Rockingham Dragway

PASCHAL, MANUEL BIG TOP ET WINNERS AT POWERFEST 8
Hunt, Sides Claim Footbrake Titles in Labor Day Weekend Races at The Rock

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Former Carolina Coalition champion T.G. Paschal and 2018 NHRA Carolina Nationals Super Comp champion Corey Manuel were the big winners Labor Day weekend in Rockingham Dragway’s Carolina Powerfest 8 bracket races presented by Yuengling Flight.

Manuel, the standout from Winston-Salem, N.C., used a .016 package to win the Top ET title and a $10,000 share of the purse on Saturday when he forced Michael Spencer of Raeford, N.C., into a final round breakout foul. Accomplished in both bracket racing and class racing, Manuel was the IHRA national series champion in Quick Rod in 2012, the IHRA equivalent of Super Comp.

Paschal, who won the 2018 Coalition championship and was the Rockingham race winner this year, put together an .018 package to beat William Brewer of St. Pauls, N.C., for his $10,000 payday.

Footbrake winners were David Hunt of Pelion, S.C., who got a free ride to the Sunday trophy when Brandon Williams of Eagle Springs, N.C., was guilty of a final round foul start, and Steve Sides of Fayetteville, N.C., who beat Doug Walton on Saturday when the latter broke out by .004 of a second.

It was Hunt’s first race since 2011 – and he made the most of it. Among those he dispatched on the way to the winners’ circle was Eric Aman of Clinton, N.C., a former Rockingham track champion.

The holiday weekend event featured a free racers barbecue on Saturday sponsored by Yuengling and HGR’s Truck and Trailers, as well as the now familiar “Blue Light Special” program which rewards a racer with cash and prizes whenever the blue light randomly is illuminated on his or her run. More than 250 such prizes were meted out during the three days.

Chris Ferguson of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., son of former IHRA World Champion Glenn Ferguson, won the Top ET Gamblers race on Friday, sharing center stage with Footbrake winner Chris McBee of St. Pauls, N.C.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Results from Carolina Powerfest 8 contested Labor Day weekend at Rockingham Dragway. Hometowns are North Carolina unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time in relation to target time and finish line speed:

SUNDAY TOP ET
Round 6 – T.G. Paschal, McLeansville, .000, 4.525 on a 4.500, 151.87 mph, def. Lee Desist, Fayettteville, .024, 6.141 on a 6.100, 111.75 mph; Tony Self, Rockingham, 1971 Chevy Nova, .011, 5.962 on a 5.950, 114.18 mph, def. Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, 1982 Chevy Camaro, .009, 6.198 breakout on a 6.2000, 110.33 mph; Joel Hinson, Monroe, 1988 Dodge Daytona, .056, 5.681 on a 5.660, 122.00 mph, def. Charles Adkins, Charles City, Va., 1972 Chevy Nova, .050, 5.409 on a 5.380, 123.51 mph; Rob Painter, Spartanburg, S.C., .012, 5.159 on a 5.150, 132.67 mph, def. Jason Parker, Hughesville, Md., .025, 4.676 breakout on a 4.680, 145.25 mph; William Brewer, St. Pauls, .015, 6.130 on a 6.120, 111.81 mph, def. T.G. Paschal #2, McLeansville, .063, 4.529 on a 4.500, 151.85 mph; Chip Johnson #2, Fayetteville, 1982 Chevy Camaro, .025, 6.208 on a 6.200, 110.24 mph; def. Lee Desist #2, Fayetteville, .027, 6.179 on a 6.170, 108.38 mph.
Round 7 – Self, .011, 5.986 on a 5.950, 113.33 mph, def. Johnson, .003, 6.249 on a 6.190, 110.16 mph; Brewer, .004, 6.150 on a 6.130, 108.36 mph, def. Painter, .023, 5.165 on a 5.150, 132.13 mph; Paschal, .010, 4.513 on a 4.520, 151.97 mph, def. Hinson, foul (-.003).
Semifinals – Paschal, .012, 4.524 on a 4.510, 151..54 mph, def. Self, .016, 5.983 on a 5.950, 113.89 mph; Brewer, bye.
FINAL – T.G. Paschal, McLeansville, .007, 4.531 on a 4.520, 145.16 mph, def. William Brewer, St. Pauls, .026, 6.231 on a 6.120, 106.76 mph.

SATURDAY TOP ET
Round 6 – Chad Duke, Wilmington, .008, 5.382 on a 5.370, 125.994 mph, def. Shawn Carpenter, Elm City, .006, 5.823 on a 5.800, 111.17 mph; Gabe Taylor, Elizabethtown, .020, 4.471 on a 4.450, 151.48 mph, def. Will Cauthen, Lancaster, S.C., .042, 4.595 breakout on a 4.610, 145.06 mph; Jason Parker, Hughesville, Md., .020, 4.711 on a 4.670, 135.78 mph, def. Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, .051, 6.230 on a 6.180, 110.05 mph; Michael Spencer, Raeford, .004, 4.311 on a 4.300, 158.50 mph, def. Johnny Edwards, Jacksonville, 1970 Chevy Nova, .002, 6.275 on a 6.220, 109.01 mph; Corey Manuel, Winston-Salem, .011, 4.742 on a 4.710, 139.01 mph, def. Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, .081, 4.522 on a 4.510, 145.27 mph; Michael Paschal, Greensboro, .001, 4.586 on a 4.580, 146.64 mph, def. Shawn Carpenter #1, Elm City, .011, 5.803 on a 5.790, 114.00 mph; Blane Parrish, Clayton, 1967 Chevy Camaro, bye.
Round 7 – Spencer, .000, 4.303 on a 4.300, 158.69 mph, def. Parrish, .038, 5.796 on a 5.790, 117.71 mph; Manuel, .004, 4.718 on a 4.710, 143.37 mph, def. Taylor, .027, 4.456 breakout on a 4.460, 149.93 mph; Parker, .000, 4.664 on a 4.680, 141.47 mph, def. Duke, foul (-.003); Paschal, bye.
Semifinals – Manuel, .008, 4.722 on a 4.720, 139.33 mph, def. Parker, .010, 4.677 on a 4.670, 137.15 mph; Spencer, .020, 4.300 on a 4.300, 159.83 mph, def. Paschal, .014, 4.593 on a 4.680, 146.77 mph.
FINAL – Corey Manuel, Winston-Salem, .011, 4.715 on a 4.710, 141.43 mph, def. Michael Spencer, Raeford, .029, 4.295 breakout on a 4.300, 159.49 mph.

SUNDAY FOOTBRAKE
Round 5 – Keith Dunkum Jr., Richmond, Va., 1991 Ford Mustang, .049, 5.993 on a 5.970, 110.90 mph, def. Billy Lawrence, Raleigh, 1974 Chevy, .085, 7.355 on a 7.340, 91.15 mph; Cody Kirk, Richmond, Va., 1988 Ford Mustang, .042, 6.121 on a 6.120, 111.83 mph, def. Lauren Edwards, Maysville, .043, 6.365 on a 6.350, 107.04 mph; Danny Faile, Pageland, S.C., 1989 Ford Mustang, .014, 6.151 on a 6.130, 112.97 mph, def. Chris Leary, Clinton, .037, 7.187 on a 7.180, 95.58 mph; Eric Aman, Clinton, .011, 6.884 on a 6.840, 90.28 mph, def. Richard Synger, Dudley, 1972 Chevy, .104, 6.225 on a 6.200, 108.86 mph; Brandon Williams, Eagle Springs, .035, 6.436 on a 6.430, 101.17 mph, def. Bill Clardy, Loris, S.C., .049, 6.522 on a 6.490, 105.48 mph; David Hunt, Pelion, S.C., 1967 Ford, .046, 7.259 on a 7.240, 91.63 mph, def. Johnny Sykes, Cordova, 1968 Chevy Nova, .074, 6.890 on a 6.880, 99.05 mph.
Round 6 – Williams, .020, 6.421 on a 6.410, 102.68 mph, def. Kirk, .050, 6.159 on a 6.110, 112.75 mph; Aman, .027, 6.865 on a 6.840, 95.26 mph, def. Dunkum, .089, 5.993 on a 5.970, 111.21 mph; Hunt, .025, 7.302 on a 7.240, 92.01 mph, def. Faile, foul (-.001).
Semifinals – Hunt, .012, 7.266 on a 7.250, 92.23 mph, def. Aman, .001, 6.840 breakout on a 6.850, 96.47 mph; Williams, bye.
FINAL – David Hunt, Pelion, S.C., 1967 Ford, .043, 7.307 on a 7.250, 90.33 mph, def. Brandon Williams, Eagle Springs, foul.

SATURDAY FOOTBRAKE
Round 5 – Art Laselle, Fayetteville, .033, 6.699 on a 6.740, 102.65 mph, def. Greg Allen, Greenwood, S.C., 1980 Chevy Camaro, foul (-.003); Steve Sides, Fayetteville, NA, 6.539 on a 6.540, 104.55 mph, def. Leonard Cherry, Mt. Olive, foul; Doug Walton, Maysville, 1983 Chevy Camaro, .016, 6.608 on a 6.620, 103.25 mph, def. Lisa Cruz, East Bend, foul; Richard Synger, Dudley, 1972 Chevy, .052, 6.254 on a 6.220, def. Doug Cook, Marshville, 1985 Chevy S-10 truck, .092, 7.574 on a 7.540, 85.75 mph; Ricky Edwards, Maysville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .058, 6.898 on a 6.890, 98.27 mph, def. Willy Buie, St. Pauls, 1972 Chevy Nova, .111, 6.505 on a 6.490, 104.73 mph; Kale Hoffman, Richlands, 2000 Ford Ranger truck, .089, 7.175 on a 7.160, 95.94 mph, def. Chris McBee, St. Pauls, 1968 Chevy Camaro, foul; Keith Dunkum Jr., Richmond, Va., 1991 Ford Mustang, bye.
Round 6 – Sides, .022, 6.534 on a 6.530, 104.22 mph, def. Dunkum, .068, 5.985 breakout on a 5.990, 113.06 mph; Synger, .086, 6.248 on a 6.230, 108.61 mph, def. Edwards, .006, 6.871 breakout on a 6.880, 99.77 mph; Hoffman, .027, 7.177 on a 7.160, 95.83 mph, def. Laselle, .034, 6.713 on a 6.690, 102.17 mph; Walton, bye.
Semifinals – Sides, .028, 6.539 on a 6.530, 102.73 mph, def. Hoffman, .034, 7.167 on a 7.160, 95.87 mph; Walton, .017, 6.580 on a 6.580, 103.71 mph, def. Synger, .038, 6.240 on a 6.230, 108.65 mph.
FINAL – Steve Sides, Fayetteville, .066, 6.557 on a 6.530, 101.71 mph, def. Doug Walton, Maysville, 1983 Chevy Camaro, .100, 6.576 breakout on a 6.580, 103.77 mph.

TOP ET GAMBLERS RACE
Round 4 – Chris Ferguson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., .014, 4.583 on a 4.560, 147.37 mph, def. Stephen Peeler, Donalds, S.C., IROC Camaro, .019, 6.050 breakout on a 6.070, 112.14 mph; Kenneth Morgan, Fairmount, 1980 Chevy Monza, .035, 6.012 on a 6.000, 115.03 mph, def. Thomas Cain, Lumberton, .0008, 5.041 on a 4.970, 14.82 mph; Michael Spencer, Raeford, NA, 4.346 on a 4.340, 159.27 mph, def. Jason Parker, NA, foul (-.003).
Semifinals --- Morgan, .021, 5.993 on a 6.000, 115.29 mph, def. Spencer, foul; Ferguson, bye.
FINAL – Chris Ferguson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., .017, 4.555 on a 4.550, 149.85 mph, def. Kenneth Morgan, Fairmount, 1980 Chevy Monza, no time.

FOOTBRAKE GAMBLERS RACE
Round 3 – Richard Synger, Dudley, 1972 Chevy, .028, 6.322 on a 6.310, 106.04 mph, def. Leonard Wheatcraft, .080, 6.800 breakout on a 6.810, 100.46 mph; Bryan, .016, 6.847 on a 6.820, 99.16 mpph, def. Greg Allen, Greenwood, S.C., 1980 Chevy Camaro, .059, 6.828 on a 6.820, 99.41 mph; Chris McBee, St. Pauls, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .179, 7.602 on a 6.620, 88.95 mph, def. Doug Hoyt, West Columbia, S.C., 1990 Chevy Camaro, foul; Chad Terry, Efland, .044, 6.884 on a 6.810, 92.17 mph, def. David Daniels, Raeford, 1974 Chevy Vega, .105, 7.614 on a 7.530, 91.00 mph.
Semifinals – Synger, .025, 6.286 on a 6.310, 107.54 mph, def. Terry, foul; McBee, NA, 6.619 on a 6.620, 104.07 mph, def. Bryan, foul.
FINAL – Chris McBee, St. Pauls, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .039, 6.632 on a 6.610, 104.05 mph, def. Richard Synger, Dudley, 1972 Chevy, .042, 6.303 on a 6.280, 106.79 mph.