Jim McClure All-Harley Race at Rockingham, NC

Grimes Dominates in Top Fuel, Vickers Sets Pro Fuel Record

Results and photos courtesy Rockingham Dragway

Tommy Grimes (far lane) took the Top Fuel win over Jay Turner.

NHRA champion Tommy Grimes maintained his dominance at Rockingham Dragway Sunday, Oct. 18, by beating fellow Carolinian and newly crowned IHRA champion Jay Turner in the final round of the 24th annual AMRA Jim McClure All Harley Nitro Nationals.

Grimes qualified No. 1 at The Rock for the fifth consecutive year with an all-time best AMRA time of 6.157 seconds. He also raised the Ray Price Harley own AMRA speed record to 231.60 miles per hour before beating Turner to the finish in the final round by a narrow .028 of a second.

Fittingly, Donnie Huffman of Lakeland, Fla., clinched three AMRA national championships Sunday, boosting his career total to 19 and breaking the record formerly held by the event’s namesake. McClure won 18 national titles in his career.

Huffman was the event’s only double winner. After beating James Garey of Hernando, Miss., to win in Street Eliminator, he stopped Nate Carnahan of Powhaton, Va., to prevail in Super Pro.

Grimes and Huffman weren’t alone as record setters Sunday. They were joined by Johnny Vickers of Millers Creek, N.C., who dropped his own Pro Fuel record from 7.210 to 7.185 seconds on the way to the Rockingham winners’ circle.