Screamin' Eagle Top Fuel

Unpredictable.

That word best sums up race day of the 2007 AHDRA season-opening event. Heading into eliminations none of the pro riders had made a single qualifying or shakedown run.

After the rained out qualifying sessions, AHDRA president Craig Tharpe decided the fairest way to qualify the riders was to rank them based on the 2006 final point standings.

That formula left Nitro Harley racer Bob Malloy in the No. 11 spot in the full 16-bike ladder. Despite the less than favorable starting position Malloy, who owns the quickest high-gear-only Harley, performed magnificently consistent throughout the day with winning runs of 6.38, 6.32 (his quickest to date), 6.44, and a 6.48 to defeat the Samson Exhaust/Ray Price-backed bike of Tommy Grimes in the final. The victory was Malloy's first since building his unique, one-of-a-kind Fueler in 2001.

"It's going to take a little while to sink in," a shocked Malloy said shortly after the race. "It's taken a lot of hard work. I continue to set my bike up a little bit differently from everyone else and it has finally come to fruitation. Today was my day."

The event victory gives Malloy the first point lead of his decade-long Top Fuel career. Malloy thanked Bill and Donna from H-D of Seaford, Kenny Crawford, Bob Knight, Bill Christensen, and Rob Boninfante from Boninfante Performance Clutches

JIMS Pro Fuel

In Jims Pro Fuel most everyone expected Jay "The Bulldog" Turner to emerge as one of the top riders, after a tremendous finish to the 2006 season, which included a double win in Dinwiddie, Va. Turner seemed to pick up right where he left off in 2006, with an emphatic victory at the Bikeweek Nationals.

Turner reset both ends of the record with an amazing 6.580 at 211 mph and defeated John Breckenridge in the final to gain the early season point lead. The stellar performance surpasses the former 6.583 record of Mike Lehman and the 210 mph mark of John Breckenridge.

"The competition is as tough as ever," Turner said. "It's going to take strong performances like this to stay in the hunt."

Turner thanked AB & H Excavating, Mancuso Harley-Davidson, JT Enterprise, Rocket Management Systems, T-Man Performance, Vanson Leathers and Jimmy Cable Body Shop.

Kresto Pro Drag

Kresto Pro Drag No. 3 qualifier "Curly" Jim Fontaine engineered a great upset win in the final to defeat pole-sitter Rick Moore. The victory brought the "Curly" Jim fan club, consisting of his friends and relatives, to its feet. "This is my first ever win and it feels wonderful," Fontaine said. "We had a lot of luck on our side."

"I had a lot of problems this weekend. I'm racing a whole new set-up in 2007, so without getting any qualifying in we just didn't know where we were," Fontaine said. "I have new heads, a new clutch, and a new tire, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I've never been in a situation like that before."

Fontaine, who lives in Orange City, Fla, says being able to win it in front of a hometown crowd was most gratifying.

Fontaine is now energized to follow the 2007 AHDRA circuit in hopes of capturing his first ever No. 1 plate.

"We are going to try to make it to every single race now," Fontaine said. "I think if we keep heading in the right direction we will have a great shot."

Fontaine thanked Fox Head Lounge.

Samson Pro Modified

The new and improved Samson Pro Mod class, which has rules similar to last year's X-Mod category, featured one of the closest final rounds of the day. Randy Borho took the win by the narrowest of margins with a .035 light and an 8.86 to Greg Krenik's .038 and 8.87.

No. 1 qualifier and 2006 X-Mod champion Stephen Galati was defeated in the semis by Krenik, who ran 8.65 to Galati's 8.68. It appears this year's Pro Mod class may be more competitive than ever.

S&S Cycle Pro Stock

Junior Pippin may be in a new class for 2007, but his performance is still the same as it's always been - dominant. 53-year-old Pippin has become one of the most successful AHDRA racers of the new millennium and has won five championships in the last seven years, leading the Pro Modified points chase for a full three consecutive seasons.

Now competing in the revamped Pro Stock class, which has rules very similar to last year's Pro Mod, Pippin qualified on the pole (via his 06 point's standing) and went on to defeat Mark Venia in the final with a 7.97 to Venia's 8.08.

Pippin's 7.97 was good enough to set the national record mark in Pro Stock competition.

With numbers like this could Pippin be headed to his fourth consecutive AHDRA No. 1 plate?

Pippin thanked Greg Becker, Darryl Goder, Granite Mountain Harley Davidson, Stone Mountain Harley Davidson, Mike Lozano, Bob "Rat" Taft of Rat's Hole Place, and his girlfriend Lisa Holtzclaw.

Rush Performance Exhaust Pro Gas

The last time G-Squared/Drag Specialties rider Chip Ellis showed up at an AHDRA event, the 2006 Bikeweek Nationals, he smashed the Pro Gas record with a stellar 7.06.

Ellis, racing an NHRA-legal set-up put on quite the encore with an unbelievable run of 6.92, just one hundredth off his 6.91 all-time best in Sonoma last season. Ellis defeated a red-lighting Rick Moore in the final with a 7.02.

"The bike was running so strong this weekend," Ellis said. "This is very exciting and gives us a lot of momentum heading into the Gatornationals."

"It was awesome," G-Squared co owner George Bryce said. "The bike was fast and conditions were just great. Anytime you have 600 feet of corrected altitude and a tailwind you are going to go fast."

McCaa's Enterprises Street Pro

Defending Hot Street champion Bruce Croneberger didn't get the season opening victory in Hot Street he had hoped for, but he made up for it by taking home the win in Street Pro. Croneberger encountered mechanical problems on the machine for much of the weekend, but thanks to two consecutive bye runs, was able to win the event.

"It was an ugly win," Croneberger said. "We really didn't expect to win this weekend. We were having some issues with the clutch."

Croneberger's upset win over Zach Johnson in the opening round proved to be the key to the event victory. "After getting by Zach Johnson in the first round I had a bye to the semifinals," Croneberger said. "The clutch was really acting up but I put the best band-aid I could on it for the final and lucky for us, we got another bye. We slipped and slided right through it."

Although his primary focus for 2007 is to repeat as Hot Street champion Croneberger says he's not about to give up on Street Pro, especially now with the points lead.

Croneberger thanked Schaffer's Harley Davidson, Metzler Tires, and S&S

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod

After finishing runner-up in the point series for the last two seasons, Larry Edmondson left Gainesville leading the 2007 points thanks to a strong wining effort.

"I feel really good," Edmondson said from the winner's circle.

Edmondson said the hardest part of the weekend was getting traction.

"We tried out some new Metzeler tires and we just couldn't seem to get the clutch right," Edmondson said. "We thought about it and thought about it and finally Elvis, my clutch man, came through for us."

Not a bad start to the season for a guy that did absolutely no testing whatsoever over the off-season.

In the final Edmondson defeated Lou Gerencer on a holeshot with a .058 light and a 9.64 to Gerencer's .176 bulb and 9.56.

Edmondson thanked Eagle Harley Davidson, Elvis "The Clutch Man" and Dick Fish.

Dragmasters Hot Street

"It was incredible just to be in my first ever final. To actually win the thing is just amazing," Hot Street winner Charley Douglass said. "I've been waiting for this ever since I first started racing AHDRA seven years ago. It feels awesome."

In the final Douglass defeated Bruce Croneberger on a holeshot with a .018 light and a 10.27 to Croneberger's .128 and 10.21.

Douglass was able to endure some problems with the transmission along the way.

"We had a little bit of trouble shifting throughout the weekend," Douglass said. "I'm not real sure what's wrong. We will have to take it home and tear it apart."

Douglass thanked Muggs (the deceased cat), Shenandoah Harley Davidson, Energy One Clutches, his crew, and God.

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer

Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer rider L.E. Tonglet is only 17-years-old and he's already a three year veteran of the sport. With the help of his father, former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Gary Tonglet, L.E. has become one of the most consistent riders in the AHDRA. Tonglet's win at the Bikeweek Nationals was ample evidence of his ability. "It's been running so consistent. My dad is the crew chief and I give him a lot of credit," Tonglet said. "He gives this bike a lot of TLC."

Tonglet defeated the 2006 class champion, Michael Ray in the final with a 9.14 to a 9.44 from Ray.

Weighing in at only 125 pounds L.E. certainly has the right stature for the competitive class.

S&S 124 Challenge

Lou Gerencer enjoyed an exceptional start to the 2007 season by advancing to the finals of the V-Rod and the 124 Challenge classes. Gerencer says sitting around and waiting for the rain to go away was the most difficult part of the successful weekend.

"It was great once the rain stopped," Gerencer said. "It was really hard to sit around and wait. We wanted to get some practice runs in. The qualifying round on Saturday night was the first time we had the bike out all year."

In 124 Challenge Gerencer qualified on the pole with a 10.00 at 135 mph. By the end of the weekend he had set low elapsed-time of the event with an impressive 9.64.

In the final Gerencer defeated Chuck Bothe with a 9.74 to Bothe's 10.10

"That thing launched great," Gerencer said. "My new Metzeler tire hooked up and it was just a good clean run."

Gerencer thanked John and Nila Wise and Hoosier Harley Davidson.

Rucker Performance Super Gas (9.70)

After qualifying 27th on his one and only run on Saturday evening Dan Lesnock really stepped up his game for eliminations on Sunday.

In the final Lesnock defeated Jerry Garvin with a .023 light and a 9.70 to Garvin's .256 and 9.82.

Lesnock was impressed with his fellow competitors throughout the weekend and predicts a long hard battle in 2007.

"The competition is incredibly tough out here this season," Lesnock said. "Everybody is ready to roll already. I'm hoping to run

all of the East Coast races this year and take a shot at the championship."

Lesnock thanked Steel City Harley Davidson, Bear Construction, and Progressive Insurance.

S&S Super Sport (10.30)

In S&S Super Sport Larry Maynhart proved how important luck can be in drag racing. Maynhart overcame the field of challengers, despite not being able to put his bike in the 10.30 range on a consistent basis.

"It was a real hectic weekend," Maynhart said. "I couldn't get the bike dialed in on my only qualifying run. I only had one pass in the 30s during eliminations. I definitely had luck on my side this weekend."

Maynhart received a broke bye in the semifinals after Danny Boyer, who crashed at the finish line, could not make it back to competition. (Boyer has since been released from a Florida hospital with minor injuries). In the final Maynhart beat John Cabral with a 10.44 to Cabral's 10.29.

Maynhart thanked Dale Miller of Miller Motorsports, S&S Cycle, and Metzeler Tires.

Pingel Enterprises Super Eliminator (10.90)

Lane Boger had been sharp on the tree all day long in Super Eliminator and in the final he cut a respectable .088 to Jim Day's .177. However Day's 10.902, just two thousandths off the index proved to be the deciding factor.

"That's two years in a row that I took the runner-up finish here. I got beat on a near perfect run," said Boger, who broke out with a 10.88 in the final. "I want to thank my boys. They are the ones that make it happen."

Screamin' Eagle Performance SEP (11.50)

Oftentimes in drag racing age and wisdom prevails. Such was the case when Dennis Copley, 67, performed magnificently and came out on top in SEP at the Bikeweek Nationals.

"It's been a good day," said Copley, who went to the semifinals in two other categories. Copley says the challenges associated with the season-opening race started long before he hit the track.

"It was a lot of work. We put an engine in last Wednesday at 8:00 am and had it finished by 8:00 pm," Copley said. "Then we drove 17-hours down from Akron, Ohio. Then it rained for two days. So it's very rewarding to overcome the time crunch, the weather, and the new motor."

In the final Copley took out Keith Carper with an 11.62 to Carper's 11.74. "This class is so tough. I've been beaten by pretty much everyone out here at one time or another," Copley said. Copley thanked Freedom Harley Davidson and Reed Racing.

Syn3 ET

Syn 3 ET competitor Bill Draffin knew he had his work cut out for him when it was announced that the category had a staggering total of 77 entries for the weekend. Nonetheless Draffin was able to produce the necessary consistency to emerge victorious and defeated Joey Talbott in the final.

"It feels really good. I got lucky at the end," Draffin said. "There was a lot we had to deal with this weekend. The weather kept changing and so did the air. We had to really pay attention in between rounds."

Draffin says being familiar with his machinery and knowing what to expect was a big part of his success.

"This is the same bike I have been racing for four years and I know what she'll do," Draffin said. "We really didn't have to make any major changes all weekend."

Draffin thanked Rock Guard racing, Chuck Bothe, My Way Trucking, Scotty Hooper, and Donnie Huffman of Lakeland Harley Davidson.