Sat, 6 Oct 2007, 05:10 PM Nitro Harley Qualifying Notes, Final Session

By Dan Bennett

DINWIDDIE, Va. - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Second annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals listing lane, rider name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:

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Left Lane: Takeshi Shigematsu Runs 7.877/197.86, Now #6; Best prior run: 8.684/109.13, Was #5
Right Lane: Phil Schmidt Runs 6.554/218.23, Now #4; Best prior run: 8.685/193.40, Was #6

Long, smoky burnout by Takeshi and a more workmanlike short one from Schmidt.

Shigematsu's ride never really builds speed though he is all over the bike on the front half of the track. Schmidt simply goes from A to B on a smooth run and moves up to the top half of the field.

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Left Lane: Joseph Sternotti Jr Runs 6.966/153.28, Now #2; Best prior run: 6.471/219.58, Was #2
Right Lane: Tommy Grimes Jr. Runs 9.512/99.33, Now #8; Best prior run: 9.037/106.05, Was #8

Grimes took a ride much like a bull rider as the bike kept slamming onto the wheelie bars, unloading, slamming, unloading, etc. until I almost got dizzy. No telling how he felt after that ride. Sternotti got very close to the wall for most of the pass but evidently didn't touch it as we fire the next pair.

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Left Lane: William Furr Runs 9.083/101.16, Now #7; Best prior run: 8.997/100.70, Was #7
Right Lane: Bob Malloy Runs 7.702/123.14, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.424/208.42, Was #1

Furr lines up in the left lane in the bike sponsored by Orangeburg Harley. I'm not sure there is a more famous racing dealership anywhere.

He hangs off the bike for the entire front half and finally gives up before would have crossed the center line. Malloy is having problems of his own and also is out of the throttle early.

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Left Lane: Doug Vancil Runs 6.344/221.42, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.491/216.27, Was #3
Right Lane: Jay Turner Runs 8.592/105.27, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.729/204.82, Was #5

Speaking of famous, you can't do much better than Vance & Hines / Drag Specialties either. Vancil lays down a sweet run, the quickest of the weekend and takes over the first spot on the ladder. Turner has problems and shuts off by half track.

That sets the field and we're done with the qualifying.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink