Jim McClure All-Harley Nitro Nationals at Rockingham, NC

GRIMES TAKES RAY PRICE HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO BIG WIN

Results courtesy Rockingham Dragway
Photos by Gary Rowe

In an event that included riders from Germany, Australia and Canada as well as from California and Colorado, it was local favorite Tommy Grimes who rode to victory Sunday, Oct. 13, in the featured Top Fuel category at the 22nd annual Jim McClure All-Harley Nitro Nationals at Rockingham Dragway.

Grimes, the veteran from Pfafftown, NC, sped to a new national record of 6.197 seconds at 220.40 miles per hour in a final round victory over Mike Scott of Bling Bay, British Columbia, in a field for which former IHRA All-Harley Champion Jay Turner of Julian, N., title contender Ricky House of Humble, Texas, and international rider Joachim Riemer of Germany were able to qualify.

Astride the hybrid Harley he campaigns out of Ray Price Harley-Davidson in Raleigh, Grimes raced to a speed of 227.96 mph en route to the No. 1 qualifying position but wasn’t able to satisfy criteria that would have made that the new American Motorcycle Racing Association speed record.

It was the only thing Grimes left on the table in a dominating performance.  After qualifying No. 1 at 6.220, he stopped the quarter mile timers in 6.242 seconds to be Ray Cason in round one, at 6.198 to turn back points leader Randal Andras of Amelia, La., in the semifinals and 6.197 to beat Scott.

Despite the loss to Grimes, Andras did not leave empty-handed.  He turned back No. 1 qualifier Chris Streeter of Cleveland, Ohio, to win the Nitro Funny Bike title.

Grimes and Andras shared the winners’ circle with Pro Fuel winner Rocky Jackson of Youngsville, La., Pro Gas champion Tom Caldwell of Knoxville, Tenn., and Pro Mod winner Joey Thompson of Hopewell, N.J. 

Thompson beat Morry Strauble of Wyoming, Mich., in the Pro Mod final after Strauble stunned Jason Adams of Gainesville, Ga., in the semifinals when he used a .018 reaction time to make his 8.537 second time a winner against Adams’ much quicker 8.357.

Sportsman winners included Donnie Huffman of Lakeland, Fla., who won three classes and was runner-up in a fourth.