AHDRA SEASON OPENER FROM GAINESVILLE
The AHDRA historically opens their season during Florida’s Bike Week at NHRA’s Gainesville facility. This year was no exception and although the weather didn’t cooperate for the first day of qualifying the race did go off and the race was completed. After rain forced the cancellation of all qualifying sessions, AHDRA president Craig Tharpe decided the fairest way to qualify the riders was to rank them based on the 2006 final point standings and run the race.
Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel
Top Fuel Harley driver Bob Malloy was awarded the 11th qualifying spot based upon his 2006 points standings. Malloy who owns and rides the quickest high-gear-only Top Fuel Harley performed magnificently throughout the day with winning runs of 6.38, 6.32 (his quickest to date), 6.44, and a 6.48 in the Final round to defeat Tommy Grimes riding the Samson Exhaust/Ray Price-backed bike of in the final. The victory was Malloy's first since building his unique, one-of-a-kind, direct drive Fueler in 2001.
"It's going to take a little while to sink in," a shocked Malloy said shortly after the race. "It's taken a lot of hard work. I continue to set my bike up a little bit differently from everyone else ….. Today was my day." The event victory gives Malloy the first point lead of his decade-long Top Fuel career.
JIMS Pro Fuel
In Jims Pro Fuel most everyone expected Jay "The Bulldog" Turner to emerge as one of the top riders especially after his tremendous finish in 2006, which included a double-win at the Dinwiddie, Va. event Turner seemed to pick up right where he left off in 2006, with an emphatic victory in the final round over John Breckenridge.
On his way to the victory Jay Turner re-set both ends of the AHDRA National record with a stellar 6.580 at 211 mph lap that defeated John Breckenridge in the final to gain the early season point lead. The stellar performance broke the record ET for the class formerly held by Mike Lehman at 6.583 record and the 210 mph speed mark formerly held by John Breckenridge.
"The competition is as tough as ever," Turner said. "It's going to take strong performances like this to stay in the hunt."