Wrap-Up: Super Chevy at Rockingham Dragway
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Hoover Streaks To Pro Mod Win At Rockingham’s Super Chevy Show

Ed Hoover (right), who won the first Pro Mod race ever contested nationally, got another major win when he drove his nitrous oxide-injected 1968 Chevrolet Camaro to victory in the featured event in the annual Super Chevy Show presented by Chevrolet Performance and Richmond County Tourism at Rockingham Dragway. The veteran from Gilbert, S.C., qualified No. 1 on the eighth-mile course at 3.895 seconds, then beat John Camp of Canonsburg, Kinston’s Ernie Everett, former national touring pro Steve Vick of Mocksville and, finally, Elon’s Travis Harvey to win the Beal Racing Engines Pro Mod Shootout, part of the Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Series.

Hoover, who was the first Pro Mod champion as the winner of the IHRA Winternationals at Darlington, S.C., on March 11, 2000, recorded the quickest time of the event in the first round at 3.879 seconds. Unfortunately, his semifinal showdown with Vick turned out to be anticlimactic when the latter suffered engine failure on his Camaro and was unable to compete.

Among the biggest surprises was the qualifying struggle of veteran Charles Carpenter of Harrisburg who failed to make the 16-car lineup in his iconic 1955 Chevy Bel Air (below). Carpenter, considered to be “The Father of Pro Mod,” was among eight drivers who were on the outside, looking in, at the conclusion of the qualifying phase. Carpenter turned at 3.930 time at 189.52 mph on an exhibition run on Sunday, which would have been the fourth quickest qualifying run.

Other winners in the event that celebrates all things Chevrolet included Lee Astle of Jonesville, S.C., who, as the DriveDuracell.com Top Eliminator champion on Sunday, took home a $3,000 winner’s share of the purse, and Rockingham’s Tim Clark, who won the DOT Street title on Sunday. Former IHRA national event winner and Rockingham track champion Chip Johnson of Fayetteville was the Top Eliminator winner on Saturday while the Footbrake titles fell to Kyle Oliver of Jefferson, S.C., on Saturday and Dunn’s Justin West on Sunday. Tom Johnson of Newport News, Va. won the prestigious Camaro Guys.com Generation Five trophy.

In the Junior Dragster division, it was an all-female final as Benson’s Kristen Byrd forced Maxton’s Brittney Dial into a breakout foul to get the win. In the Super Chevy Car Show Jeff Smith of Richlands won the Award of Excellence in his 1955 Chevy and the 1962 Chevy of Troutman’s Billy Moore won the coveted Best of Show Award.

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Results from Sunday’s Super Chevy Show presented by Chevrolet Performance and Richmond County Tourism at Rockingham Dragway:

BEAL RACING ENGINES PRO MOD SHOOTOUT (contested as part of the Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Series)

Qualifying – 1. Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., 1968 Chevy Camaro, 3.895, 191.05 mph; 2. Greg Godwin, Walterboro, S.C., 1963 Chevy Corvette, 3.913, 188.36 mph; 3. Danny Perry, Sims, 2011 Chevy Camaro, 3.920, 186.18 mph; 4. Todd Howard, Moore, S.C., 1993 Chevy Camaro, 3.952, 189.82 ph; 5. Andy Beal, Thomasville, 1963 Chevy Corvette, 3.969, 187.91 mph; 6. Dewayne Silance, Jacksonville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 3.969, 183.57 mph; 7. Travis Harvey, Elon, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 3.975, 186.95 mph; 8. Ernie Everett, Kinston, 1969 Chevy Camaro, 3.989, 183.67 mph; 9. Pat Moore, Kinsman, Ohio, 1966 Chevy Corvette, 4.041, 186.46 mph; 10. Carol Long, Moncks Corner, 1963 Chevy Corvette, 4.094, 174.73 mph; 11. Ronnie Hood, Lenoir, 1963 Chevy Corvette, 4.122, 174.17 mph; 12. James Litton Jr., Goose Creek, S.C., 1972 Plymouth Duster, 4.138, 180.50 mph; 13. Steve Vick, Mocksville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 4.235, 178.90 mph; 14. Jeff Blasi, Clayton, 1963 Chevy Corvette, 4.271, 177.11 mph; 15. Kenny Rucker, Pond Gap, West Va., 1953 Chevy Corvette, 4.302, 169.40 mph; 16. Dwayne White, Ridgeway, S.C., 4.315, 164.07 mph.
Did Not Qualify – Jay Cox, Smithfield; John Camp, Canonsburg, 1968 Chevy Camaro; Michael Williams, Elizabethtown, Tenn., 1941 Willys; Tommy Franklin, Fredericksburg, Va., 1969 Chevy Camaro; Charles Carpenter, Harrisburg, 1955 Chevy Bel Air; Chris Cline, Mooresville, 1958 Plymouth Fury; Bubba Turner, Burlington, 1968 Pontiac Firebird.

Round 1 – Ernie Everett, Kinston, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .041, 4.007, 183.05 mph, def. Pat Moore, Kinsman, Ohio, 1966 Chevy Corvette, .076, 4.036, 187.21 mph; Travis Harvey, Elon, 1968 Chev Camaro, .090, 3.967, 187.81 mph, def. Carol Long, Moncks Corner, 1963 Chevy Corvette, .365, 4.078, 167.59 mph; *Jay Cox, Smithfield, NA, .059, 4.312, 165.58 mph, def. Ronnie Hood, Lenoir, 1963 Chevy Corvette, .092, 8.554, 49.96 mph; Steve Vick, Mocksville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .074, 4.208, 175.32 mph, def. Todd Howard, Moore, 1993 Chevy Camaro, .097, 6.149, 108.60 mph; Jeff Blasi, Clayton, 1963 Chevy Corvette, .120, 4.087, 184.80 mph, def. Danny Perry, Sims, 2011 Chevy Camaro, .072, 4.219, 170.23 mph; James Litton Jr., Goose Creek, S.C., 1972 Plymouth Duster, .021, 4.081, 180.12 mph, def. Andy Beal, Thomasville, 1963 Chevy Corvette, .039, 5.653, 85.83 mph; Greg Godwin, Walterboro, S.C., 1963 Chevy Corvette, .075, 3.946, 185.26 mph, def. Kenny Rucker, Pond Gap, West Va., 1953 Chevy Corvette, .107, 4.430, 163.28 mph; Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., 1968 Chevy Camaro, .098, 3.879, 191.76 mph, def. **John Camp, Canonsburg, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 10.178, 10.981, 72.589 mph.
Round 2 – Blasi, .076, 4.086, 176.37 mph, def. *Cox, no time; Vick, .093, 3.939, 187.96 mph, def. Litton Jr., .011, 4.085, 176.60 mph; Harvey, .036, 3.991, 186.87 mph, def. Godwin, .042, 7.786, 56.73 mph; Hoover, .109, 3.946, 186.59 mph, def. Everett, no time.
Semifinals – Harvey, .053, 4.107, 169.66 mph, def. Blasi, .064, 4.454, 171.49 mph; Hoover, 1.378, 8.665, 77.46 mph, def. Vick, no time.
FINAL – Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C., 1968 Chevy Camaro, .051, 3.980, 183.59 mph, def. Travis Harvey, Elon, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .046, 4.999, 98.31 mph.
*Racing as alternate for No. 6 qualifier Dewayne Silance.
**Racing as alternate for No. 16 qualifier Dwayne White.

DOT STREET
Round 3 – Tim Clark, Rockingham, .003, 10.579 on a 10.590, 129.28 mph, def. driver unknown #13, foul; Clee Guin, Four Oaks, .036, 11.593 on an 11.570, 114.75 mph, def. Justin West, Dunn, .050, 12.553 on a 12.540, 97.53 mph; Bill Bowles, Ellerbe, 1969 Chevy Chevelle, .129, 12.371 on a 12.430, 108.86 mph, def. Donald Daniels, Godwin, 1981 Oldsmobile, foul; Tommy Lumley, Laurinburg, 1973 Chevy Vega, .073, 12.351 on a 12.120, 110.45 mph, def. Buster Furniss, Hamer, S.C., foul; Huston Kneece, Trenton, S.C., 1969 Chevy Nova, .080, 14.448 on a 14.500, 96.84 mph, def. Ted Carter, Ellerbe, foul; Jerry Cline, Mooresville, 1969 Chevy Camaro, .035, 12.476 on a 12.420, 106.93 mph, def. Marty Adkinson, Warrenville, .157, 19.085 breakout on a 19.150, 70.13 mph.
Round 4 – Clark, .027, 10.542 on a 10.570, 129.47 mph, def. Bowles, foul; Cline, .024, 12.486 on a 12.440, 97.60 mph, def. Kneece, .112, 14.442 on a 14.440, 96.79 mph; Guin, .050, 11.577 on an 11.580, 114.71 mph, def. Lumley, .078, 12.092 breakout on a 12.120, 110.77 mph.
Semifinals – Clark, .020, 10.545 on a 10.540, 129.28 mph, def. Guin, .063, 11.554 breakout on an 11.570, 114.88 mph; Clline, bye.
FINAL – Tim Clark, Rockingham, .081, 10.447 on a 10.540, 129.03 mph, def. Jerry Cline, Mooresville, 1969 Chevy Camaro, no time.

TOP ELIMINATOR
Round 5 – Tom Ball, High Point, 1956 Chevy wagon, .010, 6.768 on a 6.710, 93.07 mph, def. unknown #790, no time; Doug Walker, Greensboro, .020, 4.647 on a 4.620, 147.92 mph, def. Shannon Hoover, Asheboro, .024, 6.662 on a 6.630, 101.76 mph; Philip Honaker, Lexington, .017, 7.430 on a 7.430, 96.49 mph, def. Donnie Walker, Starks, Fla., foul; Tim Franklin, Norwood, 1969 Chevy Camaro, .082, 5.658 on a 5.660, 121.38 mph, def. Nick Landcaster, Goldsboro, no time; Lee Aslte, Jonesville, S.C., .004, 5.736 on a 5.730, 119.05 mph, def. Tim Jackson, Clinton, 1967 Chevy Camaro, , 021, 6.879 breakout on a 6.880, 97.55 mph; Tommy Strickland, Raeford, .008, 4.569 on a 4.520, 138.70 mph, def. J.J. Albertson, Wallace, 1.780, 14.321 on a 4.840, 54.98 mph; James Bunton, Statesville, 1996 Chevy Corvette, .021, 5.214 on a 5.200, 132.36 mph, def. Wesley Blackmon, Whiteville, .035, 6.589 breakout on a 6.600, 105.48 mp; Arana Blanton, Loris, S.C., .021, 5.903 on a 5.860, 111.11 mph, def, Kevin Banks, Fort Washington, .003, 10.447 on a 5.290, 44.19 mph.
Round 6 – Bunton, .012, 5.225 on a 5.200, 132.43 mph, def. Ball, foul; Walker, .040, 4.638 on a 4.620, 146.05 mph, def. Honaker, .045, 7.461 on a 7.420, 93.18 mph; Astle, .040, 5.740 on a 5.730, 119.06 mph, def. Franklin, .049, 5.649 breakout on a 5.650, 122.49 mph; Strickland, .013, 4.537 on a 4.530, 147.92 mph, def. Blanton, .019, 5.879 on a 5.860, 118.22 mph.
Semifinals – Astle, .011, 5.747, 118.94 mph, def. Bunton, .008, 5.246 on a 5.210, 131.46 mph; Strickland, .023, 4.534 on a 4.520, 150.05 mph, def. Walker, .043, 4.633 on a 4.620, 148.44 mph.
FINAL – Lee Astle, Jonesville, S.C., .015, 5.739 on a 5.730, 119.07 mph, def. Tommy Strickland, Raeford, .025, 4.541 on a 4.520, 152.02 mph.

FOOTBRAKE
Round 5 – Charlie Gibson, Lexington, .032, 6.482 on a 6.480, 104.35 mph, def. William Clardy Loris, S.C., .012, 6.763 breakout on a 6.800, 95.52 mph; Justin West, Dunn, .022, 7.844 on a 7.820, 79.56 mph, def. Donnie Cooper, Summereville, S.C., .115, 7.804 breakout on a 7.810, 86.73 mph; Tyler Brayton, Charlotte, 1964 Chevy, .011, 6.986 on a 6.910, 87.46 mph, def. Tom Hettig, Winston-Salem, 1970 Chevy Nova, .060, 7.568 on a 6.420, 77.80 mph; Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, 1970 Chevy Nova, .022, 6.764 on a 6.740, 96.82 mph, def. unknown #255, .033, 7.827 breakout on a 7.840, 86.67 mph; Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1998 Chevy Camaro, bye.
Round 6 – Gibson, .055, 6.476 on a 6.480, 104.50 mph, def. Vogler, foul; West, .003, 7.818 on a 7.810, 83.50 mph, def. Riner, .074, 6.501 breakout on a 6.530, 102.21 mph; Brayton, bye.
Semifinals – Brayton, .036, 6.955 on a 6.910, 94.41 mph, def. Gibson, .121, 6.464 breakout on a 6.480, 105.00 mph; West, bye.
FINAL – Justin West, Dunn, .053, 7.812 on a 7.800, 83.59 mph, def. Tyler Brayton, Charlotte, 1964 Chevy, .056, 6.925 on a 6.910, 92.75 mph.

JUNIOR DRAGSTER
Round 3 – Rayce Blackmon, Whiteville, .088, 9.541 on a 9.500, 66.70 mph, def. Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, foul; Kristen Boyd, Benston, .012, 7.932 on a 7.950, 81.84 mph, def. Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .071, 7.869 breakout ona 7.910, 83.25 mph; Brittney Dial, Maxton, .109, 7.858 on a 7.900, 82.76 mph, def. unknown #603, .065, 8.146 breakout on an 8.210, 77.72 mph.
Semifinals – Dial, .038, 7.919 on a 7.900, 82.28 mph, def. Blackmon, .028, 9.533 on a 9.500, 65.70 mph; Byrd, bye.
FINAL – Kristen Byrd, Benson, .060, 7.984 on a 7.900, 80.24 mph, def. Brittney Dial, Maxton, .087, 7.889 breakout on a 7.910, 81.20 mph.

Saturday TOP ELIMINATOR
Round 6 – Bobby Hardee, Mullins, S.C., .011, 5.063 on a 5.040, 139.33 mph, def. Steve Hilburn, Loris, S.C., .025, 5.682 breakout on a 5.700, 118.75 mph; Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .000, 6.625 on a 6.280, 81.42 mph, def. Tommy Long, Clinton, 1972 Chevy Nova .003, 14.519 on a 6.350, 39.47 mph; Arana Blanton, Loris, S.C., .075, 5.890 on a 5.880, 117.18 mph, def. Robert McClenny, Broadway, 1974 Chevy Nova, no time; James Patterson, Vass, 1975 Chevy Camaro, .011, 7.554 on a 7.530, 89.57 mph, def. Travis Harvey, Elon, dragster, foul; Doug Walker, Greensboro, bye.
Round 7 – Hardee, .019, 5.075 on a 5.020, 132.87 mph, def. Blanton, .014, 5.879 breakout on a 5.880, 117.34 mph; Walker, .031, 4.671 on a 4.620, 147.68 mph, def. Patterson, .075, 7.546 breakout on a 7.550, 87.04 mph; Johnson, bye.
Semifinals – Walker, .035, 4.653 on a 4.660, 147.58 mph, def. Hardee, .033, 5.067 breakout on a 5.080, 127.85 mph; Johnson, bye.
FINAL – Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .020, 6.296 on a 6.290, 106.22 mph, def. Doug Walker, Greensboro, l.015, 4.686 on a 4.660, 145.64 mph.

Saturday FOOTBRAKE
Round 5 – Donald Daniels, Godwin, 1981 Oldsmobile, .007, 7.183 on a 7.170, 96.03 mph, def. Ronnie Blake, Rockingham, foul; Kyle Oliver, Jefferson, S.C., .071, 7.456 on a 7.440, 87.15 mph, def. Scott Welborn, West Columbia, S.C., .041, 9.696 breakout on a 9.700, 69.21 mph; Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .048, 6.645 on a 6.490, 83.35 mph, def. Justin West, Dunn, .058, 7.851 breakout on a 7.860, 82.96 mph; Tom Hettig, Winston-Salem, 1970 Chevy Nova, .010, 6.450 on a 6.400, 100.87 mph, def. Rick Cline, Fairmount, .045, 8.172 breakout on an 8.190, 82.74 mph; Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1998 Chevy Camaro, NA, 6.476 on a 6.500, 103.36 mph, def. Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, 1970 Chevy Nova, foul; Lloyd Tisdale, Kingstree, S.C., 1962 Chevy Corvette, bye.
Round 6 – Oliver, .028, 7.525 on a 7.450, 84.99 mph, def. Alford Jr., .061, 6.830 on a 6.610, 82.23 mph; Hettig, .091, 6.528 on a 6.410, 95.22 mph, def. Riner, .050, 6.786 on a 6.500, 102.69 mph; Daniels, .021, 7.194 on a 7.170, 92.06 mph, def. Tisdale, .384, 6.736 on a 6.700, 103.24 mph.
Semifinals – Oliver, .040, 7.479 on a 7.440, 87.29 mph, def. Hettig, .081, 6.457 on a 6.420, 102.96 mph; Daniels, bye.
FINAL – Kyle Oliver, Jefferson, S.C., .075, 7.552 on a 7.440, 86.87 mph, def. Donald Daniels, Godwin, 1981 Oldsmobile, .222, 7.151 on a 7.150, 95.88 mph.

Text written and photos submitted by Rockingham Dragway