RUCKER PERFORMANCE LONE STAR NATIONALS PRESENTED BY
DRAG SPECIALTIES-
APRIL 23RD & 24TH
SUNDAY- ELIMINATION DAY
9:10pm- We DID IT!
A little patience goes a long way..as we were able to get
everyone in and complete the event!
Drums Brancaccio gets a ScreaminÕ Eagle Nitro Harley win
over Shigematsu and Mike Lehman gets the Pro Fuel win. We will get all the winners for you on
the ladder pages ASAP.
Thanks for hanging in with us tonight..see you in Calfornia!
9:00pm-
We are back running:
Back on the track and
running. The ladder pages will
resume with updates immediately following each round.
So far..Raudenbush pulls a big
win out on Feazell in Pro StockÉBrett DeGood grabbed a holeshot win over
Champion Dale Tyson in Super GasÉSternotti wins Street Pro..but Michael Ray
takes the win over him in SS124 Challenge Final. Richard Martin gets Clay Wilwert in ET. More coming soon.
8:30pm- STILL WAITING IT OUT:
We are still holding out hope to finish here tonight at
Texas Motorplex. Many of you know
that Craig Tharpe, and the AHDRA staff are committed to making every effort
possible to finish an event when possible and this is one of those situations.
The frustration comes tonight from such a light drizzle, but
just enough to wet the surface.
There have been several attempts to fire a pair- only to have the rain
return.
At this time- the tractor is making a final pass down the
track and we will once again attempt to fire the next pair.
Another update soon:
Rain Delay continues at 6:45pm)
The sprinkles are light- but enough to have us on hold.
Racers are waiting it out under the bridge here- some awaiting semis and others
ready for the finals. We do have
one official winner- Phil Schmidt was able to come up in the drizzle and break
the beam for his win here on a Bye that occurred when Gary Stroud and John
Breckenridge both left before the tree activated in Kresto Pro Drag.
In a semi round that caught many off guard- Jeff King was
able to edge Travis Lummus out in G2 Street Pro. Many including myself were expecting a Sternotti-Lummus
final- and we even had it posted here on the ladders at one time before
realizing Lummus had indeed lost the round. I stand corrected and it will be Jeff King and Joe Sternotti
in the final. Sternotti is also
waiting for a final pass in S & S 124 Challenge.
Check back later as we continue
our wait in the rainÉ
Update at (6:10pm)
Still battling on and off again showers in Texas. We are nearly through all the semis,
and an anxious group stands by waiting for the finals. All numbers are currently posted up to
where we are since this last delay.
We will be back at you as this next front makes its way
through.
More from Texas- (4:50pm CT)
RACING MOTHER NATURE IN TEXAS-
A brief delay for sprinkles- and with a break in the front
we are racing against another front expected to dump heavier rains in just
under an hour.
Nitro Harleys squeezed in the semi round just moments ago
and made it a good one..
Drums Brancaccio got the holeshot advantage on Vancil and
never looked back as he raced to the stripe for the win over the #1
qualifyer.
In the Mancuso-Shigematsu pairing – Mancuso was
getting real close to the center line, while Shigematsu was having his own
problems keeping it off the wall.
It was Shigematsu getting it back enough to get the win light over
Mancuso.
That will give DJ Johnson a pair of his self-tuned bikes in
todayÕs final.
The classes are coming to staging promptly as we continue to
race the darkening skies.
More later.
UPDATE FROM ELIMINATIONS- (3:20pm CT)
We are running Round 2 in the Pro Categories and in
ScreaminÕ Eagle Nitro Harley- Vancil advanced with another 6.52 and DJ Johnson
is smiling as he sees two of his bikes headed to the semis. Drums Brancaccio took out Mike Romine
after Romine took a early turn toward the retaining wall. It appeared a torched head was the
culprit. Tak Shigematsu is on the
way to the semis after eliminating Griz Robinson.
Not all classes have run a 2nd round at this
point. We interrupt as needed to
keep Pro classes on a one hour between round schedule. So far-limited delays have kept the
result postings current. We are keeping our eyes on possible threats of
afternoon thunder storms-therefore; we will be running a steady pace of rounds
here at Texas Motorplex.
Check out the results as they
come in on the live race update result pages.
Round One Fires Off with a 6.15 at 213mph from #1
qualifyer, Vancil.
Vancil set the pace for a hot round still underway.
We will have all those numbers coming up after the
round. Another update from the
Mancuso team: Steve may need
surgery on the foot with the broken bone-due to a previous injury on the
foot. It was still being decided
whether the surgery would take place in Houston or if the Goshen, OH rider will
return home.
We appreciate the updates from the Mancuso team- and just moments ago- Johnny Mancuso
advanced in round one eliminations over Mark Derryberry.
More coming on the round on
todayÕs result pages.
Good morning from Texas Motorplex. We are gearing up for todayÕs eliminations, beginning at 12:30pm.
Johnny Mancuso joined us in the tower this morning and shared an update on Steve Stordeur. He is expected to be released today from a Houston hospital.
Steve was treated for a separated shoulder, a broken bone in the hand, and a cracked or broken bone in the top of the foot and road rash. Johnny says other than that he is certainly in good shape.
The Mancuso team have reviewed the tape and have drawn no definite conclusion on the incident. Once Stordeur set the front wheel down, it appeared to show his foot coming off the peg, and his hand lifting or going forward over the handle bar. The bike then went into a wobble and veered into the wall.
Johnny says they plan to get Steve to the track this afternoon if possible. We will share any comments if we are able to get a few moments with him.
Although it was not certain their was any wind related issues causing the accident, it was determined that the remainder of the day for Top Fuel through Pro Gas would be run on the 1/8th mile.
Today, although it is quite chilly, the sun is shining and there are no visible winds. Plans are to resume with ¼ racing today.
There should be plenty of good racing today with a lot of position changes happening yesterday.
In S & S 124 Challenge, Michael Ray and Joey Sternotti swapped off the #1 spot and the record marks. Ray of Memphis, TN came away with the best numbers in the end at 9.695 at 139.14mph. All records are subject to proper tech inspection and verifications of course.
Raising the bar in Sampson Pro Mod competition yesterday was Canadian, Doug Ainsworth who busted into the record books. Ainsworth came into Dallas with his share of bad luck that started with a center- line infraction at last years Vegas final that cost him the win at the big end. In this years Gainesville and Phoenix events- it was a red light foul that ended his chances early. Today, Ainsworth has to be thinking hard about overcoming the red eyed monster and getting through to the finals for over due win.
Junior Pippin and Paul Smith will give it all theyÕve got to get to the finals as well- and with that, stay tuned for action packed rounds for the newly sponsored Sampson Pro Mod class.
In S & S Pro Gas, a newcomer sits in the top spot. Marco Andreano of Jersey City, NJ ran the numbers yesterday to keep his pole position for the day. His best pass was a 4.666 at 149.07mph. Following Andreano about as close as you could get, was Tom Bradford with a 4.669 at an identical 149.07mph. Mike Lozano coming off a win in Phoenix is the #3 qualifyer. Pro Gas newbie Cliff Dwy finished with a respectable #5 spot, just behind Champion Brook McCabe who was #4.
Apparently the new Dwy ride is being prepped to replace his current Pro Mod bike, but the team is giving it a try in Pro Gas for tuning purposes, while maintaining Pro Mod points with the old bike.
Greg Krenik and Wayne Pugh had a lot to smile about at yesterdayÕs conclusion of qualifying. The teammates both landed #1 spots in their respective classes –with Òon the moneyÓ marks. PughÕs 11.500 was untouched in SEP rounds and Krenik was nearly as perfect with a 10.305 for the #1 position in Super Sport 10.90 action. The pair will join us on the starting line today for #1 qualifyer intros.
Returning to the #1 qualifyer introduction ceremonies is Doug Vancil. Vancil-long overdue for a win took the #1 spot in the opening round before Tak Shigematsu grabbed it in round 2. Not for long- as Vancil snapped back in the final round with a 4.240 best.
The bikes are firing up for early Sportsman eliminations to narrow fields to sixteen.
We will leave you now to follow the action on the track. We will begin coverage of all todayÕs action following the round one opener.
From Saturday-Qualifying Day:
Tough day of qualifying ends at
Texas Motorplex.
Qualifying is completed with
plenty of action.
Lummus grabbed the #1 spot in
Street ProÉDoug Ainsworth made record setting marks in Pro Mod, including a
record set by Paul Smith in 2002ÉSchmidt and Breckenridge are one and two in
Pro Drag and after 3rd qualifyer Herschberger blew a motor, heÕs out tomorrow,
and Chris Kirby is in.
Chris Streeter is #1 again in Pro
Fuel and Vancil and Shigematsu finish 1 & 2 respectively in Top Fuel.
The Mancuso team ended a hard day in the 3rd spot, while teammate Stordeur is
hospitalized from his round one injuries.
We will have more from Texas
Motorplex tomorrow. Everyone extends the best to Steve Stordeur, and we
will have an update from the team tomorrow.
FINAL ROUNDS COMING UP:
We are busy catching up your round results on the class pages- but final rounds are going at full pace. We have re-entered all round one numbers for those affected by the change to 1/8th mile and we are coming at you shortly with the wrap to see whoÕs in..whoÕs out.
Round Two Qualifying Notes:
Back with update from Round 2. Most of Round 2 completed and some are entering final round. We are busy trying to catch up the on-line results after todayÕs unfortunate delay.
Bare with us- we will not leave without getting the rounds posted for you.
In G-Squared Street Pro- Sternotti slowed, but will keep his top spot. Lummus improves for the #2 spot with a 9.034 and Zach Johnson makes a move into the 3rd spot.
Johnson is the son of Kendall Johnson of Discovery Channel –Bike Builder fame. Johnson is juggling two acts this weekend as he is featured at the Easyriders Show in Dallas, and playing chief tuner here at the track for son, Zach. The younger Johnson ran a 9.785 in the opening round, and improved to a 9.244 in his 2nd lap.
In Sampson Pro Modified- Canadian Doug Ainsworth is hot in Texas with his best pass of the day- a 8.236 for the top spot at 157.34mph- just marks away from the MPH record set by Paul Smith in 2002. Smith is giving the champ (Pippin) a race for the pole today with 8.409 marks from both riders. The higher MPH mark from Smith gives him the 2nd spot after two rounds and Pippin sits in third.
More Pro action continues- and the numbers will come out shortly. ScreaminÕ Eagle Nitro Harleys are lining up in the lanes and word has it the Mancuso crew is headed to the lane with the Mancuso bike. Mancuso has just returned from the hospital visiting Stordeur and will make the 2 remaining rounds. He will then have the opportunity for the re-run he is due after Ferris visited his lane during round one qualifying.
Word on Stordeur so far is dislocated shoulder and possible broken bone in the foot- cuts and bruises. These are very early reports we are receiving and updates can certainly change.
The AHDRA Phoenix event earlier in the month sent Steve Heidner to the hospital with reports of various injuries that were later determined to be more serious than earlier reported. With that in mind, we hesitate to make statements regarding injuries too quickly. We are happy to hear however that Steve Heidner has since returned to Seattle to recover. We send our thoughts for speedy recoveries to both SteveÕs.
We will be resuming Sportsman rounds shortly- but after two rounds in the SEP class- no one has bettered the perfect 11.500 from New MexicoÕs, Wayne Pugh. J.P. Hendrzak is in the 2nd spot and in 3rd is James Van Fleet who is back in action after a top end accident at last yearÕs finals in Las Vegas.
More to come.
Update from Texas:
Top Fuel Nitro Harley Round One has now been posted. Doug Vancil is currently in the top spot.
In an earlier round of Top Fuel, Johnny Mancuso and Mike Ferris were paired. Ferris crossed the center- line into MancusoÕs lane, forcing Mancuso to get off the throttle.
Ferris coasted over the finish first and tripped the clocks- therefore Mancuso will have the opportunity to make another pass if he chooses.
Currently Mancuso is at the hospital with rider, Steve Stordeur who was injured in the round. Ironically, Stordeur himself was making a re-run after the tree malfunctioned during his first attempt down the track.
Stordeur was paired with Tracy Kile for the re-run that resulted in the top end crash. Kile abruptly stopped his bike at the big end and rushed to the aid of Stordeur. We will continue to monitor updates from Mancuso Racing and report any news.
Qualifying has now resumed with round two Pros to remain on schedule. We will resume with Sportsman qualifying shortly.
Round one qualifying has been delayed temporarily due to an accident. Top Fuel Champion, Steve Stordeur took a turn into the retaining wall after clocking a 6.90 at 174.98mph.
He has been transported to a Dallas Hospital. Storduer talked with EMS and AHDRA officials following the accident and complained of shoulder, wrist and foot pain, but we have no official report on the extent of the injuries.
Stordeur was able to discuss the accident with officials and EMS crews. Track officials and the Mancuso Harley- Davidson crew are reviewing re-plays of the pass currently.
While opinions differ regarding issues of the wind- AHDRA officials have decided that racing will resume under the 1/8th mile in classes from Top Fuel to Pro Gas. If it is determined that the conditions are without question in tomorrows eliminations- we will return to the ¼ mile.
We will provide any info we receive from the Mancuso team regarding StordeurÕs condition.
Race result watchers: We ask for your patience, as we will have to manually qualify the Pro classes that were already run in the ¼ mile. We will get the results posted in those classes quickly as possible.
Racing is resuming at this time and we will be back with further updates soon.
Joe Sternotti is fast in Texas with the # 1 spot in SS 124 Challenge and G2 Street Pro after one lap.
Sternotti and Michael Ray opened up the day with record passes in the 124 Challenge category- Ray landed the 9.945, but Sternotti answered with a better 9.863.
Back up numbers will have to follow during the weekend, but so far, both are making it look easy. Sternotti also came out with the quickest Street Pro marks with an 8.984 while the #2 belongs to Jeff King with an 9.442 and the 3rd spot goes to Travis Lummus with a 9.501.
More to come.
Good morning from Texas Motorplex. Qualifying action is underway with the Syn3 ET class. The usual Texas weather is absent this weekend, with very cool temperatures and windy conditions. The high today is expected to be 70. The wind conditions were discussed at this mornings drivers meeting and after no hands were raised in the open vote on going to 1/8th mile, we are running ¼ mile.
We will begin the data entry process at the conclusion of the round- stay tuned for the results from Texas Motorplex.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, April 22
Competitor and Vendor Gates Open 2:00pm
Test and Tune 5:00-9:00pm
Saturday, April 23
Sportsman Qualifying- 9:00am
Pro Qualifying- 11:00am
Sunday, April 24th
Sportsman Eliminations-(as needed to narrow to 16-bike fields)- 9:30am
Opening Ceremonies- 12:15pm
Eliminations-12:30pm