As the only division remaining with a single day of eliminations, southern racers enjoyed a full day of qualifying followed by an exciting championship Sunday with nine drivers left standing at the end. Winners during the Division 9 season opener at Dunn-Benson were Chad Duke (Top Sportsman), Gary Bingham (Top Dragster), Robbie Draughon (Super Stock), Travis Womble (Stock), Jamie Farrell (Quick Rod), Nick Womack (Super Rod), Dennis Hill (Hot Rod), Morgan Benfield (Junior Master), Nick Weaver (Junior Advanced) and Mallory Logan (Junior Beginner).
Duke led IHRA’s premier doorslammer class as the Wilmington, North Carolina native won his very-first IHRA Top Sportsman Ironman with an exciting win over Doug Gbur. Going five rounds, Duke found himself in a thrilling matchup with Gbur that was decided by the narrowest of margins at the end. Duke held the advantage off the line behind the wheel of his ’68 Camaro with a .027 light to Glour’s .042 and used that narrow advantage to nab a close win with a 5.099, 130.25 on a 5.10 dial to Glour’s 4.755, 144.18 on a 4.76 in a double-breakout win.
Another exciting matchup was produced in Top Dragster as multi-time Top Sportsman world champion Gary Bingham put his rail in the winner’s circle with a narrow win over Ken Batchelor. Batchelor had his opponent on the line with a .001 reaction time to a .009, but Bingham battled back on the top end and produced a 4.585, 149.11 run to Batchelor’s 4.644, 145.40, a rough difference of only three inches at the line.
Other notable winners on championship Sunday included Robbie Draughon who went six rounds in Super Stock at Dunn-Benson Dragstrip to nab close win over Jeff Warren and Travis Womble who brought home a Stock trophy in a double-breakout win over Jeff Longhany.
In the Rod categories Jamie Farrell produced a close win over Division 9 legend Brett Nesbitt, Nick Womack battled back to defeat Scott Lawton and in Hot Rod Dennis Hill won an odd one on the tree in a double red light decision with Hill leaving one thousandth better than his opponent to decide the win.
In Junior Dragster Morgan Benfield was right at home in the Masters Division with a win over Brittney Dial, Nick Weaver took home the Advanced trophy over Mia Schultz and Mallory Logan was the Beginner winner over Hunter Moss.
Raiders Division racers head to Rockingham Dragway for their next IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL event May 3-5.
SUNDAY
The following are the final results from the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL event at Dunn-Benson Dragstrip.
TOP SPORTSMAN - Chad Duke, Wilmington, N.C., '68 Camaro, 5.099, 130.25 def. Doug Gbur, Greer, S.C., '95 Trans Am, 4.755, 144.18.
TOP DRAGSTER - Gary Bingham, Kings Mtn, N.C., dragster, 4.585, 149.11 def. Ken Batchelor, Leland, N.C., dragster, 4.644, 145.40.
SUPER STOCK - Robbie Draughon, Cumberland, N.C., '69 Camaro, SS/H, 6.469, 90.91 def. Jeff Warren, Clinton, N.C., '97 Firehawk, SS/I, 6.630, 104.68.
STOCK ELIMINATOR - Travis Womble Jr., Sanford, N.C., '87 Camaro, D/CM, 6.590, 100.22 def. Jeff Longhany, Wade, N.C., '96 Firebird, E/CM, 6.632, 102.39.
QUICK ROD - Jamie Farrell, Rock Hill, S.C., dragster, 5.732, 134.41 def. Brett Nesbitt, Burlington, N.C., dragster, 5.736, 137.15.
SUPER ROD - Nick Womack, Lillington, N.C., '67 Camaro, 6.403, 115.36 def. Scott Lawton, Sanford, N.C., '57 Corvette, 6.458, 114.42.
HOT ROD - Dennis Hill, Fayetteville, N.C., '68 Nova, 7.050, 108.49 def. Daryl Griffin, Pittsboro, N.C., '69 Camaro, foul.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER MASTERS - Morgan Benfield, Virginia Beach, Va., dragster, 7.959, 79.60 def. Brittney Dial, Pembroke, N.C., dragster, 7.905, 81.05.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER ADVANCED - Nick Weaver, Sanford, N.C., dragster, 9.188, 70.05 def. Mia Schultz, Woodbridge, Va., dragster, foul.
JUNIOR DRAGSTER BEGINNER - Mallory Logan, N. Chesterfield, Va., dragster, 12.354, 49.32 def. Hunter Moss, Elon, N.C., dragster, 12.029, 52.55
