LIVE from Union County Pro-Am

[Michael Beard]

Welcome to the newest facility on the IHRA circuit, Union County Dragway in Union, SC, about an hour southwest of Charlotte. The new 1/8the mile track just opened last year. Tony Brown was tapped to manage the track this year. Tony is a Super Stock racer himself, as well as the head of the PTRA (Pro Tree Racers Association). The pits are still under construction, but all the buildings, staging lanes, and the track itself are all great. Reminds me a little of Skyview.

We've got more barometer than Michigan last week, but it's HOT this afternoon, with a sky-high vapor pressure. ET/mph was very close to last week. Only took -.84 under to be #1, if that tells you what the air is like! I'll have to check DRC and see if 3rd generation racer Tyler Bell held onto the top seed in hid granddad's G/CM AMX (LD Whitley's)

[66formulas]

Thanks Mike

I need trailer numbers and name. Are you going to Maryland next weekend? Tyler didn't hold on to #1. Cody Phillips got #1.

Mike Bolton
IHRA Stock #1659

[Michael Beard]

Yup, I'l be there.

Congrats to Cody Phillips on his #1 qualifier in Stock, as well as Ronnie Courtney's GT/E in Super Stock.

Very glad they scheduled this race for a 1pm start. Finally cooled off, AAaaaaalllll the way to 80deg. Vapor Pressure over .85!

Had prolly my best qualifying effort of the year (5th). Got by first round.

[Michael Beard]

Daryl Hollin (Darrell Holland?) Had a top end wreck in his SR roadster. They said he was out of the car. About 5-10 min later, started sprinkling. They're loading his car into his trailer off the rollback now.

[butch8908]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Daryl Hollin (Darrell Holland?) Had a top end wreck in his SR roadster. They said he was out of the car. About 5-10 min later, started sprinkling. They're loading his car into his trailer off the rollback now.

Here are a few I took yesterday. Good looking Duct Tape car.

[Michael Beard]

Slept in yesterday, made it to the track in time to tech in and make it to the lanes at 1pm for the first qualifying run (first time a Pro-Am has tried the afternoon start schedule), came away with a R/U finish to red-hot "The Mongrel" John Boyer, and even after doing all the contingency and winners circle and a 3hr drive home, still home the same night, albeit around 2:15 am. All worth it! Congrats also to Mike Volkman, taking a close win over Stephen Jennings in Super Stock.

Here's some more pics... (and thanks for your contributions, butch!)

In this batch, Steve Johnson's sweet SS/PD-1 stick shift Chevy II, a couple overview shots of the track, Scotty Galyean's D/CM Camaro, semifinalist Junior Bryant driving Ernie Humes' H/CM Demon (as seen on PINKS All Out!), the aftermath of Darryl Hollin's incident, Randy Layton's G/CM Nova, and two more overview shots from later in the day, showing the good crowd on hand. They did a great job drawing spectators... there were cars, trucks, and ez-ups lined up all the way down the fence on both sides of the track!

The track surface was perfect, even in the heat. They did a good job and put a tremendous effort into their first Pro-Am, and I expect things to only get better. Thanks to Tony Brown and Union County Dragway for having us!

[butch8908]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Slept in yesterday, made it to the track in time to tech in and make it to the lanes at 1pm for the first qualifying run (first time a Pro-Am has tried the afternoon start schedule), came away with a R/U finish to red-hot "The Mongrel" John Boyer, and even after doing all the contingency and winners circle and a 3hr drive home, still home the same night, albeit around 2:15 am. All worth it! Congrats also to Mike Volkman, taking a close win over Stephen Jennings in Super Stock.

Here's some more pics... (and thanks for your contributions, butch!)

In this batch, Steve Johnson's sweet SS/PD-1 stick shift Chevy II, a couple overview shots of the track, Scotty Galyean's D/CM Camaro, semifinalist Junior Bryant driving Ernie Humes' H/CM Demon (as seen on PINKS All Out!), the aftermath of Darryl Hollin's incident, Randy Layton's G/CM Nova, and two more overview shots from later in the day, showing the good crowd on hand. They did a great job drawing spectators... there were cars, trucks, and ez-ups lined up all the way down the fence on both sides of the track!

The track surface was perfect, even in the heat. They did a good job and put a tremendous effort into their first Pro-Am, and I expect things to only get better. Thanks to Tony Brown and Union County Dragway for having us!

Here is one more that I forgot this morning. Wheels up.