ROCKINGHAM – McLeansville’s T.G. Paschal is not unfamiliar with the winners’ circle at Rockingham Dragway, but few victories were more satisfying than the one he earned Sunday in the final race in the 2018 Hoosier Tires Carolina Coalition Series.
A terrific final round with Joe Foley of Mooresville in which the margin at the finish line was less than .001 of a second not only earned Paschal the final big paycheck of the Coalition season, it also helped secure his first championship.
“I can’t thank my wife (Jessica) enough for all her support,” Paschal said. “Deans Performance for one bad motor, BTE transmissions, and Racetech race cars.
“Good weekend for the Paschals. Michael cracked yesterday and I got ‘em today,” Paschal said, touting his brother’s Saturday win over Cory Funderburk. “Congrats, Joe on your runner up. Good final. Both of us .00 (in reaction time) and .0002 (margin of victory).”
Sunday Win Gives T.G. Hoosier Championship; Stevens Also Wins at The Rock
In Footbrake, Bostic’s Kelly Stevens leapfrogged over Ernie Humes of Troutman and Rickey Greer of Advance with a Saturday win and a Sunday runner-up. Trey Sikes, the pharmacist from nearby Hamlet, won Sunday’s competition driving the Chris Johnson owned Chevy.
Saturday’s Jr Dragster race was won by Conner Caulder over Branson Hutchens and the Sunday winner was Gavin Whisnant over newly crowned track champion Nichole Zuccarelli. The Jr. Dragster championship is yet to be determined after Michael Hypes of Blacksburg, Va., and Cam Whisnant of Dallas finished the series tied at the top.
HOOSIER TIRES CAROLINA COALITION SERIESFinal Points
TOP ET – 1. T.G. Paschal, McLeansville, 54; 2. Robert Hefti, Concord, 51; 3. Brandon Hutchens, Yadkinville, 48; 4. Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, 45; 5. Michael Paschal, Greensboro, 44.
FOOTBRAKE – 1. Kelly Stevens, Bostic, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, 55; 2. Ernie Humes, Troutman, 54; 3. Rickey Greer, Advance, 51; 4. Kelly Stevens #2, Bostic, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, 46; 5. Tie, Robert Benge, Mt. Airy, 1982 Chevy Camaro, and Rickey Greer #2, Advance, 38 each.
JR. DRAGSTER – 1. Tie, Michael Hypes, Blacksburg, Va., and Cam Whisnant, Dallas, (to be determined); 3. Gavin Whisnant, Dallas, 35; 4. Branson Hutchens, Hamptonville, 34; 4. Skylar Bustle, Sherrill’s Ford, 33.
Results from the final two races in the 2018 Hoosier Tires Carolina Coalition Series at Rockingham Dragway. Hometowns are NC unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time, target time and finish line speed:
SUNDAY TOP ELIMINATOR
Round 4 – Howard Westbury, Harleyville, S.C., 1966 Chevy Nova, .024, 6.056 on a 6.050, 114.45 mph, def. Ernie Humes, Troutman, .020, 6.698 breakout on a 6.710, 101.07 mph; Joe Foley, Mooresville, .002, 6.205 on a 6.160, 103.65 mph, def. Richard Charnock, Belvedere, S.C., 1980 Chevy wagon, .036, 6.818 on a 6.820, 104.61 mph; T.G. Paschal, McLeansville, .004, 4.696 on a 4.690, 148.25 mph, def. Mark Soles, Delco, foul; Ron Phipps, Salisbury, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .011, 6.146 on a 6.140, 110.40 mph, def. Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, .021, 4.496 on a 4.490, 154.79 mph; Cory Funderburk, Marshville, .036, 5.015 on a 5.010, 136.19 mph, def. Lee Desist, Fayetteville, .021, 6.187 breakout on a 6.190, 110.08 mph; Michael Smith, Riegelwood, .032, 5.483 on a 5.450, 126.98 mph, def. John Patterson, Wake Forest, .028, 7.056 breakout on 7.060, 94.05 mph; Tim King, Winnabow, 1988 Chevy S-10 truck, .008, 6.357 on a 6.350, 107.57 mph, def. Richard Alford, Raleigh, .002, 6.304 breakout on a 6.310, 106.14 mph; Robert Hefti, Concord, bye.
Round 5 – King, .011, 6.324 on a 6.350, 110.51 mph, def. Westbury, foul; Foley, .011, 6.170 on a 6.170, 109.02 mph, def. Funderburk, .011, 5.049 on a 5.020, 135.41 mph; Hefti, .012, 4.740 on a 4.730, 146.15 mph, def. Phipps, foul; Paschal, .024, 4.702 on a 4.690, 146.61 mph, def. Smith, .040, 5.504 on a 5.480, 122.52 mph.
Semifinals – Paschal, .011, 4.704 on a 4.690, 147.79 mph, def. King, foul; Foley, .014, 6.160 on a 6.160, 107.67 mph, def. Hefti, .027, 4.768 on a 4.740, 143.12 mph.
FINAL – T.G. Paschal, McLeansville, .005, 4.715 on a 4.700, 147.10 mph, def. Joe Foley, Mooresville, .008, 6.162 on a 6.150, 103.84 mph.
SUNDAY FOOTBRAKE
Round 4 – Allen Furr, Richfield, 1962 Chevy II, .041, 6.807 on a 6.770, 98.27 mph, def. Eric Watts, Rockingham, 1979 Chevy Malibu, .146, .528 on a 7.480, 92.19 mph; Ross Freeman, Westville, S.C., 1979 Chevy Camaro, .032, 7.529 on a 7.530, 100.30 mph, def. Rick Terry, Haw River, 1969 Chevy Chevelle, foul; Chris “Hot Rod” Gibson, Lexington, .018, 6.428 on a 6.420, 107.25 mph, def. Ernie Humes, Troutman, .026, 6.823 on a 6.820, 99.78 mph; Trey Sikes, Hamlet, 1979 Chevy Malibu, .004, 7.210 on a 7.210, 93.85 mph, def. Rickey Greer, Advance, .041, 6.100 on a 6.090, 112.95 mph; Kelly Stevens, Bostic, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, .016, 6.809 on a 6.820, 97.45 mph, def. Jonathan Surratt, 1969 Chevy Malibu, foul; Mark Soles, Delco, .029, 5.722 on a 5.720, 115.95 mph, def. Scott Yates, Gold Hill, 1965 Ford Mustang, .070, 6.416 breakout on a 6.420, 107.57 mph; Steve Alford, Angier, 1971 Ford Pinto, bye.
Round 5 – Furr, .065, 6.768 on a 6.770, 100.96 mph, def. Gibson, foul (-.002); Freeman, .077, 7.550 on a 7.520, 89.67 mph, def. Soles, foul (-.001); Stevens, .030, 6.836 on a 6.820, 99.19 mph, def. Alford, .035, 6.836 on a 6.820, 97.88 mph; Sikes, bye.
Semifinals – Sikes, .010, 7.253 on a 7.230, 90.19 mph, def. Freeman, .014, 7.536 breakout on a 7.540, 89.77 mph; Stevens, .039, 6.835 on a 6.820, 92.95 mph, def. Furr, .018, 6.830 on a 6.770, 100.63 mph.
FINAL – Trey Sikes, Hamlet, 1979 Chevy Malibu, .041, 7.236 on a 7.240, 91.53 mph, def. Kelly Stevens, Bostic, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, .029, 6.796 breakout on a 6.820, 95.78 mph.
SUNDAY JR. DRAGSTER
Round 3 – Nicole Zuccarelli, Goldsboro, .004, 7.813 on a 7.900, 83.19 mph, def. Michael Hypes, Blacksburg, Va., foul (-.002); Gavin Whisnant, Dallas, .079, 9.085 on a 9.050, 69.44 mph, def. Nolan Callahan, Fayetteville, .045, 14.016 breakout a 14.030, 45.44 mph; Branson Hutchens, Hamptonville, .037, 8.525 on an 8.500, 71.60 mph, def. Conner Caulder, St. Pauls, .048, 7.877 breakout on a 7.900, 80.56 mph; Makala Stevens, Lexington, S.C., .023, 7.934 on a 7.900, 78.74 mph, def. Marissa Bickford, Concord, .020, 7.972 on a 7.920, 80.39 mph; Cam Whisnant, Dallas, bye.
Round 4 – G. Whisnant, .037, 9.066 on a 9.060, 67.47 mph, def. Stevens, .123, 7.837 breakout on a 7.900, 82.51 mph; C. Whisnant, .068, 7.933 on a 7.920, 78.40 mph, def. Hutchens, .062, 8.519 on an 8.500, 72.59 mph; Zuccarelli, bye.
Semifinals – Zuccarelli, .029, 7.925 on a 7.900, 80.83 mph, def. C. Whisnant, .031, 7.928 on a 7.900, 81.87 mph; G. Whisnant, bye.
FINAL – G. Whisnant, .097, 9.048 on a 9.030, 71.35 mph, def. Nicole Zuccarelli, Goldsboro, foul (-.002).
SATURDAY TOP ELIMINATOR
Round 4 – Ernie Humes, Troutman, .009, 6.706 on a 6.690, 100.32 mph, def. Timothy Thomas, Lumberton, .017, 4.971 on a 4.940, 137.62 mph; Unknown #2X20, .010, 5.914 on a 5.890, 115.00 mph, def. Michael Smith, Riegelwood, .047, 5.479 on a 5.470, 126.23 mph; Ashley Smith, Winterville, .021, 4.792 on a 4.780, 141.03 mph, def. Unknown #ZX18, .029, 6.388 on a 6.370, 106.57 mph; Michael Paschal, Greensboro, .013, 4.751 on a 4.710, 136.70 mph, def. James Caulder, St. Pauls, .028, 6.158 on a 6.080, 113.13 mph; David Lowe, Raeford, .019, 5.837 on a 5.820, 114.74 mph, def. Ron Phipps, Salisbury, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .0138, 6.149 on a 6.140, 110.71 mph; Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, .023, 4.513 on a 4.500, 150.48 mph, def. Richard Charnock, Belvedere, S.C., 1980 Chevy wagon, .023, 6.825 on a 6.800, 103.53 mph; Cory Funderburk, Marshville, .008, 5.028 on a 5.020, 137.40 mph, def. Tim Thomas, Lumberton, foul (-.001); Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .000, 4.871 on a 4.870, 140.12 mph, def. Jackie Taylor, Lumberton, 1973 Chevy Vega, .016, 6.134 breakout on a 6.160, 111.12 mph.
Round 5 – Lowe, .034, 5.832 on a 5.820, 117.38 mph, def. Humes, foul; Funderburk, .005, 5.056 on a 5.040, 134.44 mph, def. A. Smith, .019, 4.784 on a 4.780, 142.32 mph; Paschal, .013, 4.728 on a 4.720, 145.39 mph, def. Unknown #2X20, .015, 5.910 on a 5.900, 115.78 mph; Vogler, .010, 4.523 on a 4.500, 148.59 mph, def. Alford, .022, 4.886 on a 4.870, 140.04 mph.
Semifinals – Funderburk, .015, 5.058 on a 5.030, 134.66 mph, def. Lowe, .040, 5.832 on a 5.820, 116.26 mph; Paschal, .020, 4.721 on a 4.720, 144.07 mph, def. Vogler, .024, 4.512 on a 4.500, 153.40 mph.
FINAL – Michael Paschal, Greensboro, .005, 5.039 on a 4.720, 107.01 mph, def. Cory Funderburk, Marshville, foul.
SATURDAY FOOTBRAKE
Round 4 – Mark Soles, Delco, .110, 5.741 on a 5.710, 121.95 mph, def. Allen Furr, Richfield, 1962 Chevy II, foul; Steve Alford, Angier, 1971 Ford Pinto, .005, 6.823 on a 6.800, 96.01 mph, def. Kelly Stevens, Bostic, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, .040, 6.835 on a 6.790, 94.14 mph; Ross Freeman, Westville, S.C., 1979 Chevy Camaro, .011, 7.570 on a 7.560, 88.80 mph, def. Donald Barnes, Evergreen, 1972 Chevy Nova, .062, 7.850 on a 7.820, 82.30 mph; Scott Yates, Gold Hill, 1965 Ford Mustang, .009, 6.445 on a 6.430, 103.02 mph, def. Rickey Greer, Advance, .034, 6.108 on a 6.070, 112.19 mph; Chris “Hot Rod” Gibson, Lexington, 1971 Chevy Camaro, .058, 6.469 on a 6.490, 101.41 mph, def. Leonard Cherry, Mt. Olive, .101, 8.479 breakout on an 8.500, 78.19 mph; Kelly Stevens #2, Bostic, .009, 6.802 on a 6.790, 94.77 mph, def. Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .017, 6.368 on a 6.350, 104.82 mph; Willy Buie, St. Pauls, 1972 Chevy Nova, bye.
Round 5 – Buie, .024, 6.864 on a 6.820, 98.53 mph, def. Yates, .212, 6.420 on a 6.420, 107.61 mph; Freeman, .024, 7.561 on a 7.560, 89.67 mph, def. Gibson, .039, 6.448 breakout on a 6.480, 103.35 mph; Stevens, .031, 6.802 on a 6.790, 98.14 mph, def. Soles, .043, 5.722 breakout on a 5.740, 121.92 mph; S. Alford, bye.
Semifinals – Stevens, .021, 6.820 on a 6.820, 95.16 mph, def. S. Alford, .026, 6.791 breakout on a 6.800, 96.38 mph; Buie, .049, 6.829 on a 6.830, 100.23 mph, def. Freeman, .036, 7.542 breakout on a 7.550, 90.00 mph.
FINAL – Kelly Stevens, Bostic, .019, 6.827 on a 6.820, 93.78 mph, def. Willy Buie, St. Pauls, 1972 Chevy Nova, .055, 6.813 breakout on a 6.820, 100.94 mph.
SATURDAY JR. DRAGSTER
Round 3 – Branson Hutchens, Hamptonville, .265, 8.539 on an 8.530, 73.69 mph, def. Nolan Callahan, Fayetteville, .168, 13.907 breakout on a 13.950, 45.87 mph; Brody Callahan, Fayetteville, .197, 11.905 on an 11.800, 52.50 mph, def. Stanley Chavis, Red Springs, foul; Conner Caulder, St. Pauls, .034, 7.933 on a 7.900, 80.87 mph, def. Cam Whisnant, Dallas, .081, 7.887 breakout on a 7.900, 81.97 mph; Michael Hypes, Blacksburg, Va., .070, 7.893 on a 7.900, 82.26 mph, def. Marissa Bickford, foul; Gavin Whisnant, Dallas, bye.
Round 4 – Hutchens, .015, 8.590 on an 8.540, 70.81 mph, def. G. Whisnant, .115, 9.060 on a 9.010, 68.37 mph; Hypes, .060, 7.952 on a 7.900, 76.14 mph, def. B. Callahan, .044, 12.006 on an 11.900, 52.54 mph; Caulder, bye.
Semifinals – Caulder, .007, 7.944 on a 7.940, 82.08 mph, def. Hypes, .000, 7.916 on a 7.900, 80.88 mph; Hutchens, bye.
FINAL – Conner Caulder, St. Pauls, .069, 7.900 on a 7.930, 83.38 mph, def. Branson Hutchens, Hamptonville, foul.-www.rockinghamdragway.com-
