Nitro Summer Nationals AHDRA At The Rock 2021

Nitro Summer Nationals AHDRA At The Rock 2021

Story and photos by Alan Dockery

The Weekend Weather Was Just about Carolina perfect

at Rockingham Dragway, NC, for the All Harley Drag Racing Association’s Nitro Summer Nationals. Then rain showers came Sunday right before some of the final rounds. It may have frustrated racers who wanted the win and trophy, but fans at The Rock still enjoyed lots of thundering Harleys putting on a great show.

I saw several riding buddies from all over the Carolinas in the stands and hangin’ on the fence down close. Craig Tharpe, who ran the AHDRA from North Carolina back in the day, was at the starting line Sunday with a big smile. Dane Miller, who ran it way back in the day, was there, too. Some famous retired racers and their families were down front with the fans who remember them. The All Harley Drag Racing Association is now owned by Pulse Marketing and run by veteran drag racer Bill Rowe Jr. and family, With so many Harley race teams in our area and such good drag strips and so many fans, I heard Bill might be house hunting and move on down here.

There was a good ride and drive in crowd Saturday of fans who needed that fix of Harley Thunder and some nitromethane in the air. Several vendors with some cool event shirts to old bike parts were at The Rock.

With no major issues on the strip during the day, qualifying was done before sundown. Racing at The Rock in late Spring had my internal clock off a little since the sun is up longer. But it gives folks a little more light for hanging with old friends ain’t seen lately. The Nitro Fuel Bikes always put on a flame belching show for third round qualifying.

The Wood Pile was back at The Rock. Saturday, I noticed a group of folks in the stands cheering. I remember the Wood Pile cheering for teams from that Goldsboro shop years ago. They were at the race to remember Country Maines, a popular racer who passed away last year. Country’s ashes made one more pass down the Rockingham Dragway as a Rocket Booster strapped to Tii Tharpe’s Top Fuel Harley wheelie bars.

Eliminations and Winners

Eight Top Fuel Harleys qualified for the AHDRA field at The Rock. Sadly a few of my favorites didn’t make the field. It was tough since there were some of the best Top

Fuel Harleys in the country there. Tyler Wilson, Walnut Cove, NC; Jay Turner, Julian,

NC; Tii Tharpe, East Bend, NC, and Tracy Kile, Asheville, NC made up half the Top Fuel field. Bummer though since I think the only one to make it out of the first round was Tii. Mike Beland, Maiden, NC, keeps getting his Top Fuel Harley better. I really want to see

Mike and that Maxx ECU controlled machine make some great passes. Armon Furr, Orangeburg, SC, qualified second in Nitro Funny Bike running way down in the sixes and more than 200 miles an hour. Sam White, Chapin, SC, also competed in Funny Bike.

Sam White was in the Pro Fuel class on one of Johnny Vickers newest machines. He made it to the second round before being eliminated. Jay Beasley, WinstonSalem, NC, was riding Bobby Hoover’s bike “Miss Haley” and making good passes. The Nitro Granny, Jeanette Thornley, was hanging out with fans at The Rock. She and Buddy had Keith Kelley, Mocksville, NC, riding her Pro Fuel machine.

Andy Simon, Salisbury, NC, made the most exciting passes of the weekend to me. I love Pro Open bikes and similar Big Inch Harley Motors on gasoline. I apologize to anyone shooting video of his passes for my hooting and hollering. But when Andy ran a 7.886 second pass on his Harley Bagger lots of us at the starting line went freakin’ nuts. Andy works at A1 Cycles in Maiden with Mike Beland who campaigned the previously quickest Harley Bagger, Meth Beth. Those guys know how to make a Harley frame, big inch motor and no wheelie bars work to get down the drag strip quickly. Mike Motto, Richlands, NC, also runs a very impressive machine in that class. But it was Kevin Campbell, Southern Pines, NC, who took the win.

Richard Boone, Mint Hill, NC, and George Futch, Simpsonville, NC, had us cheering for them in the Pro Mod Class. Ken Strauss, Terrell, NC, won the really quick 9.30 Index Top Eliminator Class. Freddy Frazier, Sanford, NC, also ran in the Top Eliminator Class.

Super Gas Class runs against a 9.90 second index. As an Old Shovelhead Guy, I love seeing Elijah Agnor from Virginia put his clean Shovel race bike at the top of the ladder. David Minton, Trinity, NC; Joe Gladden, Gastonia, NC; Chris Wood, Goldsboro, NC; Greg Quinn, Fountain, NC, and Mike Best, Raleigh, NC, also competed in Super Gas.

The Draggin’ Bagger Class is popular these days and puts on a good show. Seth Locklear, Wilmington, NC; Brian Peterson, Archdale, NC and Chris Wood competed in the class. Want to see big bikes wheelie down the strip as they fight for traction and control, watch Draggin’ Bagger.

Rick Medford, Cherokee, NC, and Greg Quinn ran the 10.30 Index Super Pro Class. Rick Medford also competed in the 10.90 Index Class along with Paul Watson, Greensboro, NC, and Cody Hayworth, Concord, NC. The 11.50 Index Street Eliminator Class saw Jeremiah Cullen, Ayden, NC, Richard Stamey, Wilmington, NC, and Jeff Jennings, WinstonSalem, NC, in competition. Richard Stamey made it to the Semi-Final Round. Joe Gladen also ran in the Bagger Eliminator Class. Folks talked all weekend about that massive wheelie he rode out down the strip … All the way past the Hot Dog Stand. The AHDRA runs a couple classes where bikers can just have fun racing their street bikes or old race bikes. Jeremiah Cullen, Ayden, NC, dominated the Trophy Class winning both days.

They ran a couple Dial In ET Class races at The Rock with elimination rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Another class where you can come to the track with your bike and gear and race.

The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine presents A Big Check and $200 Cash to the Number One Qualifier in the Eliminator Class. Well, the pot quickly grew with folks contributing Hundred Dollar Bills. By the end of qualifying, I had $600 for the best reaction time. Thanks a bunch to Paul Watson and Lumbee Racing, Jerry Spencer and The Law Tigers, Richard Stamey Racing and Big Train from the Universal Fleet and Tire Race Team.

Folks pushed the light going for that check, but it was longtime serious ET Racer Kevin Winters, Richmond, IL, who pocketed the Six Franklins and will have the check hanging in his shop. June Bug Ledford, Cherokee, NC, was the guy to bet on in ET Class. June Bug kept going rounds. But even a perfect light in the final round couldn’t help him beat John Hendrzak in the finals. Chris “Fast Lane” Rasile, Greensboro, NC; Vic Allen, Southern Pines, NC; Richard Stamey, Wilmington, NC; Jeremiah Cullen, Ayden, NC; C.J. Fair, Lexington, SC; Mitch Dibble, Laurinburg, NC; and Justin Cook, Wilmington, NC also ran the Eliminator Class.

It sure was nice to be at The Rock for the first time this year. Good to see some old friends and racers. Harley riders are always talking about all the performance accessories on their bikes. If y’all want to see what your bike can really do, bring it and riding gear to the strip. And y’all who just want to see and feel thundering Harleys rip down the strip, come to the next AHDRA regional race.