Friday $5K

A high of 66 degrees and clear blue skies greeted 191 entries for Friday’s $5,000-to-win opening event, sponsored by Jacksonville area Bojangles restaurants. Some new faces joined the honor roll of big-money racing, with North Carolina drivers Kevin Wideman and Brett Miles squaring off for the $5,000 big check in the final round.

Wideman, driving a Plymouth Duster offered up by car owner David Stebner, defeated Ohio’s Bubba Black in the semifinals, with a .007 to .036 holeshot, allowing him to pedal to a 6.340 (6.29 dial-in) over the 6.384 (6.34) from Black’s Chevy S-10.

Miles, a big-buck race rookie, made it an all-Mopar affair with the semifinal bye run, posting an .052 bulb and a 7.785 (7.80) behind the wheel of his Dodge Dart.

Wideman’s perfect .000 reaction time set the stage in the finals. Miles’ .060 light left him no choice but to break out, 7.758 (7.79), leaving Wideman to collect the victory with a 6.339 (6.30).

DASH FOR CASH (Best Package)
1st $250 - William Roberts (NC - Camaro) .019
2nd $150 - Terry Rucker (NC - Mustang) .022
3rd $100 - Ray Thurston IV (PA - Camaro) .023

Saturday $20K

There were plenty of familiar faces among the 171 racers who made possible the return of the $20,000 main event to Thanksgiving weekend. New Jersey drivers reclaimed dominance when the dollars were on the line, none more spectacularly than Dave Harvey, Jr.