Bailey Leads Drag Week After Last Ditch Day One Pass
Tom Bailey holds the number one position at Hot Rod Drag Week 2023 following a tricky day of competition at Darlington Dragway.
Following yesterday’s torrential downpour, a lot of teams struggled to get a hold of the surface. Their troubles only increased as the sun came out, heating up the track and drawing out more moisture onto the surface.
Clark Rosenstengel was one of the few drivers to get down the track early with a soft-leaving 7.297/203.16mph from his Camaro. The other was Matt Frost, who launched to an impressive 7.031 in ‘The Hulk’ Nova.
Frost’s fortunes changed radically later in the day when the ProCharger blew midway through a second run. Frost was quickly on his phone to search for a replacement ProCharger and was able to get on the road to the next track in the late afternoon.
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Rosenstengel’s Modified class rival Devin Vanderhoof had Josh Davis at the wheel of his Mustang yet again and initially battle tire spin before returning for an impressive 7.019 several hours later.
Davis’ pass would hold up as the quickest of the day until last-ditch efforts from Tom Bailey and Bryant Goldstone. Both had made two runs already, but the third time proved a charm as Bailey clocked a 6.749 to lead Unlimited while Goldstone put up a 6.838 to lead Ultimate Iron.
There were plenty more impressive runs. Graham Hayes’ new nitrous-sucking ‘Bad Draw’ Nova went 7.667, throwing the hood at the finish line. His father Tony was right alongside with a 7.890 from the family’s other Nova to lead Pro Street Power Adder.
Richard Trunkett navigated the tough conditions for a 7.908 that would lead Super Street Big Block Power Adder, while Ryan Hargett’s Mustang was another to conquer the sunshine-soaked track with a 7.441 in Super Street Small Block Power Adder.
Matt Sweet dropped a seriously quick 7.910 in Pro Street NA with a beefy new engine in his Nova. Sweet is chasing ‘Doc’ McEntire’s Drag Week NA record, which stands at a 7.89.
Racing at Darlington continued well into the late afternoon to give everyone a chance to make multiple runs, but the pits soon emptied out as the Drag Weekers began the 175 mile trek through the Carolinas.
The first stop was South of the Border, a kitschy tourist-trap just off the interstate. From the wacky buildings to the animal statues and enormous signs, it certainly made for a colorful backdrop.
From there, it was on to The Ice Cream Parlor Restaurant in downtown Southern Pines, North Carolina. Unfortunately there would be no ice cream on this day as the shop was closed, leaving racers to get their photo and move on to their accommodations ahead of racing tomorrow at Rockingham Dragway.
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