Screamin' Eagle Top Fuel

When Mike Romine won the opening round of this year's AHDRA series in Gainesville, Fla. he effectively began 2006 the same way he ended 2005 in Las Vegas.

Now after a solid early to mid-season string of consistent round wins Romine has also ended 2006 the same way he ended 2005 - with an AHDRA No. 1 plate.

In June, after Romine had won an exhibition race at the NHRA Bristol event and back-to-back AHDRA events in Atlanta and Norwalk, it appeared he would run away with the championship before the end of the summer.

Mike Romine captured the back-to-back Top Fuel Championship title.

Jay Turner finished No. 2 in the standings.

However, Jay "The Bulldog" Turner of Mancuso H-D Racing assembled a formidable late-season charge. Romine struggled with clutch woes at the Jim McClure Nationals in Virginia while Turner scored a double event win, conquering both Top Fuel and Pro Fuel. Turner would go on to win the subsequent event in Rockingham, NC as well, placing him 90 points behind Romine but after calculating every scenario possible in the point's chase, it was firm that Romine would head to Vegas with the Championship title locked and for Turner it would be a battle for the No.2 plate against Doug Vancil.

After Vegas qualifying Romine was sixth at 6.56, 214 mph and Turner was No. 13 at 6.70, 210 mph, while Vancil was in the 4th spot with a 6.54 at 203mph.

Romine was upset in the opening round by Steve Dorn, who was making his first appearance since his crash in Texas back in the spring that sidelined him for most of the season. Dorn ran a 6.67 at 198 mph to Romine's 6.87 at 208 mph.

Vancil beat Turner in the opening round with a 6.54 at 202 mph to Turner's 6.70 at 210 mph, but Vancil was unable to advance to the final and Turner secured his No.2 spot in the standings.

It was Bill Furr, making his first final round appearance since Gainesville, and Tommy Grimes who advanced to the final in Vegas. Furr took his first win in over three years with a 6.50 to Grimes' 6.53.

"It felt very good to win a race. We needed to do that. I needed to win one with Armon too," Furr said of his son winning Pro Fuel as well. "We've always had the performance we've just had a pretty rough season."

Bill Furr took the event win in Vegas.

JIMS Pro Fuel

Arguably, Vegas showcased the toughest field of Jims Pro Fuel bikes thus far this season. In all 13-entires showed up to do battle and Norwalk-winner Chris Streeter took the pole with an impressive 6.74 at 194 mph. On race day point leader Armon Furr, who qualified No. 4 with a 7.02, made a giant performance leap in Streeter's direction with a 6.78 in the opening round of eliminations.

In round No. 2 Furr knocked Streeter out of competition with a 6.79 to Streeter's 6.87.

In the final Furr was paired with No. 2 qualifier John Breckenridge, who was fresh off his monster run of 6.55. Nonetheless in was the newly crowned class champion Furr who prevailed on his red-hot 60-degreee Dixie machine. Furr took the win with a 6.75 to Breckenridge's 7.06.

Armon Furr celebrated the Pro Fuel title with his Dad, TF winner Bill Furr.

Pro Fuel Champion, Armon Furr

Kresto Pro Drag

Willie Herschberger, who led the Pro Drag point standings for nearly the entire season, was overtaken by rookie Rick Moore in Rockingham. Moore needed only to win two rounds of competition in Vegas and the championship would be his. "It was by far the toughest field we had at a meet all year long," said Moore, who qualified No. 1. "I give my team a lot of credit for tuning the bike so well."

Moore not only scored a pair of round wins to lock up the championship, he also advanced to the final and beat the man he battled with all season-long - Herschberger.

"It was a perfect ending to a perfect season. "It was great my entire family was there. It was a very special race."

Rick Moore captured the Pro Drag Championship

Samson Pro Modified

Junior Pippin ended his season just as impressively as he started it. Pippin continued his season-long hot streak in Vegas and captured his seventh win of the season. Pippin defeated Bruce Beltramini in the final with an 8.28 to Beltramini's 8.48.

"I just took off and never saw him again, and that's always a good thing," Pippin said. "It was great to see Bruce in the final. He's a great friend of mine and a big asset to the class. It's a pleasure to be associated with all the fine racers out here."

Junior Pippin took his 3rd consecutive Pro Modified Championship.

S&S Cycle Pro Gas/Pro Stock

Defending class champion Mike Lozano dominated in 2005 and had locked up the Pro Gas/ Pro Stock championship before entering the final race. 2006 proved to be much different as Lozano entered Vegas with only a 35 point lead over Joe Sternotti.

"It was the first time we had ever been in that situation," Lozano said. "It made us take a much different approach to preparing for Vegas. We spent an awful lot of time getting the bike ready to compete."

Sternotti was defeated in round No. 2 and Lozano went on to advance to the final against Scott Pollacheck.

"After we knew we had the championship we wanted to win the race and end it in grand style," Lozano said. "I knew it was going to be a good race because Scott is good leaver."

Pollacheck nailed a .003 light to the .046 of Lozano, but Lozano was able to get the victory with a 7.74 to Pollachek's 7.98. "I felt the primary belt going away at the finish line," Lozano said. "It was nerve-racking."

Lozano ended his Pro Gas Championship year in "grand style".

G-Squared Street Pro

Andy Simon finished the season in Vegas with his 11th win of the year. Although this race didn't go quite as expected for the class champ.

"We struggled all weekend with some broken clutch plates," Simon said. "All-in-all I just focused on riding the bike, even though it was unpredictable. You can have all the horsepower in the world, if you can't put it to the track you can't win"

Nonetheless Simon qualified No. 1 and went on to the final to defeat Jeff King with an 8.91 to King's 9.31. "It was a tough race. It was very cold," Simon said. "Jeff and I were pretty even off the line and I was able to get ahead. He's a great competitor and he has done a great job this season"

Simon took his 11th win of the season for the Street Pro Championship.

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod

The Screamin' Eagle V-Rod race in Vegas ended the same way so many have the last couple of seasons with teammates Jamie McNaughton and Larry Edmondson battling it out in the final.

On this particular night McNaughton seemed untouchable. McNaughton, who had already clinched the championship, defeated Edmondson with a 9.51 at 137 mph to Edmondson's 9.88 at 137 mph.

McNaughton scored a back-to-back V-Rod Championship.

Dragmasters Hot Street

Bruce Croneberger entered Vegas with the championship already locked up, but that didn't stop him from adding yet another win to what has been an impressive season.

"I went there to just finish off the year and have some fun," Croneberger said. "We really left the bike alone and everything worked out. I think since it was so cold it helped our performance."

Croneberger qualified No. 1 and went on to the final to take on No. 4 plate-holder Charles Cannon.

"I was a little concerned heading into the final because my bike wasn't running too crisp in the semifinal. I just went out there and gave him everything had," Croneberger said. "Lucky for me he (Cannon) fell off a little bit and I picked it up. It was a pretty good way to end the year."

Croneberger added another win to cap off his Hot Street Championship.

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer

In Vegas Michael Ray put an explanation point on what has been a markedly outstanding season for the young rider. Ray won both the V-Rod Destroyer and the S&S 124 Challenge championships.

In V-Rod Destroyer Ray qualified on the pole with a 9.27 at 141 mph, ahead of the other 39 riders entered in competition. Ray easily chopped his way through the bracket and defeated L.E. Tonglet in the final with a 9.29 to L.E's 9.36.

Michael Ray finished the season with a pair of Championship titles.

S&S 124 Challenge

The S&S 124 Challenge final in Vegas pitted rivals and this season's top two point earners Michael Ray and Mike Roberts against each other. Roberts qualified on the pole and set low elapsed-time of the meet in the semis with his impressive lap of 9.61.

Ray may have won the season championship, but it was Robert's who emerged victorious in Vegas. Roberts ran a 9.65 to defeat the 9.86 of Ray.

If both of these competitors return to the class next year, 2007 should be a very exciting season for 124 Challenge.

Mike Roberts took the SSC-124 event win.

Rucker Performance Super Gas (9.70)

After hurting a motor in Rockingham "Mr. Super Gas" Bob Drapp was determined to do everything he could to lock up the championship in Vegas. Drapp's trip didn't start the way he had hoped, as his flight from Florida was delayed and he nearly missed qualifying. Drapp, still trying to figure out his new motor, was defeated in round No. 2, but thanks to some help from others in the class he was still able to garner his first ever championship.

Brett DeGood went on to win the race with a stellar .009 light in the final and a 9.65 at 123 mph to beat the 9.64 at 130 mph of Jim Sweet.

Bob Drapp and Brett DeGood in action

S&S Super Sport (10.30)

Heading into Vegas, Super Sport featured one of the best point battles in the AHDRA. Larry Maynhart entered the race with a six point lead over defending class champion Julia Holliday.

"I knew I just need to go one round further than Larry," Holliday said. Holliday won her first two rounds of competition and got a tremendous boost from her fellow lady racer Eleanor Walker, who took out Maynhart in the second round.

"The other girls were a major help to me and gave me lots of support the entire year. It's a coincidence that my good friend Eleanor would be the one to clinch the championship for me," Holliday said. "Larry was a great sport. He's an awesome competitor." Holliday went out in round No. 4 and John Cabral went on to win the event over Greg Krenik with a 9.51 at 137 mph to Krenik's 10.53 at 131 mph.

Julia Holliday will keep her Super Sport No. 1 plate

Performance Corner Super Eliminator (10.90)

The anticipation in the Super Eliminator Class ended on the starting-line when Bill Rowe Jr. red lit in the first round, thus crowing Donnie Huffman class champion. It was Huffman's third consecutive No. 1 plate in the category.

"I was right behind him (Rowe Jr.) and I saw the red," Huffman said. "He's a tough competitor so that took a lot of the pressure off of me."

However Huffman was unable to reach the final. Instead it was Roberta Seaman and Mike Friberg who advanced. Seaman took the win with a 10.91 at 117 mph over the 10.80 breakout at 117 mph of Mike Friberg. It was Seaman's first career win.

Roberta Seaman earned her first career win in Super Eliminator racing and was named AHDRA Lady of the Year.

Screamin' Eagle Performance SEP (11.50)

Fans couldn't have asked for a more exciting first round match-up in SEP in Vegas. The two championship contenders Dan DeGood and Donnie Huffman were pitted side-by-side to start the day. Huffman came in with an 80 point lead and a win over DeGood would clinch him the title. DeGood, in perhaps the final race of his career would have to reach the final in order to win the championship.

"It was a big match-up," Huffman said. "Before the race I went over and gave Dan a hug and said let's get it done." The race was decided on the line as Huffman fouled out with a -.001 reaction time.

"It was a perfect red," Huffman said. "I blew it. I was under a lot of pressure and I just pushed it too hard." Unfortunately for DeGood he was unable to reach the final. Dan Norlin won the race with an 11.54 to beat Charles Cannon's 10.46.

Donnie Huffman repeated his double-Championship titles.

Syn3 ET

Heading into Vegas JP Henderzak was headed for the second SYN 3 ET title of his career, if he could hold off a few of his rivals.

"It was a nerve-wracking long drive to Vegas thinking about it," Henderzak said.

Henderzak clinched the title when Bob Drapp was defeated in the second round. Wayne Pugh went on to win the event over Ron Roti with a 10.02 on a 9.94 to Ron Roti's 12.04 on an 11.02.

J.P. Hendrzak clinched the E.T. Championship in Vegas.

Casa Bella X-Mod

Stephen Galati and Greg Kuypers have been battling for X-Mod supremacy all season long. Heading into Vegas Galati has won all five of the X-Mod events. However in Vegas, it was Kuypers' turn.

"I cut a bad light and he got me," Galati said. "I'm as happy for Greg as I would have been for myself. He's a tough competitor and I was really glad to see him win one."

Kuypers ran 8.99 with a .034 light to beat Galati's 9.06 and .126

Champion, Galati and Kuypers paired up in the X-Mod final, and Kuypers earned his first win in the class.

Screamin' Eagle High Stakes Shoot Out

Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts returned to the JIMS Las Vegas Nationals for the 4th annual High Stakes Shootout with a hefty cash purse of $15,000.

Over 100 riders entered the E.T. bracket style competition and it was a pair of Colorado riders taking home the cash.

Mike Sizemore of Broomfield, CO outlasted the field to collect the $12,000 top prize and Dan Norlin of Aurora, CO (a former winner of the Shoot Out) took home the runner-up cash totaling $3,000.

Photo Credits - Jim Corso, Claude McKee, Eaglestar Photography