CANADIAN RON HOUNIET TAKES HOME THE BIG ONE FROM "THE ROCK", WHILE FURR MAKES 60- DEGREE TURN; MORROW & FEAZELL LAND NEW AHDRA RECORDS!

Winston-Salem, NC, October 8, 2002-The AHDRA left monumental marks at Rockingham Dragway at the last Eastern appearance of the 2002 National Points Tour, October 5th & 6th.

The largest field of JIMS Top Fuel racers ever at Rockingham Dragway took the track Saturday for qualifying, vying for a spot in the 16-bike cut. Twenty-Seven riders filled the staging lanes, and the final ladder reflected the tough field, when local top guns Mark Cox (Wilkesboro, NC) and Ray Price (Raleigh, NC) were two of the 11 entries that did not make Sunday's show.

Having no problem making the cut was Orangeburg Cycle's, Bill Furr who debuted his new 60 degree Hammer Motor at Rockingham Dragway. Though it is basically the same style as a Hammer motor, its main feature is the 60-degree V instead of the standard 45 degrees. Wanting to find the "next step" in Nitro Harley, Furr did just that, qualifying in the #1 spot with a 6.791 at 198.26 miles-per-hour. After struggling with the quarter-mile in his first two outings, Ron Houniet(Mission City, B.C.) and the Fast Lane Racing Team returned to their performance level taking the #2 spot with a 6.860 at 200.05 miles-per-hour in the final round.
Furr opened elimination's strong with a 6.784 on Sunday, but ended his 60 degree victory quest with a frayed belt in round two, advancing Mark Conner (#8 qualifier) on the Alamo City H-D ride, under the guidance of 9-time AHDRA Champion, Jim McClure. Houniet, who traveled the 3000 miles to compete in Rockingham, never blinked at the competition he was faced with, running consistently in the 6's, and making his way to the finals against Conner. Houniet took the win with a 6.766 at 201.25 miles-per-hour after a red-eye for Conner. Houniet made a return victory lap back up the quarter mile strip, (still under fire) to celebrate his Rockingham win and a sewn up JIMS Top Fuel Championship.
Dave Feazell (S & S Cycle) came to Rockingham and made a statement in the Pro Gas category, after leaving with the win and three National records, including a quarter mile 7.431ET, and 1/8th mile records of 4.722 at 148.97 miles-per-hour. Feazell, who qualified in the top spot, took on Bill Adorno (D & S Cycle) in the finals, and after Adorno left the tree early, Feazell scored the win that would back up his record pass with a 7.438 at 171.10 miles-per-hour.
Doug Morrow and the Carl's Speed Shop team came away with the Spyke Street Pro win along with a pair of National records. Morrow bested his previous 1/4-mile ET with a 9.270 and 1/8th mile ET of 5.916. Morrow, the #1 qualifier faced Nicholas Gonatas,Jr (#2 qualifier) in the finals taking the win with a 9.316/140.11 to a 9.411/139.66 from Gonatas. Travis Lummus, entered the competition with the Championship in the bag, and after transmission problems, the Gene Lummus H-D team made a rare Round One departure.
The Kresto Pro Drag competition came down to a battle of the rookies, when Gabe Larkins of Phoenix, AZ, a first time Pro Dragster rider in 2002, made his way through the field with his quickest times of the year. Larkins and the Hot Rod City Customs team took on Ken Wright of Portland, OR making his 2nd appearance on his Pro Dragster. Wright took the win with an 8.097 over Larkin's 8.402.

In the Pro Stock ranks, Dale Raudenbush and the Old Glory Racing team pulled out the #1 qualifying spot over top guns, Tom Bradford and Dan Baisley. Raudenbush made his way to the finals against, reigning champ, Bradford who took the win with a 7.628 at 171.08 miles-per-hour over a 7.565 at 165.31 from Raudenbush. Bradford and the S&S/Hal's H-D team are well on the way to a back-to-back Pro Stock National title, after the win in Rockingham. The Baisley/Bill Hannon team announced that Rockingham would be their final race together. After many years on the track, numerous wins and records, their many fans and fellow competitors will definitely miss them.

Other highlights: Tim Kerrigan and the Red Line Oil team took the trophy in HD Afterparts.com competition, and after struggling during the season, should have the Championship wrapped up for a 2nd season. Cliff Dwy of Madras, OR and Mike Lozano battled it out in the Joker Machine Pro Mod finals, and although Dwy took the win, Lozano is headed to Vegas with the Championship at his fingertips.

North Carolina's, Billy Leonard scored the Rivera/Primo Super Gas win over point's leader Shawn Vantucci of Frederick, MD. Ronnie Fensick of Seaford, DE was the "King of the Rock" times two, after winning Saturday nights, "King of the Rock" shoot-out, followed by the Nonpareil Super Sport win on Sunday. Bruce Croneberger was the Performance Corner Super Eliminator winner and John Martin of Mason, OH took the SEP win. Martin dedicated his win to Anne Phipps, a fellow competitor injured at the AHDRA Bristol event. With over 80 bikes in the field, Troy Thiem of Sarasota, FL made his way to the Andrews ET win.

Fans at the Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts Nationals were treated to great weather, and with several hundred of AHDRA's best on the track, they witnessed a show to remember. It was all made possible with the support from Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts and the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association. A huge thanks to them for supporting this successful event.

The final stop on the AHDRA National Points Tour is the JIMS Las Vegas Nationals presented by Las Vegas Harley-Davidson, October 19th & 20th at "The Strip", Las Vegas Motor Speedway.