Chris Rini's ATI sponsored Camaro leads Big Dog Shootout points and was the winner in the July Power Jam event

RINI WINS POWER JAM AS POINTS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE

Words and photos by Greg Burrow

It’s summer in the Carolinas, and that could only mean one thing, if you are a drag racing fan. Time for the July event known as “Power Jam”. This marks the middle event of the season, as competitors begin to take notice of points, not only for the Piedmont Dragway’s original series, the Big Dog Shootout, now presented by CV Products. But it also is time for drivers to consider the standings for the CV Products Qualifying Challenge, to be run at the final series event in October.  Four drivers have risen to the challenge with familiar names to the diehard fan.

With his Power Jam win, Chris Rini takes the points lead in Big Dog and shares the qualifying points lead with Ed Hoover. Second is Mr. Mega Machine, Todd Howard, in the Jerry Williams family Mustang. Third is Mr.Hoover’s supercharged Camaro and fourth is another supercharged entry of Andy Beal.  That’s two nitrous cars and two supercharged cars, third and fourth.  All of these competitors are within striking distance of the points title so now every event becomes that much more important.

Ed Hoover is tied with Chris Rini for first in the CV Qualifying Challenge for Big Dog competitors

Rini’s win in July was not easy as he had to battle the heat, a slick track, and, oh yes, those pesky competitors. All this while being from New York state, by way of High Point, NC. Qualifying was divided among these four competitors with Todd Howard first at 3.962, Andy Beal at 3.986, Chris Rini at 4.028, and Ed Hoover at 4.029.  The rest of the field consisted of Tommy Mauney at 4.067, Travis Harvey at 4.077, Matt Giangrande at 4.079 and Chris Cline’s “Christine” at 4.106.