Winston-Salem, N.C., June 18, 2001-The AHDRA announced early numbers from the recent Norwalk Raceway event indicate the smell and roar of nitro brought over 6,000 fans through the gates at the Roeder Harley-Davidson 30th Anniversary Nationals presented by Sylvania Harley-Davidson and Thiel's Wheels Harley-Davidson.

AHDRA President, Craig Tharpe credits the success to the participating dealership sponsors including title sponsor Roeder Harley-Davidson. Celebrating their 30th Anniversary, Roeder's involvement and calibration in combining the anniversary with the AHDRA event had a huge impact in the marketing efforts. The AHDRA Kickstart Party hosted by Roeder's on Friday, was a highlight of the weekend, as motorcycle enthusiasts gathered for free food, live entertainment and a race bike preview provided by JIMS Top Fuel Champion, Steve Moore and Top Fuel contender, Mark Cox.

Joining in on the promotional campaign was Sylvania Harley-Davidson & Thiel's Wheels Harley-Davidson. Larry Thiel of Thiel's Wheels, has been supporting the AHDRA for many years through sponsorship involvement and is the proud sponsor of 2 time AHDRA Pro Stock Champion, Dirk Higgins.

A first time outing for Sylvania Harley-Davidson with the AHDRA added icing to the cake, as the dealership played a major role in driving fans to the track through advance ticket sales and and giveaways.

After the sponsors proved successful in drawing fans to the event, it was the AHDRA competitors, (nearly 300 of them) which provided a show to remember!

In JIMS Top Fuel, after narrowly making the 16 bike cut-Mark Cox and the Bojangles team found the right combination with a new clutch, and ended a "mechanically haunted" weekend in victory lane, their first in 2002. Jay Turner held all the top numbers with the #1 qualifying spot, a 6.552 low E.T. and a Top Speed of 207.85 miles-per-hour, but after problems in the semis for Turner, Doc Hopkins of Bonduel, WI, got the final round bid against Cox.

In Pro Fuel, it was a sweet victory for Mike Lehman and the H-D of Palm Beach team after several 2nd place finishes. Lehman finally got his due with a win over #1 qualifier, Bill Bertolette in the finals. Bertolette dominated qualifying with a 6.889 low E.T and Top Speed of 191.81 miles-per-hour, but Lehman overcame the Bertolette performance advantage in the finals, with a 6.972 to Bertolette's 7.157.

Tom Bradford made it "five for five" in Pro Stock competition with a win over Dirk Higgins. Bradford, the number one qualifier held the low E.T. of 7.564 and Top Speed at 172.28.

Scott Truett of Wichita, Kansas, the 2000 Champion of the Pro Drag ranks, sat out of competition in 2001, but is back in top form, qualifying in the #1 spot, and taking the low E.T. with a 7.484 and Top Speed at 169.21 miles-per-hour. He faced John McMillin of South Beach, Oregon in the finals, riding the 2001 Marc Augustine Championship machine who had the advantage at the tree with a .498 over Truett's .521, but Truett made up the difference with a 7.569 over McMillin's 7.778.

Record holder, Mike Lozano of San Antonio, Texas was consistent in the Joker Machine Pro Modified competition with the #1 qualifying position, the low E.T. of 8.435 and Top Speed of 155.24 miles-per-hour.

Dale Raudenbush of Broomall, PA had the better light in the finals, but Lozano caught him and finished on top with an 8.424 over Raudenbush's 8.597.

Back to back wins in Pro Gas came for Hughesville, Maryland's, Frank Dove after his 7.757 finish over Michael McDole of Bowta Spring. FL. McDole cut the better light with a .425 over Dove's .640, but his 8.908 finish would land him in 2nd place. Dove's 7.757 final run was good enough for the low E.T. spot and an earlier 173.47 was the Top Speed. Bill Adorno, riding the D & S Cycle/Dan Vance machine was the #1 qualifier.

Rivals, Doug Morrow and Travis Lummus were at it again in the Spyke Street Pro finals. Morrow of Daytona Beach, FL ran the big numbers all weekend, while Lummus thrashed to find the mechanical gremlins plaguing the 2001 Championship bike. Morrow faced Lummus with the #1 qualifying position and the low E.T. of 9.439, but Lummus found the missing link and pulled the upset with a 9.485 over Morrow's 9.600 finish. Lummus took home Top Speed honors with a 144.92 mile-per-hour pass, and with the win, sits comfortably in the Spyke Street Pro points lead.

Wanda Poff of York, PA was impressive in Rivera-Primo Super Gas qualifying in the #1 spot, but would not survive the competition on Sunday, when Dale Miller and Willie Herschberger landed the bid to the finals. Miller riding for event sponsor, Sylvania Harley-Davidson took the trophy and brought his party to victory lane.

Alan Nusbaum, #1 qualifier took the Nonpareil Super Sport honors over G.W. Bass and Bruce Croneberger was the winner over #1 qualifier Rob Trilk in the Performance Corner Street Eliminator class.

A huge field of competitors in the Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts series put riders on the trailer early after 50 plus were seeking a spot on the 32 bike ladder. Henry Provenzano, (#1 qualifier) pulled out the win over Dennis Copley of Mogadore, Ohio. Rick McWaters took the Andrew's ET prize after fighting his way through a tough field of nearly 90 entries.

Jake Rozeski of new Waterford, OH. was the pint-sized winner in the Hayes Jewelry Junior Senior competition and Travis Danford of Akron, Ohio was the Blackfoot Racing-Cal Percy Junior Junior winner.