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“Thank you so much for coming out to the Prize Fight. We’re gonna’ get this track stuck like Chuck, AND you’re gonna’ see some fast-ass race cars. This thing here is gonna’ be badass all night long!”
The anticipation for big horsepower, small-tire thrill filled the air as Jason Rueckert of VP Racing Fuels addressed the growing crowd that was making its’ way in to the Ohio Valley Dragway grandstands last weekend. As the sun began to set and the track prep continued, the track, nestled away in West Point, Kentucky, near Louisville, was pulsing with excitement as the inaugural running of the Ohio Valley Prize Fight race began to get underway.
With over $20,000 in monies and prizes up for grabs, cars from all across the Midwest traveled to the Bluegrass State to duke it out for their piece of the cake. From Florida to Delaware, from Missouri to Virginia, 40-plus cars and crews trekked to The Valley to throw down in Ultra Street, X275, and Pro Drag Radial. Some of the biggest names in the business came onboard to donate to and sponsor the Prize Fight, and the rewards continued to accumulate to the list as the days preceding the race weekend clicked by.
Proclaimed Rueckert, “I’m telling you, if you were here last night you know the show you saw. I mean it was good all day today, but, there’s nothing better than when Mr. Noon Sun gets off this race track, and then it’s time to haul ass.” Rueckert continued to build the murmurs of delight arising in the Saturday crowd. Spectators were overflowing from the stands to standing-room-only, elbow-to-elbow along the fences as the first calls for eliminations went out of the loudspeakers.
“I have to say hands down, this was the best race and group of racers I have ever seen at Ohio Valley. The crowd had to be the best it has been in years; if not ever in my lifetime. Small tire guys put on a show for sure,” shared Matthew Williams, who has been a regular to The Valley for years.
Qualifying started Friday evening and continued Saturday afternoon with three more rounds.
Final Qualifying Order After Four Rounds
Ultra Street
1. Shawn Pevlor – 5.03 / 141.97, 2. Eric Kenward – 5.0600 / 141.53, 3. Rob Corujo – 5.0658 / 138.44, 4. Mike Roemer – 5.08 / 137.62, 5. John Keesey – 5.09 / 138.86, 6. Dave Fiscus – 5.13 / 139.30, 7. John Snyder – 5.14 / 135.54, 8. Michael Laye – 5.16 / 136.85, 9. Brian Rippy – 5.19 / 135.09, 10. Scott Vestal – 5.29 / 135.58, 11. Scott Massetto – 5.79 / 120.97
X275
1. Rich Bruder – 4.60 / 157.88, 2. Jack Mccarty – 4.64 / 155.66, 3. Darren Hilterbran – 4.68 / 153.51, 4. Jimmy Plumpton Jr – 4.73 / 148.91, 5. Martin Connelley – 4.77 / 150.89, 6. Charles Hull – 4.78 / 155.72, 7. David Pharris – 4.79/ 154.04, 8. John Pryor – 4.80 / 149.49, 9. Bob Curran – 4.81 / 150.03, 10. Randy Matlock – 4.86 / 144.24, 11. Tom Olsen – 4.88 / 142.04, 12. Justin Johnson – 4.91 / 143.39, 13. Audri McGrane – 4.95 / 147.58, 14. John Warren – 4.96 / 143.35, 15. Dewey Bastin – 5.01 / 143.23, 16. Jacob Young – 5.02 / 142.98, 17. Braxton Hopkins – 5.10 / 139.31, 18. Anthony Peck – 5.25 / 143.25, 19. Roy Taylor – 5.27 / 132.67, 20. Ricky Palmore – 5.54 / 145.69
Pro Drag Radial
1. Marty Stinnett – 4.35 / 178.58, 2. Scotty G – 4.36 / 167.37, 3. Frank Mewshaw – 4.43 / 181.44, 4. J R Gibson – 4.4529 / 175.04, 5. Mike Hupp – 4.4539 / 165.49, 6. Tim Kincaid – 4.49 / 173.72, 7. Thomas Jones – 4.53 / 175.00, 8. Mark Micke – 4.57 / 175.90, 9. Nick Yarer – 4.58 / 141.07, 10. Richard Reagan – 4.59 / 158.42. 11. Dusty Bradford – 4.65 / 160.55, 12. Ed Rice – 4.67 / 170.51, 13. Mark Koehler – 4.70 / 159.41, 14. Phil Hines – 4.7110 / 159.62, 15. Kyle Ehorn – 4.7181 / 158.91, 16. Josh Fugate – 4.96 / 146.05, 17. Chad Henderson – 5.40 / 158.59
The holeshot win of Dave Fiscus versus John Snyder in the Ultra Street first round eliminations started off the evening sending the crowd into a roar of excitement. Fiscus posted a 5.19 at 138.11 to claim the win versus Snyder’s 5.13 at 135.56. The night was also filled with new personal bests for several, including Brian Rippy in the Ultra Street class. “I thought it was very cool that the Ultra Street class cars were running so close, within one tenth of each other. I know I ran a new personal best at this race; a 5.14 at 135.00,” said Rippy.
The first round eliminations in X275 sent the crowd to their feet as Tom Olsen and Randy Matlock, both stopped the clocks with a 4.82. With identical reactions times of .059, Matlock took the win light with a difference of .003-seconds at the stripe.
Rich Bruder kissed the wall earlier in the afternoon during qualifying. Fortunately, he was unharmed, and his team thrashed together and had the car back and ready for action by the time eliminations rolled around. He met up with Ricky Palmore in round one.
Another personal best went to Dewey Bastin, when he dipped into the four-second range for the first time during round one of eliminations in his Camaro. Charles Hull took the win light, however, over Bastin with a 4.75 at 155.76 to Bastin’s 4.99 at 143.23. “The track prep was spot on. Every pass down the track was a new personal best for us,” explained Bastin. “The competition and side-by-side racing was second to none, as well.”
The first staging duel of the night also arose during round one eliminations between Justin Johnson and Bob Curran. Johnson conceded first, and coasted to the win over Curran, taking Rosa Belle to round two eliminations. This pass also marked a success for Johnson and Rosa Belle as they set the small block Ford stock valve angle record with this run of 4.78 at 146.48.
Thomas Jones II, during the second round of qualifying in Pro Drag Radial, stole the show when he reached for the stars, piloting his Mustang through a 300-foot wheelstand with all four wheels off the ground. He came back later and nearly put on a repeat of the wheelie during round four eliminations against Mark Micke. Micke proceeded to claim the Pro Drag Radial win in the first ever Prize Fight as he went up against Marty Stinnett in the finals. Micke took the win in the all-Garrett Turbo final.
Jones shared, “The race was great. Jason and The Valley did an outstanding job on the track and that’s why it stood on the parachutes. I loosened up the front travel a little trying to get some weight transfer, but obviously the track was a lot better than I thought. We ran good, the car kept picking up and in the semi’s I had it set up to run about a 4.25, and the wheelie struck me again. I still had a blast and I really hope they keep putting on the radial races.” Jones continued to praise the day, “I believe everyone who came enjoyed it and there were some heavy hitters there. I’m sure the next one they do, there will be even more.”
The praise from the racers and fan continues to flow even after the closure of the inaugural running of The Prize Fight. Pevlor, the Ultra Street Champ shared, ”I thought it was a very nice facility. Jason from VP did an awesome job with the track. It was good seeing all the tech support from Mark Menscer Motorsports, along with AFCO, Kevin Neal, and Bradco Converters. Overall I thought it was a very well organized event and can’t wait to attend another one there.”
Said Rueckert, “I just want to thank all the racers, sponsors, and fans that made the first annual Ohio Valley Dragway Prize Fight a great success. Thank you to Terry Huff for giving me the opportunity to show the Midwest that we can have a killer little Radial Race right here in our backyard. The Huff family was gracious enough to provide a stellar facility to the racers and hospitality like no other. All the racers said they would support us again, so mark it on your calendars: Round 2!!
The second annual Ohio Valley Dragway Prize Fight is already scheduled for May 29-30, 2015, so if you missed the first one, you definitely don’t want to miss the next, as it’ll be even bigger and better yet.
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