SEVERAL DRIVERS EARN TENNESSEE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES DURING DER RACING SERIES EVENT

Words by Wes Ramey

Clifford Davidson, Justin Buckles and Van Greer were among the drivers who added Tennessee State Championship trophies to their collections after last Saturday’s action at the DER Racing Series event at Bristol Dragway.

Davidson, from Church Hill, defeated Todd Whited of Richlands, Va. to take home the special plaque in the Super Pro division. Davidson had a .013 reaction time, coupled with a 5.448 elapsed time (5.43 dial-in) at 123.16 mph to earn the win. Whited ran a 5.506 E.T. (5.49 dial-in) in his runner-up effort.

Elizabethton’s Buckles took the win in the Pro category over Chad Harris of Vinton, Va. Buckles drove his 1983 Ford Ranger to the victory against Harris’ 1967 Chevette.

Greer, from Kingsport, continued his winning ways, dispatching Michael Hicks of Bristol, Va. during the Street division final round.  Both drivers were under their dial-in, but Greer was closer to his to pick up the win. Greer ran a 16.741 E.T. (16.75 dial-in), while Hicks went a little too fast trying to run down Greer’s Suburban. Hicks had a 9.878 E.T. (9.91 dial-in).

Aaron Roberts from Bluff City knocked off Bristol’s Jeremy Woods in the Trophy class to earn a Tennessee State Championship trophy. After coming of the line with a .061 R.T., Roberts drove his Mustang to the win with an 18.434 E.T. (18.40 dial-in) at 60.87 mph. Woods’ loosing run was a 17.155 E.T. (17.08 dial-in).

Jonesborough’s Mike Conley rode his Kawasaki to the win over Jason Haynes of Mount Carmel. Conley’s winning pass was a 7.878 E.T. blast (7.83 dial-in) at 83.89 mph.

Garrett Freeman from Roan Mountain earned the Junior Dragster Division I title when his opponent, Gabe Ellison of Rogersville turned on the red light in the final round. Freeman ran a 9.081 E.T. (9.04 dial-in) at 70.12 mph.

Allison Eads of Bristol, Va. took Junior Dragster Division II over Dane Shinault from Hillsville, Va. Eads’ winning run consisted of a .044 R.T. and an 8.445 E.T. (8.39 dial-in) at 75.48 mph.

Sunday’s Super Pro win went to Tucker McCandles of Sevierville. McCandles defeated Joe Gary in the final round.

Greer added a Pro division win to his weekend resume when he defeated Steve Foley from Barboursville, Ky. in the final round.

Jason Nelson of Bluff City won in Street action, while Michael Nutall earned the Trophy class win. Jerry Turner also of Bluff City took the win in Motorcycles on Sunday.

Dylan Howard (Jr. Dragster Div. I) and Dylan Kiser (Jr. Dragster Div. II) also earned victories.

A special shootout race was contested on Sunday afternoon for the top drivers in points for each division. The winners were Barry Brown (Super Pro), Greer (Pro), Rodney Finchum (Street), Ben Knight (Trophy), Mike Conley (Motorcycle), Joseph Denton ( Jr. Dragster Div. I) and Dane Shinault (Jr. Dragster Div. II). Shinault and Denton then raced each other with Shinault coming out victorious.

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