MANCUP: On August 18th, the MANCUP sanction announced guaranteed minimum and maximum purses in Street ET, Pro ET, Top Gas, Super Comp, Crazy 8’s, Street Fighter and Real Street. Please see the MANCUP website (www.MANCUP.info) for details. This move assures sportsman drag racers in advance, with no gray areas, what they can expect to win.

The sanction also announced the hiring of veteran motorcycle drag racer Ben Knight to the staff of MANCUP. As promised earlier this season, as the sanction grows, they are adding staff.

In July MANCUP hosted their third event of their five-race season at the Memphis Motorsports Park facility. The race was as brutally hot this year as it was last year in June of 2015. The announcer for the sanction, Bill Hahn, donated close to 1,0000 bottles of water to help keep racers hydrated.

Sam Wills (Thomas McCarthy photo)

Sam Wills of Oklahoma City was the number-one qualifier again at the event with a 6.04 elapsed time. Sam went on to win the event over his good friend Larry McBride. Paul Gast won in Pro Mod, Mark Rendeluk took the win in Pro Open and Joey Gladstone continues his domination in Pro Street.

Joey Gladstone at the U.S. Nationals in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Gladstone qualified number 17 out of 20 bikes and did not make the field. (Chris Haverly photo)

Speaking of Joey Gladstone - in August 2016, Joey was tapped to compete in NHRA Pro Stock racing for the first time in his career. His first race was the NHRA US Nationals! Heck of an event to enter P/S motorcycle with.

Joey drove the San Marino Excavating Pro Stock bike which features V&H horsepower.

In other important NHRA P/S motorcycle news, George Bryce and his Star Racing team picked up additional funding from Seven-Oh Joe, Mr. Joe Koenig, of Trim-Tex drywall products. This means Star Racing will be that much tougher at the biggest drag race of the year.