AHDRA

Roeder Harley-Davidson Buckeye Nationals Presented by

Drag Specialties

June 10^th & 11th

Norwalk Raceway Park

Sunday Eliminations:

5:30pm

Today’s event went off like a charm with plenty of great racing along with an early estimated record crowd for the AHDRA Norwalk event. I can certainly say it was the largest crowd I have seen on hand for the event final rounds! We thank everyone who made the success possible, including Chris Streeter who racked up numerous appearances promoting the race and for hitting the radio airwaves for the live broadcast earlier this week. Everyone’s help made all the difference and we thank you for it.

We also would like to thank everyone who has been expressing concern and sending your prayers along for Craig’s son, Josh who was critically injured on the 4-wheeler on Friday. Josh is continuing his fight this evening and we ask that you keep the throttle open on those prayers.

God is with you Josh.

Good night from Norwalk Raceway Park.

2:35pm

The first round for all classes are complete. The 2^nd round will consist of Barnett Nitro Harley Outlaw followed by more sportsman rounds. The Pros will be out for 2^nd round shortly.

12:30pm-

A powerful opening ceremony took place here at Norwalk Raceway Park as Craig Tharpe, his wife Kristi and Jake made their way to the track for today’s opening round. The opening ceremonies and the firing of the first pair were brought to Josh’s room via speaker phone in the medical facility in Toledo, OH!

Doug Vancil and Bob Malloy were the first pair out and it was side by side all the way as the enormous crowd here cheered with approval. Vancil got by Malloy with a 6.582 at 208.75mph to an 6.584 at 218.90mph from Malloy.

We turn it over to the ladder pages now for today’s results. We will check back in here with any breaking news or delay reports.

6:45pm-

The sportsman classes are completed for the day and we are wrapping up the paperwork and ladders here in the tower.

Qualifying proved to be as competitive as ever in the sportsman categories.

Michael Ray is now making a name for himself in the V-Rod Destroyer ranks-just as he did in the S & S 124 competition. Ray’s 9.250 gave him the #1 qualifying spot-just off his first Destroyer win at Atlanta Dragway.

Ray is also on top in the 124 class today (9.508) and he starts his day tomorrow with a chance at back-to-back, double-class wins!

Dan DeGood led off the SEP charts this morning with an 11.507, but Dennis Copley of Mogadore, OH edged him out with an 11.506. J.P. Hendrzak was in the fight too with an 11.508 for the 3^rd spot.

In another tight battle for the top, Charlie Walker came away with his 2^nd #1 qualifying position in a row. It was his 10.905 against the 10.90 Super Eliminator index that got him the honors today. Bill Rowe Jr. followed Walker with a 10.907 and Steve Walter and Roberta Seaman grabbed matching 10.908’s for the 3^rd and 4^th spots.

Bruce Croneberger is getting comfortable out front in the Drag Masters Hot Street field. Croneberger’s 10.170 at 130.04mph put him on top today in front of #2 plate-holder- Dan Norlin.

Lou Gerencer jumped in front of V-Rod vets-Edmondson and McNaughton with an 9.480 for the #1 spot and Mike Harrison and David Doremus battled neck and neck for the Super Sport top spot. Doremus finished best with an 10.310-squeezing by Harrison’s 10.319.

More from the battle of the indexes…Tom Ocasio won the hard fought Super Gas #1 qualifyer title with an 9.702. He fought off a 9.705 from Bob Drapp, a 9.706 from Blake Holliday and double 9.709’s from Bart Carmichael and Kelley Smith. The 9.70’s were hot today!

Stephen Galati has the Casa Bella X-Mod class going in his favor so far this season. Today- Galati is #1 again with an 8.947 and his Drag Master team-mate, Greg Kuypers was #2 with an 8.992.

In Syn# ET qualifying- it’s all about reaction time in qualifying. Rocky Salvatore of Delaware showed the 56 entries today how that’s done with perfect triple zero’s for the #1 spot. Brad Croneberger barely missed out with a .003, as did Andy Horn’s .006, Brent Garcia’s, .007 and Robert Muller’s .009! These guys had the tree smokin’ today!

That’s a wrap from the sportsman side of things and for all of today’s qualifying sessions. We will be back with you tomorrow for Eliminations from the Roeder H-D Buckeye Nationals presented by Drag Specialties.

We leave here tonight again asking that you continue praying for Josh. We haven’t received news that is much different. They continue to battle the swelling and pressure and the fight to keep him stabilized. God be with you Josh- we are cheering him on for you.

5:00pm-

The Pro’s have completed the final qualifying sessions of the day and it was quite a turn of events in at least a couple of classes with big surprises on those left sitting out of the field tomorrow.

In Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel, Tak Shigematsu is sitting on the pole with his 6.419 at 211.53mph best from his 2^nd round.

Turner. Romine and Vancil secured their spots at #2, 3 and 4.

After that- the standings were shaken by Bob Malloy who ran his best shot with a 6.638 giving him the #5 spot. Tracy Kile got in the show with a 6.749 and then it was Drums Brancaccio’s 6.736 lap in the final round that bumped Tommy Grimes out of the field. Grimes took only one lap down the track today that netted him a 6.792-and not enough to get in the show unless it is as the first alternate.

Sam White, Joe Timmons, Bill Furr and Greg Grove also sit on the outside of the field that netted only thirteen entries here at Norwalk Raceway Park.

Drag Master Willie Herschberger scored the top spot in Kresto Pro Drag with a 7.560 best- but surprisingly Rick Moore who came on strong early in the season as a rookie- found himself with problems all day and also looking at an alternate spot as his chance for the field tomorrow.

In Samson Pro Modified, Junior Pippin held on yet again to the #1 qualifying spot and it was Tom Caldwell of Knoxville, TN who bumped a strong Shaun Reno out of the #2 spot. Caldwell lit the boards with an 8.266 at 155.19mph-moving Reno to the 3^rd spot with his 8.271 at 157.91mph.

Jeff King has the top contenders scratching their heads in G2 Street Pro.

King came off the trailer this morning in the 8-sec zone and finished the day with a 8.888 for the #1 spot thus interrupting Andy Simon’s consecutive reign as the #1 qualifyer. Simon was able to grab 8-sec numbers of his own in the final round (8.991) for the #2 spot.

In S & S Pro Gas, Mike Lozano is celebrating his birthday this weekend and his best shot of the day in the final round (7.561) got him the top spot.

The story in this class that had the crowd cheering- was Dale Raudenbush’s push to get in the field. Raudenbush had not completed a lap after 2 rounds and in his 3^rd and final attempt, the bike gave out early again. Raudenbush, refusing to sit out of the field- pushed the bike the rest of the way and through the ¼ mile beam to get his name on tomorrow’s ladder!

Armon Furr is loving the Norwalk quarter mile strip. Furr is tomorrow’s #1 qualifyer in JIMS Pro Fuel with Steve Simmons in the #2 spot. John Breckenridge has found something on his ride and scored the 3^rd spot with a 7.046-just in front of rookie Jim Fagan’s 7.058.

Fagan tied the hometown favorite, Chris Streeter’s own 7.058, but Fagan’s MPH gave him the tie breaking advantage.

3:23pm

Racing continues smoothly at Norwalk Raceway Park. After a bit of track prep we will kick off the 3^rd and final rounds of today’s qualifying. I am busy punching the numbers for you and absent from this page to keep your results coming as quickly as possible.

More numbers coming up shortly.

12:36pm

The first session of qualifying is complete and round #2 is on the track with Casa Bella X Mod followed by Syn 3 ET qualifying. The weather is partly sunny and cool (mid-60’s) with light head winds. The 2^nd session of Sportsman qualifying will run as follows: X-Mod, Destroyer and SEP. We will then cut in for round two of the Pro’s before resuming with the sportsman classes where we left off.

Results to follow after the round.

9:22am

Good morning from Norwalk, OH. We are just underway with the opening round of sportsman qualifying with unseasonably cool temperatures. The high today is only expected in the mid-60’s. After Georgia’s 96-plus temps, the mild weather is a welcome change here this weekend.

The live results will post after today’s opening rounds in each class. The Pros are due out for round #1 at 11:00am.

The latest update on AHDRA Official, Josh Tharpe came a short while ago. Josh was stable throughout the night. He has now been consistently stable for 12 hours.

He needs to remain that way for a longer period before they can perform any procedures. Thank you so much for all the prayers and notes of concern that are coming in. I will make sure all of them are seen by the family and saved for Josh as well.

Keep the AHDRA family in your thoughts today as they are running the event with very heavy hearts.

Stay tuned for qualifying on the result pages and we will be back on this page with any breaking news or delays from Norwalk Raceway Park.

Friday- June 9^th

Norwalk Raceway Park:

As we prepare for this weekend’s event at Norwalk Raceway Park, we, the AHDRA Staff ask that you lift one of our officials up in your prayers.

Josh Tharpe, the eldest son of Craig-suffered a very serious head injury this morning in a

4-wheeler accident here at the track. He was airlifted to a medical facility in Toledo, OH.

He is currently stabilized and medically sedated and we are awaiting further word on his condition.

Many of you have already called and while Craig is certainly grateful for the concern- we ask that you hold off on calling his phone during this crucial time so that he may communicate with family members as needed.

I will post any updates throughout the weekend here as they become available.

We are praying for you Josh…. and Craig, don’t worry, we will bring em’ to the line for you this weekend!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Friday, June 9th

Test & Tune 5:30-11pm

Conducted by Norwalk Raceway Park

Saturday, June10th

Gates open- 7am

Opening round Sportsman Qualifying- 9am

Opening round Pro Qualifying- 11am

Sunday, June 11th

Gates open- 8am

Sportsman Eliminations (as needed to reach 16-bike fields)- 9:00am

Opening ceremonies- 12:15pm

Opening round Pro Eliminations- 12:30pm