’ll let the chips fall where they may and look for feedback on how I did. Email me at info@dragstory.com
The drag race facility at Rockingham has always held a special allure to nearly every racer I’ve ever spoken with. There’s just something about racing at Rockingham that has a special attraction to the racers and spectators alike. The fans are literally on top of the track with the way the seating is set up. I don’t think the average race fan can get any closer to the racing action than they do at ‘The Rock’.
The track surface is smooth and tight. We saw a 206 MPH run by Chuck Ulsch driving Gil Mobley’s extreme 10.5 Camaro. (Late breaking note…they just made a 3.92 @ 192 mph test run.
Jim Halsey tied the current Pro Nitrous ET record of 3.867 set by KA Balooshi in Martin Michigan and break his own MPH record with a 195.42 MPH blast.
Travis Davis would set a new Pro Extreme Motorcycle record with his 4.167 blast in the semi-finals.
The crowds were monstrous and set new records for attendance at any race ever held at Rockingham.
The fans where great! Not only friendly and open to being part of ‘the show’, they, ADRL fans, show a level of respect I’ve rarely seen demonstrated at any large fan based gathering in my 36 plus years of involvement with drag racing.
When it was time for the invocation and singing of the national anthem, you could have easily heard a pin drop. This was not the first time I had observed this behavior, but noticed a consistent trend at all 7 of the ADRL events we have attended this year. I do not think you could ask for anymore from a group of people.
Saying competition was fierce would almost be an understatement. They had the quickest ever fields in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme Motorcycle. The bumps spots were 3.827 in PX, 3.999 (first all 3 second field in PN) in PN and 4.313 in the PXM category. The competitors pushed the envelope of their equipment and capabilities with numerous red lights and broken race cars/bikes as they battled for the top 8 spots and a shot at a world championship next month’s finals in Ennis TX.
At the end of the day, the champions where crowned and all celebrated another great DragStock at The Rock!
As my good friend Mike Bennett would say the tale of the tape for the champions goes like this….
Jason Hamstra is back in Pro Extreme! After struggling for many races with their setup, they would card a 3.715 for low ET of the event and beat Ken Walsh’s 63 Corvette in the finals with a 3.761 @ 204.73 MPH to a losing 3.875 @ 196.04 MPH run.
Pro Extreme Ladder –
click here
Pro Nitrous was the second all Team Al-Annabi final this season. Mike Castellan would repeat his St. Louis performance and take home another one of the prestigious National Guard Minuteman trophies when he beat fellow team mate Burton Auxier. Catsetllana would make an effortless 3.906 193.16 MPH run to a slowing 4.265 141.68 MPH pass of Auxier.
Pro Nitrous Ladder –
click here
Chuck Ulsch would not be denied his first victory in Extreme 10.5. After running the first 3 second pass in 10.5 history at St Louis he’d lose to Bill Glidden in the finals. At Columbus he’d run in the 3’s again but lose to Spiro Pappas in the finals. At DragStock he’d run in the 3’s again and meet Gary White of team Titan in the finals. Ulsch would best White with a 4.028 @ 206.39 MPH blast to Whites slowing 4.215 158.43 MPH pass.
Extreme 10.5 Ladder –
click here
Out of all the teams in the quest for the 3’s in 10.5, I suspect the Titans will be the next inductee. With a stellar 4.009 #1 qualifying shot, they are on a mission. After struggling mid season, they are back and faster than ever. Keep an eye on the Scion!
The showmanship of Kenny Knowling would show out in the finals of Extreme Pro Stock. Knowling decided to add a little drama to the finals by having the racers swap lanes. After the burnout was complete and the cars sat at about the 300 foot mark, Knowling ran out on the track and stopped both cars and ‘forced’ them to switch lanes as the backed up from the burn out. The spectators were stunned! When Brian Gahm lost to Steve Kirk you can only imagine what people were thinking. It wasn’t until we entered into the winner’s circle that the cat was let out of the bag. The competitors had already decided to change lanes while sitting in staging. Instead of doing a normal swap like they’d do any place else, Kenny came up with a plan to do something different. It may have agitated the purists out there; however, I thought it was an interesting way to finish the category. Kirk would beat Gahm at both ends of the track. His .018 reaction time and 4.096 176.12 MPH run would take out the current points leader Gahm’s .037, 4.113 175.18 MPH effort.
Pro extreme Qualifying
1 68 Jason Hamstra, Demotte IN, '68 Camaro 3.715 205.10 205.10
2 5083 Cody Barklage, Lake Ozark MO, '67 Firebird 3.718 203.25 203.25
3 1065 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '68 Firebird 3.745 84.39 202.48
4 1101 Quain Stott, Columbus NC, '63 Corvette 3.746 204.26 204.26
5 1130 John Stanley, Hagerstown MD, '68 Camaro 3.765 202.06 202.06
6 1962 Tommy D'Aprile, Port Charlotte FL, '70 Camaro 3.765 200.08 200.08
7 41 Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville NC, '06 Corvette 3.766 203.89 203.89
8 1 Jason Scruggs, Saltillo MS, '68 Camaro 3.778 205.47 205.47
9 488 Gaylen Smith, Mansfield TX, '57 Chevy 3.778 201.43 201.43
10 2 Wes Johnston, Kaufman TX, '53 Corvette 3.789 204.23 206.39
11 409 Ken Walsh, Purcellville VA, '63 Coevette 3.792 197.71 197.71
12 4 Brian Daniels, Jackson OH, '63 Corvette 3.802 185.89 185.89
13 6 Joshua Hernandez, Conroe TX, '57 Bel Air 3.808 203.31 203.31
14 915 Kelly Martin, Pageland SC, '57 Belair 3.821 197.42 197.42
15 3 Frankie Taylor, Dickinson TX, '05 Corvette 3.822 198.03 198.03
16 7 Travis Swearingen, Blue Springs MO, '41 Willys 3.827 183.94 183.94
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 247 Mike Bell, Asheboro NC, '07 Mustang 3.835 197.28 197.28
18 5 Bubba Stanton, Potts Camp MS, '63 Corvette 3.858 196.42 196.42
19 38 Neal Wantye, Louisville KY, '08 Mustang 3.865 195.36 195.36
20 057 Dwayne Watkins, Rosemark TN, '57 Belair 3.914 193.63 193.63
21 808 Andy Beal, Thomasville NC, '63 Corvette 3.923 187.83 187.83
22 1957 Doug Winters, Kernesville NC, '57 Belair 3.943 184.65 184.65
23 237 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '68 Camaro 3.955 160.73 160.73
24 172 Tim O'Hare, Ocean View DE, '68 Camaro 3.969 184.02 184.02
25 217 Tim Tindle, Santa Rosa Beach FL, '67 Mustang 4.007 187.26 187.26
26 4002 Troy Jackson, Lugoff SC, '04 Corvette 4.008 183.17 183.17
27 5151 Cody Rabon, Ridgeway SC, '05 Mustang 4.028 193.54 193.54
28 1940 Terry Leggett, Pinetown NC, '40 Ford 4.041 177.77 182.08
29 214 Dan Bandish, Melbourne FL, '67 Camaro 4.095 184.35 184.35
30 14 Danny Blankenship, Elgin SC, '41 Willys 4.099 180.00 180.00
31 07 LJ Wood Jr, Chesapeake VA, '08 Mustang 4.224 172.25 172.25
32 40 Kevin Mayer, Washington NC, '41 Willys 4.263 171.75 171.75
33 348 Brad Personett, Elkart IN, '68 Camaro 4.376 136.77 136.77
34 12 Bennie McDonald Jr, Locust Grove GA, '53 Corve 4.559 126.54 126.54
35 227 Bobby Baucom, Charlotte NC, '68 Camaro 5.107 100.79 100.79
Pro Nitrous Qualifying
1 44 Mike Castellana, Westbury NY, '70 Camaro 3.861 185.23 190.92
2 5 Jim Halsey, Havre DeGrace MD, '68 Camaro 3.867 194.21 195.42
3 8 Burton Auxier, Dixie WV, '68 Firebird 3.906 193.29 193.29
4 4 Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa AL, '68 Camaro 3.926 190.24 190.24
5 4097 Doug Riesterer, Victoria TX, '68 Camaro 3.941 185.77 185.77
6 1957 Greg Godwin, Walterboro SC, '63 Corvette 3.942 186.28 186.28
7 1063 Johnny Pilcher, Chancellor AL, '63 Corvette 3.956 185.97 187.23
8 1955 Charles Carpenter, Harrisburg NC, '55 Bel Air 3.958 185.79 186.25
9 08 Dale Brinsfield, Oak Ridge NC, '08 Mustang 3.964 185.49 185.49
10 999 Khalid Al-Balooshi, Doha QA, '68 Camaro 3.975 189.39 189.39
11 420 John Bartunek, Pearl River NY, '09 Camaro 3.978 185.97 185.97
12 1820 Terry Murphy, Pleasant Hill MO, '63 Corvette 3.980 187.99 187.99
13 531 John Deflorian Jr, Arnold MO, '06 Corvette 3.982 185.84 185.84
14 6 Randy Weatherford, Danville VA, '68 Camaro 3.987 185.38 186.25
15 3 Stan Allen, New Iberia LA, '68 Camaro 3.991 187.73 188.23
16 1916 Fredy Scriba, Abingdon MD, '63 Corvette 3.999 187.96 188.10
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 4794 Thomas Myers, Granbury TX, '63 Corvette 4.008 186.72 186.90
18 1118 Ted Smith, Smithfield PA, '68 Camaro 4.014 182.72 182.72
19 2970 Travis Harvey, Burlington NC, '68 Camaro 4.014 182.33 182.33
20 360 Bob Rahaim, Goose Pt Park MI, '68 Camaro 4.018 183.27 183.27
21 2261 Lee Adkins, Linden TN, '68 Camaro 4.025 178.87 178.87
22 237 Chris Patrick, Stockbridge GA, '41 Willys 4.032 182.03 182.03
23 1968 Steve Vick, Mocksville NC, '68 Camaro 4.056 185.95 185.95
24 1036 Keith Baker, Dothan AL, '63 Corvette 4.066 181.59 181.59
25 42 Robert Mathis, Baker FL, '68 Camaro 4.088 182.90 182.90
26 727 Josh Chester, Morganton NC, '68 Camaro 4.088 179.64 179.64
27 1994 Ed Burnley, Pasadena MD, '67 Camaro 4.088 178.99 179.52
28 1223 Randall Haynes, Chester VA, '41 Willys 4.089 184.50 184.50
29 1940 Terry Housley, Loudon TN, '53 Corvette 4.106 179.04 179.04
30 21 Pat Stoken, Eureka MT, '68 Camaro 4.118 137.54 137.54
31 1436 Jim Teachman, Vaberch VA, '57 Chevy 4.135 180.48 180.48
32 1271 Danny Perry, Sims NC, '07 Corvette 4.174 177.70 177.70
33 1401 Matt Guenther, Livonia NY, '41 Willys 4.181 181.37 181.37
34 124 Pat Bennett, Forest VA, '63 Corvette 4.190 179.11 179.11
35 1972 Jason Harris, Pittsboro NC, '70 Camaro 4.243 172.76 172.76
36 1250 Kenny Rucker, Pond Gap WV, '53 Corvette 4.804 109.53 109.53
37 1778 Dwayne White, Ridgeway SC, '07 GTO 4.947 124.33 124.33
38 2935 Halvor Hansen Jr, Lauderville FL, '68 Camaro 5.055 118.52 118.52
Extreme 10.5 Qualifying
1 6 Gary White, New Market AL, '07 Scion 4.009 181.45 181.45
2 111 Chuck Ulsch, Clarksville MD, '68 Camaro 4.027 204.01 204.01
3 4914 Jeff Naiser, Houston TX, '02 Grand Am 4.040 179.85 179.85
4 1 Billy Glidden, Whiteland IN, '06 GTO 4.048 173.56 173.56
5 72 Jake Carlton, Wauchula FL, '02 Grand Am 4.091 176.84 176.84
6 85 Jeff Paulk, Social Circle GA, '68 Camaro 4.115 178.12 178.12
7 58 Jeff Dickey, Fayette MO, '68 Camaro 4.128 183.02 183.02
8 290 Joel Bayless, Clinton TN, '06 GTO 4.207 186.56 186.56
9 007 Craig Miller, Savannah GA, '03 Grand Am 4.226 184.14 184.14
10 21 Spiro Pappas, Glenview IL, '09 GXP 4.251 192.52 192.52
11 1095 Michael Neal, Pace FL, '67 Chevy II 4.289 179.97 179.97
12 172K Kenny Doak, Pipersville PA, '70 Chevelle 4.301 180.28 180.74
13 98 Tony Wilson, Kannapolis NC, '98 Monte Carlo 4.351 167.59 167.59
14 7 Michelle Wilson, Azle TX, '00 Firebird 4.360 171.64 171.64
15 4 Todd Moyer, Seabrook TX, '04 Cavalier 4.390 177.42 177.42
16 29 Sandy Wilkins, Raleigh NC, '02 Cavalier 4.398 162.78 162.78
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 929 David Lambert, Kannapolis NC, '08 GXP 4.399 164.73 164.73
18 1966 Jerry Bridgeforth, Garden City GA, '66 Mustang 4.409 165.03 165.03
19 1212 Ric Fleck, Lexington SC, '07 Corvette 4.419 167.16 171.77
20 1111 Bubba Turner, Burlington NC, '92 Trans Am 4.585 160.65 160.65
21 1963 RB Smith, Roxboro NC, '63 Corvette 4.600 164.37 164.37
22 4871 H.T. Wilson, Azle TX, '89 Camaro 4.683 152.02 152.02
23 2003 Rod Houck, Winston-Salem NC, '03 Mustang 4.696 157.03 157.03
24 1214 Luis Cornjo, Glenndale MD, '04 Celica 4.754 157.06 157.06
Extreme Pro Stock
1 151 Dean Goforth, Holdenville OK, '09 GXP 4.084 176.77 176.77
2 1214 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '07 Cobalt 4.094 175.23 175.25
3 21 Brian Gahm, Lucasville OH, '07 Mustang 4.103 176.01 176.01
4 177 Elijah Morton, Jacksonville NC, '07 Mustang 4.110 175.02 176.10
5 262 Robert Patrick, Fredricksburg VA, '08 Mustang 4.113 175.11 175.43
6 251 Cary Goforth, Holdenville OK, '08 Cobalt 4.123 175.71 175.71
7 67 Doug Kirk, Lenore WV, '08 Mustang 4.126 176.03 176.03
8 11 Jason Collins, Rainbow City AL, '07 Cobalt 4.137 175.30 175.30
9 1320 Bert Jackson, Glen Allen VA, '05 Cobalt 4.143 174.14 174.14
10 759 Jeff Dobbins, Willington NC, '08 Mustang 4.145 173.72 173.72
11 983 Steven Boone, Waeverville NC, '06 Cobalt 4.146 174.91 174.91
12 143 Ron Miller, Lebanon OH, '04 Grand Am 4.166 172.28 172.28
13 42 John Bartunek, Pearl River NY, '05 Cobalt 4.175 172.56 172.56
Ladders and qualifying presented by
Drag Race Central