Words by Hank Schmitt
Photos by Ricky Nichols
5/23/06
Bryan Dyar of Hillsboro, Alabama (above) calls his racing operation "Medicine Man Racing" and is sponsored by a drug store. Whether it was that or his home field advantage, he scored his first Nitro Coupe win in the inaugural Super Chevy Show at Huntsville Dragway May 20-21. Race fans packed the Huntsville stands both days despite an early guest appearance by summer. The three-day event even included a race by
members of the Middle Tennessee Avalanche Club, whose 6,000 pound behemoths lumbered down the Huntsville strip before Friday's Test and Tune session.Used to racing in the Alabama heat and humidity, Dyar was the most consistent car in the class, claiming the Trim Parts Low Qualifier prize with a 4.211/174.55 mph shot on Saturday at the legendary 1/8th mile track. He stayed around that mark all weekend, speeding up to a 4.167 shot in the semis when cloud cover briefly cooled the track. In the finals against fellow Alabamian Jerry Rhodes of Southside, AL (below). Dyar gave up two hundredths to Rhodes and his '63 Corvette Nitro Coupe on the starting line, but his '53 Studebaker stayed on a rail as he turned in a 4.213 (172.35mph) to Rhodes' 4.372 (168.04).
In addition to the Super Chevy menu of Mr. Gasket Bracket One (Electronics), Bracket Two (Footbrake) and D.O.T. (street legal) bracket classes, George Howard threw in three heads up classes, 7.0, 6.0 and 5.50 (bracket results below).
After a week off, the Super Chevy Show continues its 26th Annual Tour with a stop at Atlanta Dragway June 3-4.
Nitro Coupe Qualifying - Saturday 5/20 (Event qualified and raced 1/8 mile)
Qualifying |
Driver/Hometown |
Car |
ET |
MPH |
1 |
Bryan Dyar, Hillsboro, AL |
'53 Studebaker |
4.211 |
174.55 |
2 |
Jerry Rhodes, Southside, AL |
'63 Vette |
4.244 |
170.58 |
3 |
Larry Sinke. Wellmann, Ontario, Canada |
'67 Nova |
4.278 |
169.43 |
4 |
Bruce Boland, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
'33 Willy's |
4.312 |
170.07 |
5 |
Bill Doucet, Lawtell, LA |
'63 Vette |
4.443 |
171.95 |
6 |
Tony "Sandman" Williams, Millington, TN |
'69 Camaro |
4.456 |
168.86 |
7 |
Toney Russell, Ardmore, AL |
'55 Nomad |
4.857 |
124.55 |