Spring Drags
Rockingham Dragway
April 7-8, 2017
Spring Drags Kick off at THE ROCK
2017 ADRL TOUR SEASON KICKS OFF AT THE “ROCK” APRIL 7 AND 8, 2017
Saturday was no day to play favorites at Rockingham Dragway where upsets were the rule rather than the exception at the ADRL Spring Drags, first race in the 2017 series.
Among the top qualifiers, only Top Fuel Harley rider Tii Tharpe of East Bend, N.C., managed to find his way to the winners’ circle although his No. 1 start was itself something of an upset insomuch as the field included multi-time national champion and pre-race favorite Jay “Bulldog” Turner.
Turner, of nearby Julian, did manage to put up the best numbers of the event when he stopped the quarter mile timers in 6.352 seconds at 222.80 miles per hour in a first round win over fellow Carolinian Mike Beland but he couldn’t duplicate that performance in round two and fell to Tharpe. Tharpe then beat Bill “Billy Jack” Jackson of Honeybrook, Pa., in the final.
Other winners were Boyd Beyer of Casstown, Ohio in Top Sportsman; Paul Daigrepont of Mooresville, N.C., in Top Dragster; Ron Hamm of New Carlisle, Ohio, in Top Bracket; and Samuel Peterson of Richlands, Mich., in Pro Jr. Dragster.
Qualifying
1. Tii Tharpe, East Bend, N.C. / 6.460, 202.88 mph
2. Tracy Kile, Asheville, N.C. / 6.561, 219.86 mph
3. Bill “Billy Jack” Jackson, Honeyrooke, Pa. / 6.666, 211.86 mph
4. Jay Turner, Julian, N.C. / 6.792, 193.46 mph
Eliminations
Round 1
Jay Turner, Julian, N.C., .094, 6.352, 222.80 mph, def. Mike Beland, Maiden, N.C., .082, 6.831, 194.97 mph
Bill “Billy Jack” Jackson, Honeybrook, Pa., .090, 6.640, 215.75 mph, def. Tyler Wilson, Walnut Grove, N.C., .135, 8.469, 131.15 mph
Tracy Kile, Asheville, N.C., .157, 12.059, 64.44 mph, def. Chris Smith, Murfreesboro, Tenn., foul
Tii Tharpe, East Bend, N.C., .176, 6.381, 208.39 mph, def. Jake Stordeur, Goshen, Ohio, .040, no time.
Semifinals
Tharpe, .038, 6.488, 185.18 mph, def. Turner, .091, 15.796, 70.43 mph
Jackson, .051, 6.654, 206.95 mph, def. Kile, .085, 6.707, 208.55 mph
FINAL
Tii Tharpe, East Bend, N.C., .113, 6.429, 217.25 mph, def. Bill “Billy Jack” Jackson, Honeybrook, Pa., .115, no time
LIVE STREAM
About ADRL: Founded in 2004, the American Drag Racing League is one of the nation’s most exciting and popular motorsports series featuring 285+ MPH Dragsters, Funny Cars, Top Fuel Harleys, Pro Mods, Pro Stocks, Jet Cars, Fireworks, a Kidz Fun Zone and much more! EVERY TICKET TO EVERY ACTION-PACKED EVENT IS 100% FREE AND INCLUDES A VIP PIT PASS! For more information visit us online at www.ADRLTOUR.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adrltour.
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