The North vs. South

by DeeAnna Hall
9/29/03

n the south, Piedmont Dragway's Big Dog Shootout events are the hot ticket for Pro Street drag racers, their families, and spectators. Recently, Piedmont Dragway co-owner Bob Harris sent out an open invitation challenge to a North vs. South style showdown at one of the "Big Dog" events.

The challenge involved one day of qualifying and one day for eliminations, run by the rules of the track and the idea, if you think you've got what it takes, BRING IT ON! The ultimate kicker...there was $50,000 to the winner. Who in their right mind, with a good sturdy ego, wouldn't fall out of the sky for a chance to take home the purse? The event dates and particulars were worked out, and the stage was set for the most lucrative event in Pro Street racing history.

September 20th, twenty-nine cars showed up; nine for the northern team and twenty for the southern team. According to the rules of the event, onboard diagnostic computers are not allowed. Yet, the north had never played by these rules.

According to DRO sources, Harris, track owner and promoter, made a verbal agreement with the north team that allowed the northern team members to make one shake down run with their computers on, to give them an even chance at qualifying. For the rest of the runs the computers had to be turned off. Needless to say, the southern team members did not find this fair. As the story goes... Promoter Harris called a drivers meeting, of sorts, on the starting line. Once again, harsh words were exchanged. In the classic words of well-known Marc Dantoni, a true "fist to cuffs" battle then ensued, followed by qualifying.

In the end, the south team included Todd Tutterow, Rocky "Batman" Raynor, Mike Bell, Ronnie Gardner, Rick Moore, Chris Cline, Keith Floyd and Milt Decker. The north included, of course, Pat Musi and teammates Tony Christian and Marc "Superman" Dantoni, Dan Parker, Tony Gentile, Jim Teachman, Stan Allen, and Bill Meadows.

Dan Talley