Largest Super Chevy Show on Record at Memphis International Raceway
Fans turned out in record numbers to support the largest all Chevy automotive show in the country
MEMPHIS, TN – Memphis International Raceway and TEN: The Enthusiast Network celebrated the 30th running of 
the Super Chevy Show over the weekend and the fans showed up in record numbers for the three-day event. The world’s largest Chevy automotive event featured drag racing action, a premiere car and truck show, sold out swap meet, car corral, vendor midway and much more.
The drag strip competition was highlighted by several different sportsman classes, the CamaroGuys.com Gen 5 challenge, small tire shootout and the U.S. Southern Shootout Pro Modifieds over the weekend. Each class had an opportunity to walk away with a cash prize and bragging rights as the winner of the Super Chevy Show.
The CamaroGuys.com Gen 5 challenge, Bracket 1 and Bracket 2 classes competed on Saturday with Kevin Martin, Jason Mckague and Andrew Wallace, respectively, taking home the top spot.
Kevin Martin, from Sherwood, Arkansas, went up against Andre Burns, from Memphis, Tennessee, in the Gen 5 challenge final round and posted a .271 reaction time with a 11.299 at 117.24 mph against Burns’ 6.92 reaction time with a 10.420 at 130.53 mph pass. Jason Mckague, Ballwin, Missouri, went seven rounds and landed in the Bracket 1 finals with Matt Griffin from Treaton, Tennessee. Griffin fouled at the line giving Mckague the win on Saturday. In Bracket 2, Andrew Wallace from Russellville, Alabama, faced off against Randy Weller from Edwardsville, Illinois in the final round. Wallace visited the winner’s circle after Weller fouled at the line.
The fans at the Super Chevy Show on Sunday witnessed a full day of drag racing action as the U.S. Southern Shootout Pro Modified, RT Turbines DOT Street, RT Turbines Junior Dragster, Small Tire Shootout, Bracket 1 and Bracket 2 competed throughout the day.
The U.S. Southern Shootout Pro Modified national series started their 2016 season at the Super Chevy Show. 16-cars qualified on Saturday and eliminations took place on Sunday on the 1/8-mile. The finals came down to Thomas Huddleston from Murfreesboro, Tennessee in his 1955 Nomad and Tim Segar from Hartselle, Alabama in his 1962 Chevy Impala. Segar jumped the start and the red light came on, giving Huddleston the season-opening win. Hank Stubbs and Michael Neal advanced to the semi-finals.
In the RT Turbines classes, 40 cars entered the DOT Street class and 16 junior dragsters entered to compete. The final round in RT Turbines DOT Street came down to Millington, Tennessee racer Tommy Jackson II and Ricky Thomas from St. Louis, Missouri. Jackson in his 1998 Trans Am ran a 13.292 second pass at 103.43 mph against Thomas’ 10.866 at 119.82 mph. Thomas and his 1984 Chevy S10 were victorious and took the top spot. In the RT Turbines Junior Dragster class, hometown racers Drew Tracey and Tara Taylor ended up in familiar territory as they were paired up in the finals. The battle for the win was one of the closest competitions of the Super Chevy Show. Tracey narrowly beat Taylor when he ran a 8.280 off of his 8.26 dial-in time at 78.07 mph with a .028 reaction time. Taylor had a .030 reaction time with a 7.983 off of her 7.95 dial-in time at 81.29 mph.
The returning heads-up class, the Small Tire Shootout, placed local racer Donn Gingrich against Billy Kennedy in the final round Saturday afternoon. Gingrich in his 1967 Chevy laid down a .014 reaction time with a 4.655 second pass at 155.57 mph against Kennedy’s .052 reaction time, 5.046 second pass at 142.46 mph. Gingrich once again visited the winner’s circle at his hometown track.
The Bracket 1 and Bracket 2 races brought racers in from all of the Mid-South region. The winner of Bracket 1 was determined first at Memphis International Raceway. Local Memphian Jesse Glenn lined-up with Kerry Williams from Gosnell, Arkansas in the finals. Glenn in his 1968 Chevy Camaro was declared the winner when he had a .012 reaction time and a 5.898 second pass with a 5.88 dial-in time at 117.49 mph. Williams in his 1969 Chevy Camaro posted a .033 reaction time with a 5.262 at 134.87 mph. Robert Gray advanced to the semi-finals.
The Bracket 2 finale saw Todd Berry from Tuscumbia, Alabama go against Bubba Max from Hernando, Mississippi. The 1955 Chevy Pick-up driven by Berry claimed the number one spot with a .021 reaction time, running a 6.867 on a 6.84 dial-in at 95.85 mph. Max posted a .102 reaction time, running a 6.867 on a 6.84 dial-in at 100.34 mph. Dustin Bryant and Troy Poindexter rounded out the semi-finals.
In addition to the on-track action, hundreds of people came out to compete in the car and truck show on Saturday and Sunday. Participants from all over the country brought out their pristine vehicles to be judged in class awards, Super Chevy Magazine editors picks, specialty awards as well as best in class awards from nationally acclaimed judges. Select participants were even chosen to be featured in Super Chevy Magazine throughout the remainder of the year.
