|
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Salisbury's Doug
"Underdog" Ray, who turned back challengers from 14 states to win last
year's Mickey Thompson Performance Tires World's Fastest Street Bike
Series, opens defense of his title this week (March 16-17) when the 180 mile-an-hour street
legal motorcycles return to Rockingham Dragway for the annual Spencer
Cycle/Max V Spring Open.
 |
| Doug "Underdog" Ray |
Ryan Schnitz of Decatur, Ind., former NHRA
Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Michael Phillips of Baton Rouge, La.,
veteran Alphonso Thompson Sr. of Blades, Del., "Tiger Tom" Miceli of
Brooklyn, N.Y., Chris Williams of Ocoee, Fla., and James Lauer of
Chicago, Ill., are just a few of the riders expected to challenge Ray
and fellow Carolinians Allen Kea of Elm City and Trevor Altman of
Forest City.
In addition to the Mickey Thompson Series, the Spring Open also will
crown champions in the Schnitz Racing Outlaw Pro Street class and the
60" Pro Sportbike class, both run in conjunction with MIR, as well as the F.B.R.
Shop "Wild Bike" class and the Honda-Suzuki of Sanford 5.60
heads-up class. There will also be a pair of bracket categories – Nitrous Xpress Pro and
Dragbike.com Sportsman.
Wheelie contests and grudge races fill out the schedule for the
season's first major motorcycle race.
"These guys are very serious motorcycle racers," said Rockingham
Dragway president Steve Earwood, "and some of the best in the world
are from right here in the Carolinas. When Doug Ray won last year's
championship, I think it sent a message. And it's not like he backed
into it. He whupped ‘em all year long."
Gates open at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's program
will feature World's Fastest and Outlaw Pro Street qualifying at 1
p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. along with bracket eliminations starting at 2
p.m. Sunday's racing begins at 2 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $20 daily, $5 for children six-to-12 with
children under six free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Each
ticket includes pit access privileges and free parking in the track's
main lot.
For more information: 910-582-3400 or on the web at
www.rockinghamdragway.com
|
