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The baddest radial tire racers in the nation have waited since February for another crack at the South Georgia Motorsports Park and the prize that awaits the last man standing at Donald Long’s No Mercy VI. As we have each and every one of the last six years, the team at Dragzine will be in the house bringing you the best coverage on the web of the fall’s biggest radial tire showdown! As always, a huge thanks to the presenting sponsor, Comp Cams, who make it all possible.
I caught up with Mike Keenan and Jamie Miller this morning in the farthest corner in the front lot. Miller is the tuner from Proline Racing Engines and was busy making some changes in the Big Stuff 3. Keenen hails from New Mexico and has had this car for about two years with only a hand full of passes on the car. He had another 2000 Camaro with stock type suspension but sold that one as a roller and used the drive train in this new 4 link car. The engine is a 526 cubic inch PRL 481x fed by a pair of 94 MM Precision turbos topped with a Hogans intake and Rossler transmission.
Today is testing till about 5:30 but we have been faced with multiple rain delays through the day. I walked the staging lanes earlier and caught up with Jason Michalak who has run well this year breaking the three second barrier in Memphis and won the last race in Denton, Texas two weeks ago. Since then the Bad9er team has made some changes to the car including a new blower hat. They are looking for some A to B runs testing today for data. Sponsors and help include Northside Plumbing, Pipeline Express, Billy Stocklin, Frankie Taylor, crew Al and Jeremy, “Couldn’t do it without these guys, Driving is the easiest part, their the ones that make this deal happen.” Jason Michalak.
The Voss Racing Engines crew is here racing in Outlaw 632 with a fresh updated engine topped with new heads and backed with a new clutch package. Driver Dillon Voss is confident they have the power to beat their own class record of a 4.36. OL632. The OL 632 class should be interesting this week with all the top cars here and much friendly rivalry.
Jared Johnson is done with the NMCA for this year and has switched the car over to alcohol for the outlaw portion of their season. Jared won here in February and is also leading the X275 points in the RTRA in Denton, Texas with two races left. Here tuner John Kolivas backs him up.
Nick Yarber was getting teched in this morning with his Radial vs. the World twin turbo Mustang. He set a track record this year at New River Motor Mile in Virginia on the 10.5x28 Bracket Radial running a 4.37 at 193 MPH. He runs a big Chevy built by Robert Hughes fed by Precision 98 MM turbos.
Team Bumble Bee in the house this weekend with a two car team with Jeff Miller running his 2010 Camaro Pro Mod car on Radials and a stock suspension 98 Mustang Cobra driven by Ronnie Stokes. Both cars feature twin turbo big Chevy engines and Garrett turbos backed by Keith Neal transmissions with tuning by Miller's son. Both cars were built and run out of Miller's shop Affordable Performance. Miller has been a 4.15 on a 29.5W at 192 MPH.
Tim Kincaid left hard and made a nice run earlier but leaked some fluid on the track resulting in a short cleanup past the finish line.
Ron Clarck’s Bugzilla is always a crowd favorite. He ran a 5.2 in testing this afternoon for PTC Radial vs the World.
Many racers, crew and even various photographers are familiar with Kenny Hubbard's food extravaganza. Hubbard is famous for the amazing egg rolls and I finally got by his pits today before he ran out. The but roasts will cook for about 30 hours for Friday's dinner. Thanks for the great lunch Kenny!!
Jamie Hancock and Lyle Barnet were paired up in PTC Radial vs the World qualifying. Hancock took the stripe with a 3.977 at 192.14 taking number one qualifier. Barnett seemed to lose an engine and caught fire and hitting both walls before coming to a stop.
Lyle Barnett had a scary incident in this crash with EMT's coming from the local town. He was extracted from the car and sent to the hospital with burns. We will keep you updated on his condition as more information is available.
Tonight we ran up against the curfew and finished out KBX/Precision Turbo X275 for the night. The track goes hot at 9 AM Friday rather than 10 to at least try to make up for some down time we had in the first part of qualifying. PTC Radial vs the World was off the chain tonight with three racers breaking into the threes and eleven cars running better than a 4.10, and lets not forget DeWayne Mills putting up a 4 flat at no less than 202.94 MPH to earn fourth position. What?? yes a 4.000 landed fourth in a 32 car field with 38 making passes in this round. There may be some driver confusion regarding the Aleppa Racing entry on the sheet as one lists Daniel Pharris and the top speed is listed as Rob Valden. Either way the car went an astonishing 203.98 on 4.03 pass landing sixth on the ladder after one session.
X275 was fast tonight as well with nine cars running better than a 4.60 and Jamie Stanton putting up a 4.485 at 158.91 to earn top qualifier and the first racer to run in the 4.40's here at SGMP.
Project was on the track today under her own power and piloted by Justin Wren, Shannon Wren’s son. Shannon was well known in the drag radial community and this car was one of the earliest purpose built cars in Florida racing and causing controversy back at Sunshine Dragstrip and at the Orlando World Street Finals. It’s very nice to see Justin carry on the legacy. He is running 6.50 with the car this weekend for seat time and we will have more from the team tomorrow.
Justin Juday will be running Outlaw 632 this weekend in his Scotty’s Racing Technology powered Firebird. He ran a 4.64 today so is on the right track so far testing out a different set up for the class.
Steve Jackson and Barry Mitchell were the first pair on in qualifying for Radial vs the World and gave the fans a little match race for $3,000. Jackson put the Shadow in the show with a 4.07 at 189 with Mitchell striking the tires early.
The next pair up would be David DeMarco and Keith Berry. This would be a great match with Berry taking the win and top qualifier with a 4.02 at 187 to DeMarco’s very game 4.08 at 183 in the small block vs Hemi pairing.
It wasn’t too long after the cleanup from Barnett’s crash and it would be Texas based Rick Thornton knocking Hancock back to second with his own 3.763 at 196. Thornton has been running well recently and has Big Daddy here assisting tuning the car again this weekend.
Yes, there is another three second pass, this time from the Killin Time Racin crew with Jeff Sitton putting this 2002 Camaro on the pole for the night running a stellar 3.944 at 192.14 MPH making not just one but two nitrous cars in the threes today. Oh my, my what has No Mercy VI got in store for us??
DeWayne Mills was paired up with a familiar face in Fran Meshaw as the two have been racing the NMCA for the past two years. Mills put up a 4.000 at an insane 202 MPH while Meshaw was on point laying down a 4.067 at 195 MPH.
Getting into X275 we have Jamie Stanton laying one down for the first 4.40 here at SGMP. a 4.485 at 158.91 MPH. Stanton, Dean Marinis and Ron Rhodes are the top nitorus cars in the class and here they sit one, two and three here at No Mercy VI.
Jared Johnson and Team KBX are having a good day figuring out the new changes running a 4.56 at 158.07 landing him fifth of fourty five cars who made attempts this session.
Shannon Renfro hails out of Richmond, Kentucky with his turbocharged 1990 Fox.He left well running a 5.006 at 130 to land twenty eighth.
