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The amazing finals started off with York, PA, rider Derek Christensen earning his way to incredible three final-round appearances. Christensen led off his trifecta with a win in Syn3 ET competition over Erik Nelson of Louisville, OH, then made his way back to the starting line for the Pingel Super Eliminator final. He defeated front-runner Kevin Winters of Richmond, IL, for his second victory of the day. As fans watched in awe, Christensen rode back up the return road for the S & S Super Sport final-his third final of the day. He was paired with local favorite Larry Maynhart, who handed Christensen his triple crown instantly with a -.001 red-light start. Christensen's family understandably reacted with celebration and hugs as the grandstands contributed their own roaring approval.
Christensen in action
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Super Sport finalist, Larry Maynhart
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AHDRA officials have conducted preliminary research and have found no other competitor who has earned three wins at a national points event, thus making Christensen's accomplishment a first. Adding more flair to this monumental moment is the fact that his mother and fellow competitor, Wanda Poff, earned double event victories just two weeks prior at AHDRA's Atlanta Dragway event and became the first woman to do so in AHDRA competition.
In their post race interview, Christensen along with his mother and his stepfather, Alan, beamed with excitement. The proud mother said teasingly to her son, "You just had to outdo me, huh?" Both Christensen and Poff credited their success to Alan Poff. "He works so hard on our bikes and made all this possible," they said. They also acknowledged the help from their main sponsor, Brian's Harley-Davidson.
Christensen's trophy trio
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Wanda, Derek & Alan
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In other competition, it was also a thrilling finish for Corrales, NM, competitor Greg Krenik at Summit Motorsports Park. Krenik earned victories in both S & S Pro Stock and AHDRA Pro Modified competition-his second time earning the accomplishment in the 2008 season. He defeated #1 qualifier Shaun Reno of Gloucester, VA, in the Pro Stock final and Bruce Chandler of Rock Hill, SC, in the Pro Modified category. Krenik said later that he couldn't have asked for a better weekend for the Desert Dawg Racing team.
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Krenik in Pro Stock action
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Krenik on his Pro Mod ride
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Pro Stock finalist, Shaun Reno
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Pro Modified finalist, Bruce Chandler
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In Kresto Pro Drag competition, Kirby Apathy of Bloomington, IN, earned his first win in fuel-bike competition when he defeated the two-time defending champion, Rick Moore, of Reading, PA. Moore drew an uncharacteristic red-light foul (-.262) and handed Kirby his first national event win in the Pro Drag category.
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Pro Drag finalists, Moore and Apathy
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Andy Simon of Fairless Hills, PA, not only was happy to win the Cutter's Foam/Team Nila Street Pro contest for his children, but also said that the win was very special for his son-in-law watching the results via Internet in Afghanistan. "I told Christian, my son-in-law, that I would wear this shirt for him," said Simon, revealing his United States Army Special Services t-shirt. Christian is serving in Afghanistan with a 12-member crew of the Green Berets, and Simon's pride was obvious.
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SP-Simon in action
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Simon proudly displays support for his son-in-law
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In Rush Pro Fuel, Tommy Sloan of Piedmont, SC, took over the rider's seat on the BMC Racing ride that was piloted to victory at AHDRA's season-opener in Gainesville by Rick Casas. Casas suffered a high-speed crash at AHDRA's event in Arizona and is temporarily sidelined from racing during his recovery. Sloan, who defeated No. 2 plate-holder Douglas Horne in the final, said that he was honored that Casas would put him on the bike and put his trust in him. Sloan also said that racing against 20-year-old Douglas Horne was an honor as well. "If I got to race him in every final for the rest of my career, I would be happy. I'm thrilled to see young riders keeping this sport alive. That kid is a class act."
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Pro Fuel winner, Tommy Sloan and the BMC Racing team
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Pro Fuel runner-up, Horne is sporting a new paint job and matching leathers!
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In Rush Pro Gas,Dale Raudenbush of Old Zionsville, PA, earned his third win of the 2008 season in Ohio.
Raudenbush, who rides for local sponsors Jon Miller and Thiel's Wheels, defeated Mike Lozano with a stunning holeshot. A .041 start and a 7.361/174 mph pass from Raudenbush were enough to get the win light over a .101 and 7.354 at 186 mph from Lozano.
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A Father's Day smile for Dale Raudenbush!
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PG - Raudenbush in action
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In the quickest and fastest class of AHDRA racing, Screamin' Eagle Top Fuel, it was a big finish for Tak Shigematsu of Ehime, Japan. Shigematsu took on Joe Timmons of Salt Lake City in the final and blasted down the track with a 6.56 at 195 mph over a 6.80 at 188 mph from Timmons for his second national win of the season. Shigematsu, the No. 2 plate-holder, said that winning in front of his family made the win extra special.
He pointed out that luck was on his side. "In the semifinal round, I smoked the tire and still got lucky. In the final, I broke a belt, so I was very, very lucky," he said. He earned the top speed of the weekend with a 224 mph blast on Sunday and low E.T. with a 6.419.
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Top Fuel finalists, Timmons & Shigematsu, wish each other luck prior to the final
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Shigematsu had his eyes on the win light
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Top Fuel finalist - Joe Timmons
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Shigematsu's shredded belt
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Shigematsu's celebrates Father's Day victory
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Other winners at the Roeder Harley-Davidson Ohio Bike Week Nationals included Dan Lesnock of Canonsburg, PA. Lesnock took his first event victory in the Bison Racing/Eagle Harley-Davidson Super Gas category over Indiana's Jim Sweet.
L.E. Tonglet expanded his lead in the Screamin' Eagle Destroyer category with a win over Nick Gonatas, Jr., of Youngstown, OH. Tonglet, of New Orleans, had a slim, one-point lead over Gonatas heading into the Norwalk event.
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Super Gas winner, Dan Lesnock
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Destroyer winner, L.E. Tonglet
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Mike Roberts of Clinton, OH, continued his dominating year in S & S 124-inch Challenge racing. Roberts, the defending champion in the class, defeated Chris Sansevere of Palm City, FL, in the final.
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SSC-124 defending champ, Mike Roberts
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Mike Roberts and Chris Sansevere
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Lou Gerencer of Elkhart, IN, defeated Mike Roberts in the Screamin' Eagle V-Rod category and maintains his lead in the points series. Bruce Croneberger of Cressona, PA, beat the class champion, Charlie Douglass of Staunton, VA, in the Drag Masters Hot Street final and will further his points lead.
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Lou Gerencer & Jim Sweet
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The Croneberger family
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Meanwhile, Greg Best of Raleigh, NC, will make a leap in the SEP 11.50 index chase after capturing his second consecutive win in the class. Best defeated the current points leader in the class, Keith Carper of Laurel, MD.
Next up for AHDRA's 2008 Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts Championship Series is the Northeast Nationals Presented by Horne Construction and Structural Concrete at Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, MD, on June 28th and 29th.
For more information, contact 336-924-2095 or visit www.ahdra.com.
Photo credits:
Mike McAdoo mcadooimages.com
Showcase Photos www.showcase-photo.com
Lisa Cranfill lisa@ahdra.com
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A thumbs up from 2-time SEP winner, Greg Best
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In Loving Memory - Joshua Tharpe
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