Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Circle K NHRA Winternationals
February 9-12, 2017
Coverage by Sandra Alberti and Tom McCarthy
Circle K NHRA Winternationals
On Sunday during eliminations, it was the Jay Turner show as the Bull Dog from Julian NC, ripped through the field like a scythe harvesting all in it’s path. Turner, who was the number one qualifier in Top Fuel Harley, was part of a very exclusive club for NHRA as all the #1 qualifiers won their respective professional classes at the Circle K, Winter Nationals: Jay Turner Top Fuel Harley, Leah Pritchet Top Fuel, Matt Hagen Funny Car and Jason Line in Pro Stock.
E-1 for the Harleys started off with Bob Malloy taking out Mike Beland in the first pair out. Mike struck the tire just off the line and got out of the throttle and Bobby Malloy thundered on to the next round. Ricky House had Tii Tharpe in the next pair to the line.
Sharkey had a late start but the big 196 CID Hawaya Racing engine just thundered horsepower with every expulsion of nitro and his machine just caught up to Tii and motored past him with power to spare. The 196 MPH run by Tii was no match for the 217 MPH charge by Sharkey who just reeled him in. Yes it’s ET that wins drag races but the magic of 1320’ of racing if even if a machine is quicker, given enough race track, ya just overpower him and Rickey House did just that.
The next pair out, Kevin Boyer Vs Tracy Kile: Kevin attacked the tree with a great .012 RT, but Tracy’s horsepower just motored past Kevin by the 400’ mark and Kile took his Bad Apple Racing machine into the semi-finals.
The fourth and final pair out was Jay Turner Vs Andy “The Joker” Beauchemin, #1 qualifier versus the #8 qualifier. Jay beat him on the tree (.047 Vs .061) then beat him to the stripe (6.34 to 6.48) for the round win. This also gave Jay lane choice over Bobby Malloy in the next round.
E-2 started off with Ricky “Sharky” House matching up with Tracey Kile. Rickey got out first with a .069 reaction time to Tracey’s .099 and once again the Thunder Shark was on the attack. House pounded out a 6.40 elapsed time to Tracy’s 6.77 and Rickey’s 218 MPH was again, just running away from the competition, 1320’ later.
As for JT’s match up with Bobby Malloy; these two veterans of several decades clashed like the Titans they are. As the four ambers lit to yellow, Bobby Malloy responded with a .032 light to Jay’s .037 and it was a great drag race to half track that had the NHRA TV announcers really motivated in talking about the front tires in the air, side-by-side racing and they way the fuel bike pilots had to use body English to steer the bikes. Jay crossed the finish line first with a 6.27 @ 225MPH to Bobby’s 6.50 effort.
In the final round it was all over on the starting line. Rickey House fouled out with a .028 reaction time that had him shaking his head the moment he did it. He then got out of the throttle for a millisecond, then hammered it again out of frustration and thundered on to a 6.69 @ 203 MPH pass. Meanwhile Jay Turner laid down a 6.27 @ 218 for the win and a trip to the winner’s circle.
The essentials for the Top Fuel Harleys in competition for this race were actually televised on National TV, sometimes in live view, on FS1, that’s Fox Sports 1. This is the first time Top Fuel motorcycles have received this kind of TV coverage during a Mellow Yellow race with the NHRA. A marketing sales door has been opened for the T/F bikes they’ve always wanted and needed. The motorcycle drag racing community owes the NHRA a great thanks for this. And hat’s off to the Top Fuel Harley teams that have worked so hard for this for decades.
The next event is the NHRA Arizona Nationals, February 24-26 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ.
ELIMINATIONS FINAL ROUND
Turner takes the first win of the 2017 season over Rickey House who gave it away before it started with a red light.
| LANE | DRIVER | RT | 60 FT | 330 FT | 660 FT | 1000 FT | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Jay Turner | .067 | 1.110 | 2.799 | 4.126 | 5.279 | 6.276 | 218.23 |
| Loser | Rickey House | -.028 | 1.261 | 3.045 | 4.439 | 5.642 | 6.698 | 203.03 |
ELIMINATIONS ROUND 2
| LANE | DRIVER | RT | 60 FT | 330 FT | 660 FT | 1000 FT | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Rickey House | .069 | 1.136 | 2.852 | 4.213 | 5.383 | 6.404 | 218.27 |
| Loser | Tracy Kile | .099 | 1.180 | 2.967 | 4.371 | 5.601 | 6.778 | 179.16 |
| Winner | Jay Turner | .037 | 1.106 | 2.799 | 4.121 | 5.276 | 6.274 | 225.71 |
| Loser | Bob Malloy | .032 | 1.102 | 2.780 | 4.127 | 5.351 | 6.503 | 181.45 |
ELIMINATIONS ROUND 1
| Winner | Bob Malloy | .134 | 1.127 | 2.815 | 4.166 | 5.380 | 6.460 | 203.31 |
| Loser | Mike Beland | .100 | 1.498 | 5.539 | 9.682 | 13.591 | 17.361 | 55.54 |
| Winner | Rickey House | .205 | 1.210 | 2.987 | 4.356 | 5.529 | 6.554 | 217.46 |
| Loser | Tii Tharpe | .063 | 1.160 | 3.088 | 4.553 | 5.761 | 6.841 | 195.17 |
| Winner | Tracy Kile | .152 | 1.168 | 2.949 | 4.344 | 5.568 | 6.643 | 199.26 |
| Loser | Kevin Boyer | .012 | 1.122 | 3.059 | 4.630 | 5.905 | 6.991 | 195.99 |
| LANE | DRIVER | RT | 60 FT | 330 FT | 660 FT | 1000 FT | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Jay Turner | .047 | 1.114 | 2.821 | 4.151 | 5.313 | 6.340 | 213.30 |
| Loser | Andy Beauchemin | .061 | 1.077 | 2.768 | 4.167 | 5.354 | 6.485 | 186.90 |
QUALIFYING ROUND 2
The motorcycle drag racing season officially got underway this weekend with the Top Fuel Harleys leading the way via their inclusion into the NHRA Mellow Yellow series. Ten T/F bikes entered the Circle K Winter Nationals, in Pomona, California.
There were rain delays throughout Saturday qualifying necessitating the Harleys only having two shots to qualify.
After all the tire smoke and nitro fumes subsided, Jay Turner, of Julian, NC was the #1 qualifier with a stout 6.44 @ 212 pass on Saturday. Considering this is a brand new build with zero testing prior to this race, his 6.67 on Friday and the 6.44 on Saturday’s Q-2 indicate he’s got a good handle on things already.
The Top Fuel bikes are already putting on quite the show for the NHRA fans. Aside from the exciting side-by-side wheels-up, flames belching runs of the world’s fastest and quickest T/F Harleys, the thrills of competition do get interesting.
On Friday during Q-1, Dustin Werner suffered an engine explosion and a fragment from the motor winged his right arm, penetrating his leathers. He required 6 stitches for that, but he’s fine. The motor damage was so extensive it ended his weekend of racing.
Not to be out done in the thrills & chills department, on Saturday during Q-2 action, Ricky House had an exciting pass when his parachute failed to open. Ricky on the Shark Attack Top Fuel Harley, almost ended up in the sand trap, after running out of race track. But with repairs Saturday night, he should be ready to race on Sunday as he’s currently qualified 6th
INCREMENTAL TIMES
| DRIVER | RT | 60 FT | 330 FT | 660 FT | 1000 FT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy Kile | .177 | 1.185 | 3.015 | 4.432 | 5.661 | 6.720 | 208.68 | |
| Bob Malloy | .151 | 1.199 | 2.958 | 4.335 | 5.554 | 6.617 | 204.98 | |
| Andy Beauchemin | .076 | 1.095 | 2.814 | 4.225 | 5.648 | 6.822 | 189.31 | |
| Rickey House | .242 | 1.311 | 3.203 | 4.635 | 5.839 | 6.873 | 216.48 | |
| Jay Turner | .104 | 1.169 | 2.891 | 4.233 | 5.413 | 6.446 | 212.26 | |
| Mike Beland | .103 | 1.237 | 3.067 | 4.616 | 6.276 | 7.843 | 134.32 | |
| Tii Tharpe | .095 | 1.241 | 3.034 | 4.330 | 5.476 | 6.474 | 216.93 | |
| Kevin Boyer | .126 | 1.171 | 2.879 | 4.229 | 5.421 | 6.465 | 206.51 |
RUN ORDER
| POSITION | DRIVER | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jay Turner | 6.446 | 212.26 |
| 02 | Kevin Boyer | 6.465 | 206.51 |
| 03 | Tii Tharpe | 6.474 | 216.93 |
| 04 | Mike Beland | 6.57 | 206.51 |
| 05 | Bob Malloy | 6.617 | 204.98 |
| 06 | Rickey House | 6.699 | 216.79 |
| 07 | Tracy Kile | 6.72 | 208.68 |
| 08 | Dustin Werner | 6.774 | 180.98 |
| 10 | Ron Gledhill | 9.972 | 89.59 |
VIDEO COVERAGE BY SANDRA ALBERTI
QUALIFYING ROUND 1
INCREMENTAL TIMES
| DRIVER | RT | 60 FT | 330 FT | 660 FT | 1000 FT | ET | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Werner | .087 | 2.020 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Andy Beauchemin | .130 | 1.211 | 2.970 | 4.381 | 5.600 | 6.774 | 180.98 | |
| Mike Beland | .213 | 1.159 | 2.899 | 4.278 | 5.494 | 6.570 | 206.51 | |
| Tii Tharpe | .098 | 1.199 | 2.990 | 4.321 | 5.450 | 6.563 | 183.57 | |
| Bob Malloy | .325 | 1.169 | 2.913 | 4.298 | 5.678 | 7.026 | 156.30 | |
| Ron Gledhill | .342 | 1.296 | 3.431 | 5.395 | 7.631 | 9.972 | 89.59 | |
| Rickey House | .200 | 1.313 | 3.137 | 4.505 | 5.683 | 6.699 | 216.79 | |
| Tracy Kile | .168 | 1.232 | 3.129 | 4.615 | 5.861 | 6.927 | 209.75 | |
| Kevin Boyer | .184 | 1.184 | 2.904 | 4.275 | 5.489 | 6.564 | 194.77 | |
| Jay Turner | .123 | 1.161 | 2.906 | 4.221 | 5.417 | 6.678 | 164.25 |
RUN ORDER
| POSITION | DRIVER | ET | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tii Tharpe | 6.563 | 183.57 |
| 02 | Kevin Boyer | 6.564 | 194.77 |
| 03 | Mike Beland | 6.57 | 206.51 |
| 04 | Jay Turner | 6.678 | 164.25 |
| 05 | Rickey House | 6.699 | 216.79 |
| 06 | Andy Beauchemin | 6.774 | 180.98 |
| 07 | Tracy Kile | 6.927 | 209.75 |
| 08 | Bob Malloy | 7.026 | 156.3 |
| 09 | Ron Gledhill | 9.972 | 89.59 |
VIDEO COVERAGE BY SANDRA ALBERTI
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Words by Tom McCarthy |
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Video Coverage |
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Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com
