Survival Becomes Paramount as Goldstone Takes the Lead of Drag Week, Dunphy Out
Hot Rod Drag Week’s third day proved one of drama as attrition took hold across many classes and the overall lead changed hands.
Wednesday started nearly three hours late, as fog covered US 131 Motorsports Park for most of the morning. Finally the sun was able to cut through the moisture and the action began on track, with a fine surface prepared by Samuel Peterson.
The big news was the withdrawal of Ned Dunphy’s Dodge Viper. After 6.19 and 6.20 passes on the first two days, Dunphy encountered a valvetrain issue on the highway. The damage was too great to repair on the road and he chose to call it a week.
See this motor? It’s a supercharged big block Chevy and it’s what powers our 1962 Chevy Giveaway Gasser! Just imagine yourself driving down the road with this thing singing…
Bryant Goldstone arrived with the big block Chevy in his Javelin eating water, but they couldn’t find where the water was going into the engine. The team ran the car without water, and after shaking the tires hard on the first pass, Goldstone returned for a 7.196 run, dragging his average back to a 6.741.
Goldstone then retreated to replace the heads on his motor, which required pulling the motor itself out of the chassis.
With Dunphy out and Goldstone in trouble, Alex Taylor knows that consistency from her ‘55 Chevy could pay off. She carded a 6.831 to move her average to a 6.867 for second overall and second in the Ultimate Iron class. Steven Spiess’ average dropped back to 6.911 after a 7.002 best on day three.
With Unlimited leader Ned Dunphy dropping out, Les Smith produced his best run of the week to assume the top spot, an impressive 6.833/207mph.
Glenn Hunter set the scoreboards alight with his quickest ever drag-and-drive run, a 7.004/200mph. That helped his average considerably to a 7.549 to lead Pro Street Power Adder.
David Diehl also made his best run in drag-and-drive competition, a 7.085 to stay number one in Super Street Small Block Power Adder.
Despite dropping cylinders on the way down the track, Chuck Stefanski put down his best time of the week in the ProCharger-fed Lemans wagon, a 7.225 to lead Modified Power Adder with a 7.361 average. He called it good and packed up after just one pass.
After his big wheelie yesterday, Mike Finnegan and co-pilot Tony Angelo battled just to get on the road again. He had to fix the steering and didn’t even get to the first checkpoint until Wednesday morning. The fog and weather worked to his advantage and he thrashed to get two runs in, besting with an 8.704 for an 8.926 average. Wayne Baker still leads the A/Gas class with an 8.805 average.
Matt and Jerry Sweet continued their 7-second mission in Pro Street NA, with a one-and-done 7.82 at 177 mph. That’s one day longer than Drag Week 2023; can he hang on for the last two days?
David Hembree had to install fresh camshaft bearings overnight, but a 9.076 at 150 mph was his reward, keeping him atop the Street Race Small Block Naturally Aspirated class.
Incoming Street Race Small Block Power Adder leader Randy Seward kept the top spot by making an 8.507 on the first lap, his third-straight day with an 8.50x pass. His average of 8.504 is incredibly tough at this stage of the week!
Wednesday’s drive was a 190-mile jaunt across Michigan. The first stop was Red’s Root Beer, followed by a visit to Ididit, manufacturers of rather nice custom steering columns.
Day four of Hot Rod Drag Week takes place at Milan Dragway.
