Powerfest at Rockingham, NC

Carolina Racers Power Up!

Photos by Terry Clark

Cassie Lewis (shown) of Lumberton, NC, and Donald Norris of Conway, SC, claimed the biggest shares of the purse in the seventh annual Carolina Powerfest at Rockingham Dragway on Aug. 16-18.

Lewis is no stranger to success at Rockingham Dragway where her parents, Tim and Georgia Thomas, enjoyed considerable success in their own right. She used a .031 package to turn back Michael Combs on Saturday. Cassie Lewis, Lumberton, .020, 4.691 on a 4.680, 140.76 mph, def. Michael Combs, Bluff City, Tenn., .053, 6.128 on a 6.080, 111.40 mph.

By contrast, it was a weekend of “almosts” for the racing Combs family of Bluff City, TN. Dad Michael Combs lost to Lewis in the Top Eliminator final on Saturday while his son Blake fouled out by a measly .002 of a second in Sunday’s Jr. Dragster final, handing the win to Rockingham regular Alyssa Rabon of Florence, SC.

Donald Norris beat Clayton, NC’s Blane Parrish on Sunday to earn his $5,000 share. Norris, .018, 5.768 on a 5.750, 117.06 mph def. Parrish, .014, 5.891 on a 5.850, 116.44 mph.

Ricky Bullock of Sanford, NC, drove his 1971 Chevelle past the 1962 Chevy Nova of veteran Willie Buie of St. Pauls, NC, to win Sunday’s Footbrake final a day after Ernie Humes of Troutman, NC, forced Levi Boozer of Kannapolis, NC, into a breakout foul to win his title.

Ricky Bullock, Sanford, 1971 Dodge, .052, 6.376 on a 6.290, 96.06 mph, def. Willie Buie, St. Pauls, 1972 Chevy Nova, .126, 6.956 on a 6.900, 99.14 mph.

Ernie Humes (shown), Troutman, .049, 6.454 on a 6.460, 99.44 mph, def. Levi Boozer, Kannapolis, .057, 6.258 breakout on a 6.270, 108.47 mph.

Alyssa Rabon’s starting line skills carried her through the final two rounds. The Florence, SC, driver had a .016 reaction time in the final round but it was her .005 light against Lane Morgan in the semifinals that may have compelled Blake Combs to push a little too hard in the final, resulting in a foul start in the final.