ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – After winning his second straight ManCup event and extending his point lead over the biggest name in Top Fuel motorcycle racing, Dave Vantine might be re-thinking his plan to sell the 240 mile-an-hour two-wheel hybrid he rode into the winners’ circle Sunday at Rockingham Dragway.
Vantine’s plan coming into the DME Nationals was to sell his current bike and move on to something a little fresher and faster in his bid to unseat Larry “Spiderman” McBride as ManCup Champion.
However, after beating McBride in Sunday’s final, just as he did in the season-opener in Valdosta, Ga., the Hamilton, N.Y., rider might not be quite as anxious to climb onto something brand new and unproven.
Although McBride qualified No. 1 at 6.085 and got the starting line advantage in the Top Fuel final, Vantine ran him down at the finish line, stopping the quarter mile timers in 6.224 seconds. McBride, the winnngest rider in the history of the unlimited category, winner of 18 series titles, trailed at 6.360 in his failed bid to win at The Rock for the third straight year.
On a day of upsets, Tyler Wilson of Walnut Cove upset reigning AMRA and ADRL Pro Fuel champ Janette Thornley of Statesville in the opening round and then beat current ManCup champion and 2018 point leader Preston Bartlett of St. Augustine, Fla., in the final.
Other winners included veteran Paul Gast of Grand Island, N.Y., in Pro Mod, Annibal Merced of Concord in Real Street, Alan Fields of Climax, who upset Tony Mullen of Bradenton, Fla., to win the Ultra 460 title, Ralph Medrano Jr. of Davie, Fla., in Top Gas and Dusty Brazel of Norman Park, Ga., the weekend’s only double winner with triumphs in Crazy 8s and Street ET.
The ET bracket winners included Robin Procopio of Wake Forest who used a perfect .000 reaction time in the final round to turn back the bid of Chris Roeise. Roeise didn’t leave empty-handed, though, picking up a $500 bonus as the rider of the “no box” bike that advanced the furthest in eliminations.
Also picking up ManCup hardware were Brian Dale of Dalton, Ga., Shaun Bizette of Ventress, La., Keith Browne of Semora, Spencer Claycomb of Rockfort, Tenn., Jason Herron of West Columbia, S.C., “Smoken Joe” Peterson of Wilmington, Vance Houdyshell of Vero Beach, Fla. and Chris Connell.
Among those who did not reach the winners’ circle was Ohio’s Jeremy Teasley who, coming in, had won more major motorcycle events at The Rock than anyone in history. This time, though, he had to settle for runner-up hoors – in three different classes, Pro Street, Top Gas and Super Comp.
Results from Sunday’s BME Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, second race in the 2018 ManCup Motorcycle Series. Hometowns are North Carolina unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time, target time (when applicable) and finish line speed:
TOP FUEL
Qualifying – 1. Larry McBride, Newport News, Va., 6.085, 242.45 mph; 2. Dave Vantine, Hamilton, N.Y., 6.492, 224.06 mph; 3. Armon Furr, Orangeburg, S.C., 6.928, 200.32 mph; 4. Jeremy Phaup, Newport News, Va., 8.217, 145.42 mph.
Semifinals – Dave Vantine, Hamilton, N.Y., .102, 6.101, 227.77 mph, def. Armon Furr, Orangeburg, S.C., .063, 6.863, 195.73 mph; Larry McBride, Newport News, Va., .080, 5.841, 245.81 mph, def. Jeremy Phaup, Newport News, Va., no time.
FINAL – Dave Vantine, Hamilton, N.Y., .083, 6.224, 225.75 mph, def. Larry McBride, Newport News, Va., .034, 6.360, 237.17 mph.
PRO FUEL
Round 1 – Tyler Wilson, Walnut Cove, .130, 7.509, 166.21 mph, def. Janette Thornley, Statesville, .110, 7.689, 155.08 mph; Sam White, Chapin, S.C., .145, 7.334, 170.64 mph, def. Rocky Jackson, Youngsville, La., .120, 8.271, 139.14 mph; Preston Barrtlett, St. Augustine, Fla., .144, 7.427, 172.56 mph, def. Jay Beasley, Winston-Salem, N.C., .077, 7.660, 159.32 mph.
Semifinals – Bartlett, .098, 7.457, 171.88 mph, def. White, .095, 7.855, 156.44 mph; Wilson, bye.
FINAL – Tyler Wilson, Walnut Cove, .107, 7i.408, 168.16 mph, def. Preston Bartlett, St. Augustine, Fla., .134, 7.464, 173.12 mph.
PRO MOD
Semifinals – Shane Eperjesi, NA, .054, 4.194, 161.21 mph, def. Tommy Saxon, Bogart, Ga., .025, 4.263, 163.61 mph; Paul Gast, Grand Island, N.Y., bye.
FINAL – Paul Gast, Grand Island, N.Y., .028, 4.110, 171.08 mph, def. Shane Eperjesi, NA, .049, 4.289, 164.11 mph.
PRO STREET
Semifinals – Jeremy Teasley, Columbus, Ohio, .081, 7.061, 209.14 mph, def. Chris Edward, Bessemer City, .057, 7.316, 188.73 mph; Chris Connell, NA, bye.
FINAL – Chris Connell, NA, .028, 6.945, 212.06 mph, def. Jeremy Teasley, Columbus, Ohio, .096, 6.916, 216.51 mph.
REAL STREET
Round 1 – Bud Harrod, Americus, Ga., .156, 7.797, 181.96 mph, def. Marcus Hylton, Eden, foul; Anibal Merced, Concord, NA, 7.875, 180.45 mph, def. Jason Fernando, Tampa, Fla., foul; Spencer Claycomb, Rockfort, Tenn., .163, 7.729, 181.42 mph, def. Jason Herron, West Columbia, S.C., .080, 8.051, 178.40 mph.
Semifinals – Merced, .102, 7.794, 180.84 mph, def. Harrod, .208, i7.835, 180.19 mph; Claycomb, bye.
FINAL – Anibal Merced, Concord, .021, 8.083, 129.39 mph, def. Spencer Claycomb, Rockford, Tenn., .075, 8.519, 148.33 mph.
PRO OPEN
FINAL – Keith Browne, Semora, .039, 8.473, 141.85 mph, def. Bobby Lovingood, Leland, .105, 8.431, 167.03 mph.
ULTRA 460 (4.60 target)
Round 2 – Brodrick Jackson, NA, .187, 4.722, 127.35 mph, def. John Schwartz, West Seneca, N.Y., .414, 4.35, 144.92 mph; Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., .020, 4.748, 132.49 mph, def. Michael Thyen, Denver, N.C., .014, 9.763, 43.89 mph; Alan Fields, Climax, bye.
Semifinals – Fields, .036, 4.622, 142.36 mph, def. Jackson, .017, 4.642, 151.34 mph; Mullen, bye.
FINAL – Alan Fields, Climax, .027, 4.615, 138.07 mph, def. Tony Mullen, Bradenton, Fla., .029, 4.653, 150.48 mph.
TOP GAS (8.20 target)
Round 2 – Ralph Medrano Jr., Davie, Fla., .032, 8.326, 163.97 mph, def. Pete Chongris, Mentor, Ohio, foul (.001); Ricardo Marte, San Juan, Puerto Rico, .027, 8.227, 153.86 mph, def. Scott Saemisch, Dacula, Ga., foul; Robin Procopio, Wake Forest, .062, 8.240, 147.79 mph, def. Butch Million, Knoxville, Tenn., .120, 8.229, 160.77 mph; Jeremy Teasley, Columbus, Ohio, bye.
Semifinals – Medrano, .045, 8.317, 25.50 mph, def. Procopio, .091, 8.288, 144.23 mph; Teasley, .029, 8.277, 164.55 mph, def. Marte, .034, 8.338, 125.19 mph.
FINAL – Ralph Medrano Jr., Davie, Fla., .024, 8.271, 164.63 mph, def. Jeremy Teasley, Columbus, Ohio, .019, 8.277, 172.85 mph.
CRAZY 8S (8.880 target)
Round 2 – Randy Day, Anderson, S.C., .103, 8.953, 149.73 mph, def. Russell Dennison Jr., Youngsville, .121, 8.969, 150.48 mph; Dusty Brazel, Norman Park, Ga., .186, 9.641, 92.03 mph, def. Elmer Cromer, Nokomis, Fla., .136, 10.996, 96.31 mph; Shaun Bizette, Ventress, La., .114, 9.238, 124.79 mph, def. Jerry Young, Brooksville, Fla., .175, 11.931, 61.81 mph; Brian Dale, Dalton, Ga., bye.
Semifinals – Day, .005, 8.959, 203.28 mph, def. Bizette, .130, 8.941, 129.80 mph; Brazel, .163, 9.002, 169.66 mph, def. Dale, foul.
FINAL – Dusty Brazel, Norman Park, Ga., .174, 8.857, 147.28 mph, def. Randy Day, Anderson, S.C., .128, 8.822 breakout on a 148.53 mph.
SUPER COMP (8.900 target)
Round 2 – Freddy Frazier, Sanford, .082, 8.901, 149.56 mph, def. Dusty Brazel, Norman Park, Ga., .081, 8.831 breakout, 136.30 mph; Spencer Claycomb, Rockfort, Tenn., .019, 8.918, 144.52 mph, def. Michael T.Smith, Lizella, Ga., foul; Scott Field, Denver, .054, 8.928, 144.52 mph, def. Carroll Craft, Gastonia, .111, 8.885 breakout, 150.03 mph.
Semifinals – Claycomb, .025, 8.935, 127.96 mph, def. Field, foul; Teasley, .049, 8.952, 151.66 mph, def. Frazier, .196, 8.833 breakout, 157.45 mph.
FINAL – Spencer Claycomb, Rockfort, Tenn., .007, 8.985, 144.83 mph, def. Jeremy Teasley, Columbus, Ohio, .029, 8.982, 150.08 mph.
STREET FIGHTER (9.500 target)
Round 2 – Chris Roelse, Lithua, Fla., .107, 9.853, 128.04 mph, def. Gil Vaughan, Conway, .211, 12.656, 73.10 mph; Roy Johnson, Farmville, Va., .058, 9.492, 141.53 mph, def. Dean Moore, Bradenton, Fla., foul; Jason Herron, West Columbia, S.C., .031, 9.652, 126.13 mph, def. Dennis Padilla, Miami, Fla., .084, 9.718, 141.03 mph; Barry Pryer, Chesapeake, Va., .120, 9.574, 127.11 mph, def. Pablo Gonzalez, NA, .123, 9.850, 138.87 mph.
Semifinals – Herron, .034, 9.534, 56.44 mph, def. Roelse, .125, 9.493 breakout, 144.67 mph; Pryer, .115, 9.588, 123.17 mph, def. Johnson, .035, 10.103, 32.93 mph.
FINAL – Jason Herron, West Columbia, S.C., .010, 9.508, 135.77 mph, def. Barry Pryer, Chesapeake, Va., .090, 9.474 breakout, 141.67 mph
SUNDAY V-TWIN
Semifinals – “Smoken Joe” Peterson, Wilmington, .036, 10.120 on a 10.100, 125.61 mph, def. Vance Houdyshell, Vero Beach, Fla., .131, 9.959 on a 9.950, 131.32 mph; Brannon White, Winston-Salem, bye.
FINAL – “Smoken Joe” Peterson, Wilmington, .084, 10.191 on a 10.100, 118.11 mph, def. Brannon White, Winston-Salem, .139, 10.034 on a 9.700, 120.64 mph.
SATURDAY V-TWIN
Semifinals –Vance Houdyshell, Vero Beach, Fla., .024, 10.019 on a 9.990, 116.07 mph, def. Barry Pryer, Chesapeake, Va., .158, 12.163 breakout on a 12.200, 107.01 mph; Brannon White, Winston-Salem, .150, 10.102 on a 9.700, 114.69 mph, def. Manny Carrasquillo, Clearwater, Fla., .200, 10.755 on a 10.400, 125.78 mph.
FINAL – Vance Houdyshell, Vero Beach, Fla., .057, 9.911 on a 9.900, 133.80 mph, def. Brannon White, Winston-Salem, .089, 9.732 on a 9.700, 129.05 mph.
SATURDAY PRO ET
Round 4 – Ralph Medrano Jr., Davie, Fla., .139, 8.213 on an 8.200, 170.13 mph, def. Wardell Pinkney, Sterling, Va., foul; Brian Dale, Dalton, Ga., foul; Brian Dale, .089, 8.998 on an 8.950, 142.06 mph, def. Blair Field, Denver, .217, 9.147 breakout on a 9.200, 142.48 mph; Ricardo Marte, San Juan, Puerto Rico, .082, 9.254 on a 9.250, 136.36 mph, def. Nate Carnahan, Powhatan, Va., .112, 10.580 on a 10.480, 119.43 mph.
Semifinals – Dale, .064, 8.981 on an 8.950, 149.40 mph, def. Marte, foul; Medrano Jr., bye.
FINAL – Brian Dale, Dalton, Ga., .025, 8.942 on an 8.970, 136.72 mph, def. Ralph Medrano Jr., Davie, Fla., .017, 8.184 breakout on an 8.220, 162.35 mph.
SUNDAY STREET ET
Round 5 – Bob Burt, NA, .041, 10.813 on a 10.740, 117.68 mph, def. Brian Dale, Dalton, Ga., .043, 9.262 on a 9.000, 85.73 mph; Dusty Brazel, Norman Park, Ga., .186, 8.881 on an 8.880, 113.66 mph, def. Dean Moore, Bradenton, Fla., foul; Wardell Pinkney, Sterling, Va., bye.
Semifinals – Burt, .047, 10.800 on a 10.750, 123.64 mph, def. Pinkney, foul; Brazel, bye.
FINAL – Dusty Brazel, Norman Park, Ga., .043, 8.944 on an 8.880, 217.88 mph, def. Bob Burt, .066, 10.744 breakout on a 10.750, 119.67 mph.
SATURDAY STREET ET
Round 5 – Janrei Thompson, Jacksonville, .070, 9.251 on a 9.200, 138.97 mph, def. Randy Parker, Jasper, Ala., .032, 9.465 on a 9.090, 134.81 mph; Shaun Bizette, Ventress, La., .071, 9.059 on a 9.040, 147.92 mph, def. Eric Griffith, Riner, Va., .002, 9.091 on a 9.000, 141.00 mph; Michael McAllister, Jacksonville, bye.
Semifinals – Thompson, .002, 9.312 on a 9.200, 141.53 mph, def. McAllister, .055, 11.031 on a 10.970, 118.12 mph; Bizette, bye.
FINAL – Shaun Bizette, Ventress, La., .063, 9.063 on a 9.020, 142.32 mph, def. Janrei Thompson, Jacksonville, .003, 9.306 on a 9.200, 145.52 mph.
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