Winston-Salem, NC, July 16, 2002- The AHDRA completed the eighth stop on the 2002 National point's series at Maryland International Raceway on July 6th & 7th, Budds Creek, MD.

Sunny skies and typical warm temperatures greeted racers and fans at the Mid-Atlantic Nationals presented by All American Harley-Davidson and Harley-Davidson of Frederick, but there was plenty of cool action on the quarter mile strip.

Orangeburg Cycle's, Bill Furr lent a hand in the pre-event hoop-pla at Friday's Harley-Davidson of Frederick Kick-Start party with his JIMS Top Fueler in tow. Furr rolled into the Frederick facility after a full morning of test runs at MIR in preparation for the weekend's competition, which has landed him the trophy for three consecutive years. The streak came to a halt when Jay Turner of Whitsett, NC showed up with the tune-up needed for the Top Fuel prize.

Turner qualified in the #1 spot with a 6.822 and scored the Top Speed honors with a 200.95 mile-per-hour pass. With veterans on the roster such as Robert Stewart, Tak Shigematsu and Bill Furr, it was an unlikely final round appearance for Top Fuel newcomer, Russ Hildenbrand (#7 qualifier) He rattled the competition with a round one 6.944, ousting #2 qualifier, Tak Shigematsu of Japan. It was Sonny Michalowski of Ft Lauderdale, FL loading the trailer in round two after Hildenbrand's 7.113 to Michalowski's 7.239.

Hildenbrand got the early advantage with a .529 light, but it wasn't enough to stop Turner and Team Bulldog who pulled through with a 6.808/191.97mph finale to Hidlenbrand's 7.152/194.16 pass.

The HDAfterparts.com Pro Fuel competition brought back a drag racing favorite when Tony Mattioli made a first time appearance since his accident at the AHDRA season opener in March. Mattiloli was in his element when he came along to turn the wrenches on Sam White's Pro Fueler, which happened to be the bike Mattioli was riding when the accident occurred in Bradenton, FL. A bittersweet return for Mattioli was capped off when White captured the win at Maryland International Raceway, a first for the Columbia, SC rider.

Serving up the challenge for White was #1 qualifier, Mike Lehman of Palm Beach, FL. Lehman numbers were impressive coming into Sunday's elimination's with a 6.778 Low E.T. and a 195.31 Top Speed, but White was able to overcome a slower .551 reaction time with a 7.060 to Lehman's .527/7.103 in the final. Lehman had the bye in round one of elimination's after John Cislak of Indian Orchard, MA crashed at the big end in qualifying, suffering a severe compound fracture to his leg. Cislak was released and is recovering at home.

Dale Raudenbush and the Old Glory Race team took a first Pro Stock win home after defeating #1 qualifier, John Hammock in the final. Hammock upset #2 qualifier, Dirk Higgins for the final round bid, but encountered problems in the water box forcing Raudenbush to cruise solo for a 7.664 victory.

Score one for the hometown team. That's exactly what Frank Dove of Hughesville, MD accomplished with his win over Glenn Kachel (#3 qualifier) in the Pro Gas finals. Dove (#1 qualifier) and the H-D of Washington team walked away with a 7.828 Low E.T. and Top Speed of 167.72 along with a comfortable lead in the Pro Gas National points chase.

They call him "Hotty Scotty" in the pits, and he held true to his name as Scott Truett of Wichita, Kansas added another notch to his trophy belt with a win in Pro Drag competition.

Truett's best numbers were good for the Low E.T. of 7.462 and Top Speed of 175.66 miles-per-hour. Truett scored the win with a 7.462 over Chuck Jones (#2 qualifier) of St. Pete, FL's 7.700 final round pass. The Truett & Osborn sponsored team holds a comfortable margin in the Pro Drag National point's standings.

Good bye ole buddy", were no doubt the words Mike Lozano had for his 2000 Sportster that has landed him numerous wins, records and the National point's lead in the Joker Machine Pro Modified ranks. Lozano has something new in the works, (Pro Stock is the word) and following the win at Maryland International Raceway, the Lozano team turned the likely championship bike over to a brand new owner, Junior Pippin of Conyer's, GA. Lozano's final ride on the sentimental favorite led him to the win over Shaun Reno (#8 qualifier) of Gloucester, VA. Lozano finished with the Low E.T. of 8.386 and John Hammock (#1 qualifier) of Tulsa, OK had the Top Speed of 154.67 miles-per-hour. With Lozano comfortably out front in the point's chase, he'll focus his efforts on a new bike, while all eyes will be on Pippin to see if Lozano's "pet" is happy with a new Dad.

The battle of accomplishment continues in Spyke Street Pro. "I got the record". "Well I got the win". Welcome to the Lummus-Morrow chronicles. There's no doubt reigning champion, Travis Lummus wears the crown with consecutive championships and a third inevitable, but when Doug Morrow and the Carl's Speed Shop team enter the contest, its sure to draw interest and maybe a wager or two in the pits. More of the same in Budd's Creek when Morrow snagged the #1 qualifying spot and possession of the 1/4 mile and eighth mile records, (5.953-1/8th, 9.311 quarter mile) but Lummus saved his best for last, taking the trophy and the 120.67 1/8th mile record. Perhaps the "showboat" award of the weekend came when Morrow was face to face with Donnie Huffman in the semis for the expected final round appearance with Lummus, but not so, when Huffman captured the grandstands with a monster burnout followed by the upset win over Morrow.

Final outcome: Lummus-2 (The win and 1/8th mph record) and Morrow-2 (1/8th & 1/4 mile E.T. records). Coming up..the tie breaker in Bristol.

Thanks to the staff at MIR and promotional contributions from participating sponsors, this year's Mid-Atlantic Nationals presented by All-American Harley-Davidson and Harley-Davidson of Frederick finished with bigger gate numbers and plenty of winner's circle smiles.