ROCKINGHAM — It was a good news, bad news weekend for Jason Epling and the world’s quickest and fastest Dodge Challenger during the spring edition of the Hemi Tuner Performance Modern Street Hemi Shootout at Rockingham Dragway.
While the Bean Station, Tennessee, driver was able to power the Epling Garage 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat through the quarter mile in world record time (7.393 seconds) at an all-time best finish line speed of 182.03 miles per hour, he did so without illuminating the win light in the first round of the featured Z Automotive King of the Hill race.
Epling ran his 7.393 against a 7.290 target while first round opponent Donald Carter of Roanoke, Virginia, winner of the Legmaker Intakes 11.50 Index class in his 2000 Dodge Dakota, ran 11.555 against an 11.500 target coupled to a stellar.024 reaction time.
Unfortunately for Carter, he could not sustain that first round momentum and ultimately lost the King of the Hill title to Al Polidora and his 1964 Dodge Polara.
Polidora, who earned $2,000 and bragging rights as the King of the Hill winner for the second straight race in the series, enjoyed a career day. In addition to winning the King of the Hill title, the Hubert resident won the Moparts Bracket class, the Throwback 9.50 Index class and could easily have won the Demon 116 Performance 8.50 Index class had Josh Schwartz of Smyrna, Del., not forged such a big starting line advantage.
Other winners during two-days of competition included Dillon Carter of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in Thi Tek Heavyweight, Geoff Bracken of Massillon, Ohio in 10.00, Ron Silva of Pasadena, California, in Gearhead Fabrication 10.50 and Joseph Tan of Centerville, Virginia, in Cam Motion 12.50.
The Modern Street Hemi Shootout series returns to The Rock this fall for events Nov. 12-13 and Dec. 10-11.
RESULTS
Results from the Modern Street Hemi Shootout contested at Rockingham Dragway. Hometowns are North Carolina unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time, target time (when applicable) and finish line speed. Some classes race on the eighth mile course; most on the quarter mile:
KING OF THE HILL
Round 1 – Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .113, 9.307 on a on 9.240, 147.33 mph, def. Ron Silva, Pasadena, Calif., .031, 10.464 breakout on a 10.500, 119.21 mph; Geoff Bracken, Massillon, Ohio, .070, 10.845 on a 10.000, 116.75 mph, def. Dillon Carter, Sapulpa, Okla., 2019 Hellcat, .298, 9.814 on an 8.580, 155.79 mph; Donald Carter, Roanoke, Va., 2000 Dakota, .024, 11.553 on an 11.500, 108.98 mph, def. Jason Epling, Bean Station, Tenn., 2015 Challenger, .084, 7.393 on a 7.290, 182.03 mph; Joseph Tan, Centerville, Va., 2018 Challenger, .178, 12.611 on a 12.350, 109.20 mph, def. Joshua Schwartz, Smyrna, Del., 2015 Hellcat, .362, 8.955 breakout on a 9.000, 137.74 mph.
Semifinals – Polidora, .091, 9.481 on a 9.270, 131.77 mph, def. Bracken, .054, 10.514 on as 10.000, 136.77 mph; Carter, .092, 11.534 on an 11.500, 104.67 mph, def. Tan, .147, 12.607 on as 12.470, 102.41 mph.
FINAL – Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .050, 9.312 on as 9.290, 143.28 mph, def. Donald Carter, Roanoke, Va., 2000 Dakota, .055, 11.542 on an 11.500, 112.83 mph.
HEMI OUTLAW
Semifinals – Kevin Helmick, New Bern, 2016 Hellcat, .096, 4.852, 152.28 mph, def. Al Gennarelli, Gates, 2008 Challenger, .238, 5.176, 143.96 mph; Jason Epling, Bean Station, Tenn., 2015 Challenger, .191, 5.060, 134.97 mph, def. Joshua Schwartz, Smyrna, Del., 2015 Challenger, .553, 5.625, 128.32 mph.
FINAL – Jason Epling, Bean Station, Tenn., 2015 Challenger, .241, 4.788, 152.54 mph, def. Kevin Helmick, New Bern, 2016 Hellcat, .113, 6.261, 102.10 mph.
HEAVYWEIGHT
Round 1 – Marcus Hughes, Suffolk, Va., 2006 Jeep, bye; Dillon Carter, Sapulpa, Okla., 2019 Hellcat, .372, 8.937, 158.50 mph, def. Thomas Fulk, Locust Grove, Va., 2018 Challenger, .334, 9.648, 152.55 mph; Unknown #847, .179, 8.494, 162.47 mph, def. Jag Grant, .324, 9.922, 149.88 mph; Danny Mortenson, Atlanta, Ga., 2016 Hellcat, bye.
Semifinals – Carter, .348, 8.620, 158.24 mph, def. Unknown #847, 2.576, 27.543, 29.79 mph; Mortenson, .461, 8.635, 158.84 mph, def. Hughes, .070, 9.329, 144.12 mph.
FINAL – Dillon Carter, Sapulpa, Okla., 2019 Hellcat, .385, 8.692, 158.52 mph, def. Danny Mortenson, Atlanta, Ga., 2016 Hellcat, .452, 8.656, 160.08 mph.
BOOST & JUICE
Semifinals – Ed Springstead, Bourg, La., 2015 Hellcat, .418, 8.977, 133.03 mph, def. Thomas Fulk, Locust Grove, Va., 2018 Challenger, .383, 9.502, 144.41 mph; Unknown #209, bye.
FINAL – Unknown #209, .095, 8.263, 167.78 mph, def. Ed Springstead, Bourg, La., 2015 Hellcat, .342, 9.172, 152.04 mph.
8.50 INDEX
Round 2 – Joshua Schwartz, Smyrna, Del., 2015 Hellcat, .152, 8.625, 161.69 mph, def. Chris Harrigan, Orlando, Fla., 2006 Charger, .084, 9.027, 153.56 mph; Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .263, 8.622, 145.28 mph, def. Ed Springstead, Bourg, La., 2015 Hellcat, .356, 8.685, 156.64 mph; A.J. Berge, Bayshore, N.Y., 2018 Charger, bye.
Semifinals – Polidora, .229, 8.665, 137.82 mph, def. Berge, .119, 8.964, 160.81 mph; Schwartz, bye.
FINAL – Joshua Schwartz, Smyrna, Del., 2015 Hellcat, .173, 8.664, 160.52 mph, def. Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .248, 8.642, 155.81 mph.
THROWBACK 9.50 INDEX
Round 1 – Jay Johnson, Deatsville, Ala., 2016 Challenger, .228, 9.720, 121.08 mph, def. Jack Reynolds, Suffolk, Va., 2020 Dodge, .350, 9.833, 137.27 mph; Mike England, Morganton, 2016 Hellcat, .122, 9.840, 140.24 mph, def. Mike Brier, Mt. Holly, 2019 Redeye, .255, 9.759, 140.33 mph; Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .129, 9.763, 120.83 mph, def. Eric Bonner, Edenton, 2021 Redeye, .221, 9.894, 132.04 mph; Geoff Bracken, Massillon, Ohio, bye.
Semifinals – England, .073, 10.144, 141.49 mph, def. Bracken, .034, 10.654, 44.11 mph; Polidora, .162, 9.550, 124.63 mph, def. Johnson, .204, 9.654, 120.70 mph.
FINAL – Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .251. 11.201, 83.07 mph, def. Mike England, Morganton, 2016 Hellcat, no time.
10.0 INDEX
Round 2 – Jay Johnson, Deatsville, Ala., 2016 Challenger, .207, 9.979, 121.11 mph, def. Charles Purdue, Roanoke, Va., 2015 Challenger, .389, 9.941 breakout foul, 140.43 mph; Chad Feyerabend, Kingston Springs, Tenn., 2015 Hellcat, .004, 10.617, 136.21 mph, def. Mike England, Morganton, 2016 Hellcat.114, 9.948 breakout, 128.48 mph; Geoff Bracken, Massillon, Ohio, .083, 10.164, 107.38 mph, def. David Davies, Kirtland, Ohio, .351, 10.140, 133.20 mph; Mike Brice, 2019 Redeye, .237, 10.5050, 105.47 mph, def. Brian Brunt, Wixom, Mich., 2007 Jeep, .770, 22.557, 53.99 mph.
Semifinals – Johnson, .403, 9.448, 146.40 mph, def. Feyerabend, no time; Bracken, .185, 9.950, 137.54 mph, def. Brice, foul.
FINAL – Geoff Bracken, Massillon, Ohio, .062, 9.956, 134.00 mph, def. Jay Johnson, Deatsville, Ala., 2016 Challenger, .169, 9.881 breakout, 140.74 mph.
10.50 INDEX
Round 1 – Ron Silva, Pasadena, Calif., .266, 10.688, 101.83 mph, def. Chris Sauer, Sykesville, Md., 2019 Challenger, .247, 10.788, 108.19 mph; John Roscoe, Vero Beach, Fla., 2010 Jeep, .105, 10.563, 111.53 mph, def. Darla Kimak, Massillon, Ohio, 2008, Challenger, .508, 10.510, 130.17 mph; Jessica Duger, Mooresville, 2009 Challenger, .152, 10.555, 124.28 mph, def. John Govenettio, Hamburg, N.Y., 2016 Hellcat, .210, 10.647, 129.45 mph.
Semifinals – Roscoe, .103, 10.829, 105.11 mph, def. Duger, .135, 11.233, 126.87 mph; Silva, bye.
FINAL – Ron Silva, Pasadena, Calif., .129, 10.514, 107.08 mph, def. John Roscoe, Vero Beach, Fla., 2010 Jeep, .074, 10.670, 110.06 mph.
11.50 INDEX
Round 3 – Jon Dalton, Ashtabula, Ohio, 2016 Dodge Ram truck, .183, 11.579, 111.86 mph, def. Matt Peery, Hanover, Pa., 2018 Charger, .285, 11.553, 117.56 mph; James Burnthourne Jr., Houma, La., 2019 Hellcat, .080, 11.627, 114.87 mph, def. Kate Tout, Elkton, Md., 2010 Challenger, .337, 11.401 breakout, 108.59 mph; Donald Carter, Roanoke, Va., 2000 Dakota, .189, 11.676, 100.52 mph, def. Ernest Gordon, 2019 Hellcat, .210, 11.760, 121.95 mph.
Semifinals – Carter, .095, 11.501, 115.80 mph, def. Burnthourne, .021, 11.703, 119.75 mph; Dalton, bye.
FINAL – Donald Carter, Roanoke, Va., 2000 Dakota, .081, 11.616, 101.08 mph, def. Jon Dalton, Ashtabula, Ohio, 2016 Ram truck, .349, 11.615, 117.28 mph.
12.50 INDEX
Round 2 – Joseph Tan, Centerville, Va., 2018 Challenger, .167, 12.640, 90.75 mph, def. Ashley Hostetler, Brewster, Ohio, 2013 Charger, .369, 12.624, 111.50 mph; Al Scanlan, Spring, Texas, 2019 Challenger, .157, 12.596, 73.35 mph, def. Micky Hale, Newbury, Ohio, 2020 Challenger, .181, 12.487 breakout, 112.76 mph; Joe Puglize, Lorton, Va., bye.
Semifinals – Scanlan, .085, 12.561, 86.13 mph, def. Puglize, .228, 12.560, 108.72 mph; Tan, bye.
FINAL – Joseph Tan, Centerville, Va., 2018 Challenger, .154, 12.614, 89.73 mph, def. Al Scanlan, Spring, Texas, 2019 Challenger, .085, 12.449 breakout, 86.37 mph.
BRACKET
Round 4 – Al Scanlan, Spring, Texas, 2019 Challenger, .118, 12.137 on a 12.100, 102.73 mph, def. Jon Dalton, Ashtabula, Ohio, Dodge Ram truck, .226, 11.629 on an 11.500, 117.79 mph; John Roscoe, Vero Beach, Fla., 2010 Jeep, .080, 10.482 on sa 10.500, 126,84 mph, def. Alexander Gennarelli, Gates, 2009 Challenger, .173, 9.899 breakout on a 9.950, 135.37 mph; Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .076, 9.403 on a 9.220, 125.68 mph, def. Stephanie, McGrew, Maysville, .505, 12.402 breakout on a 12.500, 107.70 mph.
Semifinals – Scanlan, .087, 12.244 on a 12.100, 111.31 mph, def. Roscoe, foul; Polidora, bye.
FINAL – Ron Polidora, Hubert, 1964 Dodge Polara, .157, 9.251 on a 9.220, 146.32 mph, def. Al Scanlan, Spring, Texas, 2019 Challenger, .136, 12.153 breakout on a 12.190, 112.78 mph.
ROOKIE
Round 1 – Ricardo Baltaear, Hubert, 2017 Dodge, .191, 10.186 on a 10.100, 136.22 mph, def. Robert Fox, Collinsville, Va., 2019 Dodge Ram truck, .903, 15.044 on a 14.970, 92.69 mph; Jen Parker, Hampton, Va., 2021 Hellcat, .434, 11.894 on an 11.700, 115.44 mph, def. Nathaniel Hayward, Midway Park, 2020 Challenger, .664, 10.825 on a 10.700, 124.97 mph; Cainon Posey, 2016 Challenger, .779, 12.327 on a 12.200, 110.79 mph, def. Eternal Allah, Hampton, Va., 2004 Ram truck, .344, 16.060 breakout on a 16.180, 84.91 mph.
Semifinals – Baltaear, .313, 10.510 on a 10.100, 135.50 mph, def. Parker, .600, 11.862 on an 11.700, 115.56 mph; Posey, bye.
FINAL – Ricardo Baltaear, Hubert, 2017 Dodge, .108, 10.357 on a 10.10, 122.34 mph, def. Cainon Posey, 2016 Challenger, .774, 13.611 on 12.200, 109.72 mph.
