Rickie Smith was on hand for a test and tune session with his new 2012 IDG-sponsored Camaro with 903 cubic inches of Sonny Leonard power, in preparation for a run at the Big Dog Shootout title in 2012. The results were a 3.87 ET at 190.38 mph.  Looks promising.

The Big Dog Shootout 3-second Club will be honored at the 10th Annual Shriners Hot Rod and Drag Expo at the Greensboro (NC) Coliseum on January 14-15. The honorees will be given a special jacket courtesy of Piedmont Dragway and title sponsor, CV Products.

Charles Richards (shown) entered the October version of Renegade action at Piedmont Dragway fourth in points. But with a new Renegade ET mark of 4.18 in qualifying, the stage was set for the final event of the season.

Brian Schrader had only a 14-point cushion between himself and fifth place Jay Zimmerman, with Jamie Chappell, John Lassiter, and Richards when the night began. Richards set the mark in the first round with a 4.18 to lead the 14 cars attempting to make the eight-car field.
 
The Renegade action was much closer as the top points-earning drivers were all in the top six qualifiers and ready to settle their eliminator title.

Eliminations had the top six cars all in the field with Schrader qualifying on his last attempt only to lose to Jay Cox in first round. Zimmerman lost to Chappell in the first round, Lassiter beat Tim Lawrence and Richards used a 4.18 to dispatch Wayne Hawkins. 

Second round saw Richards use another 4.18 to defeat Chappell while Lassiter used a 4.20 to defeat Cox at 4.29.

The finals saw Richards take advantage of the cooler track temp to run a best 4.17 to defeat Lassiter’s 4.20.

This rearranged the points to the following: Charlie Richards, Jr., from #4 to #1. John Lassiter moved from #3 to #2. Brian Schrader moved from #1 to #3, and Jamie Chappell went from #2 to #4. Jay Zimmerman remained at #5. Confused? 

This class has grown from a field of Big Dog non-qualifiers to a show that rivals the original Big Dog format with cars that are basically a Top Sportsman spec car.