Goldstone Quickest, Concerns for Bailey After Hot Rod Drag Week Day Three

Beautiful Bristol Dragway in Tennessee was the battleground for day three of Hot Rod Drag Week, with 250 of America’s quickest real street cars rolling through into the scenic venue.

This was the second time Bristol Dragway has hosted Drag Week, the first being in 2018, and once again it turned on beautiful weather befitting the stunning scenery.

At the top, Tom Bailey held his lead with a 6.779 pass in Sick Seconds 1.0, but it came at the cost of some broken wheelie bars. While Bailey and co-pilot Steve Morris thought some welding would be the most of their troubles, their day turned sour 200 miles into the drive when a sticky valve resulted in them limping to their hotel to pull apart the motor. Their average of 6.690 still has some breathing room, but the margin is shrinking.

Ultimate Iron leader Bryant Goldstone turned in the quickest official time slip of the day with a nice 6.685, taking his average to a 6.840. Goldstone had a drive from hell on the way to Bristol, with a leaking pinion meaning the team had to crawl much of the distance.

The quickest unofficial lap of the day went to Ned Dunphy. The SMX-powered Viper shot to a 6.407 at a huge 236mph. Though the run isn’t official due to license issues, it was a huge statement from a car we expect to see at the front of many drag-and-drives in the future.

Pro Street Power Adder is due for some shuffling as we heard Tony Hayes might’ve punched some rods out on an 8.367 pass. That would be good news for Evan Uerkwitz whose average of 8.197 is just a tenth behind Tony’s.

There was a shock in Pro Street NA as Matthew Sweet is out of competition. Transmission problems on the drive were the culprit and though Sweet limped into Bristol to stage the car, he called it quits afterwards. That means Mike Higgins’ ’69 Chevelle is now the leader thanks to a 10.449 average.

Devin Vanderhoof and Josh Davis had to settle for just a 7.651 pass, with the Mustang refusing to get a good grip on Bristol Dragway. They are still comfortably number one in Modified with their 7.248 average well out on Clark Rosenstengel’s 7.596.

Richard Trunkett remains the leader in Super Street Big Block Power Adder despite a less than stellar 8.632 pass at Bristol, while in Super Street Small Block Power Adder it is Ryan Hargett dominating courtesy of a 7.411 pass and a 7.340 average.

Michael Remines stayed number one in All Motor Big Block after an 8.820. Amazingly just two cars are left in the class. All Motor Small Block is the domain of Jason Tabscott, as his average stayed in the eights care of an 8.944 pass.

Across the 8.50 classes, leaders include Randy Belehar (Street Race Big Block PA, 8.595), Curt Johnson (Street Race Big Block NA, 8.764) and Jeff Sias (Street Race Small Block NA, 9.665).

But the most amazing performances of the week are still coming from Dustin Trance. At Bristol it was an 8.502 pass, keeping his average for the week at an incredible 8.504. Will Dustin be the first 8.50 racer to ever record an 8.50X average?

Other current leaders of Drag Week are Wayne Baker (Gasser A, 9.092), Dominick Zvacek (10.041) and Mark Fisher (Hot Rod, 9.155).

The day’s route took teams back through the mountains (though this time on highways) on what was a beautiful start to the 260-odd miles of driving.

The day’s only checkpoint was the Expo 300 bowling center, where some very surprised owners were confronted with hundreds of badass machines throughout the afternoon and evening.

Hot Rod Drag Week day four takes place at Carolina Dragway in Aiken, South Carolina today.

Click here for full results from Hot Rod Drag Week day three.