Dunphy’s 6.26/244mph Pass Highlights Drag Week Testing
Ned Dunphy fired some serious warning shots during day zero of Hot Rod Drag Week at National Trail Raceway, just outside of Columbus, Ohio.
Dunphy’s SMX-powered Viper, which made its debut at last year’s Drag Week, clocked an early shut off 6.8 pass, followed by a 6.31/241mph and finally a 6.26/244mph. Dunphy didn’t have his full NHRA license at last year’s event, limiting the legal times he could hand in, but this year there will be no such restriction.
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While the car has not been seen at any other drag-and-drive events yet, it has been active in Radial vs The World where it has been running deep into the threes over the eighth-mile. For Drag Week, the big floppy tires are back on and Ned has his eyes on setting one of the quickest drag-and-drive averages in history.
Alex Taylor just missed the sixes with a 7.02/207mph. After finishing third overall at Motion Raceworks Sick Summer, Taylor is set to resume her Ultimate Iron rivalry with Bryant Goldstone, who only made one short test hit during the day.
Dave Schroeder has some confidence in his camp after going 4.17 to 660’ on his only test run of the day.
The drag-and-drive world continues to burst with new builds. John Lohone and Jeremiah Kirby built this Chevelle, rolling with a naturally aspirated 665ci big block making 1180hp. The car ran some nice 8.4 second passes and will contest the Pro Street Naturally Aspirated class.
Ontario’s Nic Poirier is just 25 years old but has put together this weapon of a Pro Street Camaro. His godfather once owned the car and eventually Nic tracked it down to get it back into the family. It was already tubbed but Nic completely updated the car, including building his first roll cage.
The wackiest build of this year, and perhaps the strangest of all time, goes to this thing. Brandon Tothero dropped this hull over an E46 BMW chassis, with a turbocharged BMW M52 motor up front. It’s actually a drift car doing something drag racing for the first time!
This mid-engine truck is also up there in terms of strangeness. We didn’t manage to catch the owner today but we’ll be sure to get some more info on what looks like a serious build!
Hot Rod Drag Week competition officially begins tomorrow at National Trail Raceway before heading out to Indianapolis Raceway Park, US 131 Motorsport Park, Milan Dragway and back to National Trail Raceway.
