July 10-11, 2010

AHRA Sportsnationals

This weekend the AHRA debuts in Canada for the 1st Annual Sportnationals at Ashcroft's Eagle Motorplex. Situated in the Southern Interior of British Columbia less than an hour South of Kamloops BC.

The Eagle Motorplex has been around since the late 80's and has hosted many large events in the past. Since its inception it has been an NHRA race track. But over the last few years the commitment by the NHRA to help support the smaller tracks has been waning, and when the AHRA decided to reestablish itself as a drag racing sanctioning body, the Eagle Motorplex decided to make the switch as the programs they were offering suited the direction the Desert facility was moving towards. The AHRA made a commitment to host three event in 2010, including a reunion tour, an event the like the Eagle Motorplex has ever seen. They would also host two Sports Nationals one before the Reunion tour and one after.

This weekend, the first Sportsnationals gets underway Saturday with time trials for an electronics and non electronics buck dollar race to be held Sunday. The classes set to run are Super Pro (electronics), Pro Bracket, Sportsman bracket Bike/sled, and Jr Dragsters. There are four different features for the fans as well and they include two of the Eagle Motorplex's feature classes: Outlaw Doorslammers and a Blown Alcohol series matching up Dragsters, Altereds, Pro Mod style doorcars and funny cars. Then the AHRA has brought in a two car Alcohol Funny Car exhibition with the "Burnout King Darrell Webb and Rookie Funny Car driver Cody Anstead and to end each day, the Rollin Thunder Jet Funny Car. Saturdays racing starts off with time trials for all the classes and then once the first couple rounds of time trials are complete then they will run two gambler's races. One for the Jrs. and one for the bracket cars.

Saturday results.

With the hot weather and the largest NHRA event in the NW taking place this weekend, the car counts were not quite what everyone was hoping for, but all who are participating had a great day. Time trials proved to be a battle of who could get a consistent tune-up with 95 degree heat and a really hot racing surface. Track personal lead by Steve Manning and Joe Sye did a great job despite the hot conditions.

The Jr. gamblers race has close to 20 jrs. taking part and the final round matched up two local competitors. Girl power showed its colors as Tiffany "mouse" Hannah won the event over Dusty "brat fink" Copeland.

In the Bracket Gamblers race, Eagle regular Al Quigley defeated 2009 Pro Champion Chris Stone. Quigley had a great .014 package with a great .007 rt. Stone was right behind him with a .008. Stone took the stripe but he went under his dial by .005 handing the win to Quigley. Those two will be tough to beat on Sunday as both compete in different brackets.

In Outlaw Doorslammers, Kerry Stone is the #1 qualifier will a solid 7.01/198. He is just ahead of brother Daryl Stone who went 7.14 in his turbo charged Camaro.

The Blown Alcohol class is a real battle at the top with Jim Atwell taking the #1 spot with a great 6.41/214 blast. Vancouver Island competitor Brent Murray is right behind him with a 6.48/209 shot. Just back of the two 6.40 drivers is Kelowna's Neil Lachelt with a 6.57.

One more qualifying run Sunday Morning and then into eliminations.