Draggin’ The Line
Torque Gets You Up To Speed On AHDRA Action
Article And Photos By: Tim Hailey
Originally Published In Torque Performance Volume 1 Issue 2 – Winter 2021
Read The Whole Article On The Torque Performance Web Site
From the U.S. Nationals in Indy to AHDRA’s Southern Nationals in Orangeburg, Ryan Peery is enjoying a streak like few other racers have. Through heat and humidity, cool and dry, quarter mile or South Carolina Motorplex’s eighth mile, Peery has wins in Top Fuel Harley races one after another in AHDRA, NHRA, and AMRA. Peery well might be headed to multiple Top Fuel Harley championships this year, which includethe AHDRA all-American motorcycle drag racing series. His final round win against Dr. Jimmy “Mack” McMillan at Orangeburg on September 17-18 might have sealed the deal.
Peery qualified number one and ran a consistent 4.20’s all weekend while Jimmy McMillan had to face Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile—the winner of AHDRA’s Cecil County event. “Jimmy ran some personal bests and took out Tracy. Peery said, “He and I paired up for the final, and it looked like he was lined up a little crooked and he crossed center. Jimmy is doing a great job though. He will turn into a tough competitor with a little more seat time.”
Local star, Armon Furr won Hawaya Racing Nitro Funnybike by beating points leader Michael Balch in the final. “I appreciate everyone that came out and participated in the event,” Furr said. “I hope we can try it again, maybe this time earlier in the year. If we are going to have a race in South Carolina, this is the best track even though its an eighth mile.” Like Furr, South Carolina’s Sam White gave the home crowd what they wanted, taking the Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel final over Rocky Jackson.
Nate Carnahan scored an easy Pingel Modified win when Stoney Westbrook redlit in the final. Carnahan, who was struggling all weekend, with tire spin off the line, got his first win in Mod.
John Shotts won Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson Super Gas 6.35 index, beating Robert Willis in the final. Shotts took the tree .039 to .049 and came out on top of the double breakout race.
“We struggled all weekend with the bike,” said Shotts, echoing Carnahan’s path to victory. “Never did figure out the problem but we ran good enough to win! It was our first time at that track and we really had a good time.”
Willis also runner-upped in Top Eliminator, losing the final round to Ken Strauss, but he won Mad Monkey Motorsports Eliminator over Jason Leeper.
Jason’s son Jordan Leeper had a Luke Skywalker moment, beating his dad in the Street Eliminator final. “Wasn’t the first time,” laughed Jordan. “He’s good, but my bike was dialed in more than his was. When it came down to it, I got the holeshot and he broke out trying to chase me down.” Leeper’s teammate “Crazy” won Trophy.
Larry Maynhart hadn’t been to the track in over five years and came back with a bang—winning Universal Fleet & Tire Pro Eliminator 7.00 index. He fell just short in Super Pro 6.60 as the runner-up. Maynhart was sharp on the tree in both finals, putting .040 on Cody Hayward while winning a double breakout Pro Eliminator final. He had .033 on Bob Maier in the Super Pro final but let Maier win with a sharp 6.609. “
John Price won the Zippers Performance Pro Modified final over Shane Pendergrass, and Ryland Mason tamed his wheelies long enough to win Law Tigers Pro Bagger over Justin Demery. Greg Quinn is another winning wild wheeler, picking up the MTC Bagger trophy. “Been trying to tame my bike,” Quinn said of his Kendall Johnson ProCharged machine. “Finding the perfect combination is tough for a carbureted bike. Still doing wheelies and climbing the ladders of the field.
Kevin Campbell won GMS Racing Pro Open
Now Bill Rowe, his family, and the AHDRA community turn their attention to making the World Finals at Gainesville Raceway the biggest, baddest, and best ever! Be there November 6-7 to cap off a great 2021 and set the stage for a historic 2022.
