FORMER CHAMPIONS OFF TO STRONG START IN RACE FOR TRACK TITLES     Former champions have raced to the forefront after the first two of nine races to determine Rockingham Dragway track champions as well as the track's representatives to the IHRA's Summit ET Bracket Finals in the fall. Raeford's David Lowe, the track's reigning Top Eliminator champion, currently shares the points lead in the top category with Fayetteville's Lee Desist. Bobby Hardee of Mullins, S.C., is just a point behind with 13. In Footbrake, Benson's Terry Rucker will move on to the March 29-30 Hoosier Tires Carolina Coalition event one point ahead Fayetteville's Art Laselle and former track champ Eric Aman of Mt. Olive. Another former track champ, Goldsboro's Roger Rhodes, also is in the mix. As for the increasingly competitive Jr. Dragster class, the race at the moment is wide open with with brother-sister contenders Tucker and Kaylee Creech of Clayton dueling with Dunn's Dawson Wiggins, Beanne Wall of Kenly and Kaylee Miller of Lancaster, S.C. According to track owner Steve Earwood, although every race is important, the key event in the series will occur Memorial Day weekend when the track hosts the annual Big John Memorial Iron Man Championship which will offer some of the Southeast's top bracket racers three separate points-earning opportunities along with a shot at a big cash purse. "We're looking for a big turnout at the Hoosier Carolina Coalition race," Earwood said, "but with the chance to pick up points in three races in a single weekend, everybody always circles the Big John Memorial. The cliché is that bracket racing is the backbone of the sport - but it's true. It not only the entry level form of drag racing, it's someplace you can race for as long or as little as you want. "We've got bracket racing regulars who have no interest in moving up in class. They enjoy racing right where they are. So, bracket racing is kind of the melting pot for drag racing. That's why it's so important to maintain a strong bracket program like we have here at The Rock." ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Summit ET Series points after the first two of nine races to determine Rockingham Dragway track champions and representatives to the IHRA Summit Finals in the fall: TOP ELIMINATOR 1. Tie, David Lowe, Raeford, and Lee Desist, Fayetteville, 14 each; Bobby Hardee, Mullins, S.C., 13 FOOTBRAKE 1. Terry Rucker, Benson, 14; 2. Tie, Eric Aman, Mt. Olive, and Art Laselle, Fayetteville, 13; 4. Roger Rhodes, Goldsboro, 12 JR. DRAGSTER 1. Tucker Creech, Clayton, 13; 2. Dawson Wiggins, Dunn, 12; 3. Beanne Wall, Kenly, 10; 4. Kaylee Miller, Lancaster, S.C., 9; 5. Kaylee Creech, Clayton, 8           "THE ROCK"  Always Action Packed and Extremely Fast For All Race Cars & Bikes!!