RevMax Converters PTRA Nationals - November 5
After being being put on hold for a week due to weather, the drivers of the PTRA were ready to come out swinging. Failure and disappointment were not an option as they fought it out on a cold, windy day. In the end the winners stood with their heads held high and the champions stood above all challengers.
Ace High Performance 7.00 Index
The 7.00 index class was led in qualifying by Kurt Flanagan (7.002), Kenny Meyers (7.004), and Rusty Wright (7.005). This was just the beginning as 22 cars battled for the win. The semi-final pairings matched Todd Robinsons roadster against Mike Hagers blue Nova. Hager took a slight lead at the tree, however Robinson was able to run closer to the index and win a .005 MOV squeeker, while Kenny Meyers received a bye to the finals. In the final round, the starting line looked like a race from the early days of drag racing with Kenny Meyers in his red Anglia taking on Todd Robinson in his 29 roadster. Kenny took a close win with a .033 margin of victory.
Mr. Bs Speed & Custom 6.00 Index
The 6.00 class followed the 7.00 class in impressive qualifying with Terry Floyd (6.001), Travis Matthis (6.003), and Joe Michaels (6.007) leading the way. There were 18 cars ready to see who brought their A game. The cool conditions must have played havoc with the cars, as there were five races determined by a break-out in the first round. The semi-finals saw Kenny Floyds ageless Corvette run dead on with a seven to get past the burgundy Mustang II of Danny Caldwell, while Donnie Gibbs Jr. made it past Mike Hutchens driving his Camaro, who broke out by .007. In the finals Donnie Gibbs Jr.s Nova got the lead at the start and held on to edge out Kenny Floyd by just .025.
Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales Racing Performance Motorcoaches 5.30 Index
The 5.30 index continued the close qualifying. Michael Martin (5.300), Joe McCoy (5.302), and Wayne Montgomery (5.308) led the way. The first round saw two of the races determined by double break-outs. During the semis Bobby Browns thundering T-bird had to play catch up to edge Chris Warrens slick Dodge Daytona by a slight .012 MOV, with Michael Martin getting a bye to the finals. This set up a classic Chevy vs. Ford battle. This match-up saw Bobby Brown in his big Ford get a double break out victory over Michael Martins sleek blue Chevy.
Performance Plus Connection 4.80 Clash
The quick and colorful Clash cars did not disappoint during qualifying. David Lambert (4.802), Jeremy Huffman (4.804), and Skip Moore (4.809) lead the way. When the qualifying dust settled there were 12 cars ready for a fight. As with 5.30, there were a couple of first round races determined by break-outs. The semi-finals pitted the colorful Chevy of Nick Cline against Jeremy Huffmans white Monte Carlo. Both drivers cut .01 lights and Nick eased ahead at the finish. David Lambert received a bye to the finals. Clines Chevy got the jump on Lamberts Trams Am at the tree and held on for the win.
Muscle Motorsports Performance Street
This group of heads-up warriors were set on kill as both ET and MPH records were reset. Jack Brown stormed to the ET record with a blistering 6.235, while Chifen Parkers bright yellow Camaro screamed to a new MPH record of 108.23. Qualifying was solid as 10 cars assaulted the track. Jack Brown (6.235), Thad Cook (6.248), and Chifen Parker (6.284) led the charge. The semis pitted Browns white Camaro against David McCoig and his bright Chevy Malibu. While the Malibu got the jump, the big Camaro was able to ease out in front at the line for a .026 MOV. When the tire smoke had settled, Thad Cook and his nitrous assisted Fairmont would do battle with the all motor beast of Jack Brown. Brown left first and took the win over a slowing Fairmont.
TJ Motorsports Super Street
The super street contingent arrived to settle the score amongst themselves. With the cool conditions, qualifying was a challenge for all of the teams. At the end of the second round, Ziff Hudson was the number one qualifier with a 4.985. Jason Richards (5.053) and Scott Owenby (5.062) were second and third respectively. The semi-finals saw Tracy Sliver in his flamed black Mustang edge Ziff Hudson in an orange Nova at the stripe. With nearly identical reaction times the margin of victory was a scant .018 sec. The other semi-final match-up, pitted Jason Richards Chevy II and Owenbys familiar Fox body Mustang. Richards got the jump but experienced problems while Owenby clicked a 4.994 to move to the finals. The all Mustang finals saw Scott Owenby take a slight lead at the tree and hold off the big miles per hour charge of Tracy Silver.
Fireplace Solutions Pro Tree Eliminator
The 46 car Pro Tree Eliminator field made for crowded staging lanes during the final round of qualifying. The competitors laid down passes from mid 7.7s to mid 5.4s. The variety of dial-ins and the variety of cars make this a tough but fun class. Lonnie Plyler piloted his Camaro to a dead on with a zero pass. Lonnie also cut a .006 reaction time for good measure. Gary Carpenter showed that he too was ready for battle as his purple, wheel-standing Camaro rumbled to a perfect .000 as well. Mike Treadaways Mustang was close on their heels with a stout 7.009 on a 7.00 dial-in. As the rounds passed by, Donnie Gibbs Jr., Larry Dowless, and Coy McLeod were the last racers standing. The semi-finals pitted the Dowless Camaro and McLeods green 55 Chevy. They put on a tremendous show. When they crossed the finish line Dowless had the victory with a .007 MOV. Due to his .001 reaction time in the previous round, Donnie Gibbs Jr. received a bye to the finals. In the finals, Gibbs red Nova went 5.97 on a 5.97 but went red and turned the victory over to Larry Dowless driving for Theresa Idol.
STT Safety Equipment Pro Tree Dragster
There were 10 of the open cockpit cars to fight for the number one qualifying spot. When the headers cooled, Ed Pauley stood at the top with 5.062 on a 5.06. David Lambert was going to stay close with a 4.946 on a 4.94 dial-in. The third round found Joel Mills blue dragster pull ahead of the slowing number one qualifier Ed Pauley. This would match Mills and Meltvedt in the finals. Though the black primered roadster of Tony Meltvedt got the jump at the light, he slowed and Joel Mills took the win.
Huntersville Carquest Street Eliminator
The Street Eliminator warriors gathered their eight second or slower rides to do battle. After qualifying, Jason Parker put his orange Mustang in the number one spot with a .003 reaction time. By the time the competition landed in the semi-final rounds, three of the classs heavy hitters were ready for a brawl. Jason Parker won a double break-out race against the Caviler of Chris Rash. Jake Cline had the buy run and put the pass to good use as he gathered valuable data for the finals. The age-old Chevy vs. Ford confrontation would play out in the finals. Jakes red Camaro got the jump on the quicker Mustang and held on to cross the stripe first for his first win of the season.
Big Sexy Motorsports and Midtown Sundries Pro Tree Junior Dragster
As the Junior Dragsters rolled into this last PTRA points event of the year, they were determined to make this the best. Hannah Blevins set the stage by qualifying number one with a .033 reaction time. The competition had reached a serious note by the semi-finals. Dawson Pauley needed an 8.447 on an 8.44 dial-in to get past the quick leaving Hannah Blevins. The other pair saw Keenan Luther get the nod in a double red light race over Nathan Dowless. In the finals, Dawson got the jump at the light and held off Keenan at the top-end. This was Dawsons second victory in a row.
