1/10/2015
US 13 Dragway
U.S. 13 DRAGWAY CELEBRATES 51ST SEASON WITH ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
By Charlie Brown, Dover, DE – The U.S. 13 Dragway celebrated its 51st racing season Friday night at the Dover Downs Hotel& Casino. More than 200 drivers, riders, family and friends braved the near the frigid temperatures to recognize the top competitors of 2014.The top qualifiers for the NHRA Summit E.T. Racing Series Bracket Finals received trophies and shared in the $14,425 point fund.
Bobby Insley of Salisbury, Md. came out on top in the Super Pro point battle that went down to the final runs of the point season. Insley, who had earned his first championship in 2001, totaled 663 points scoring two final round wins and earning $1400 from the point fund. Glenn Reese made the weekly tow from New Castle, Del. and came up just six points short to finish in second with 657 points. Former NHRA National Pro Champion, Phillip Truitt of Parsonsburg, Md. was just 19 points back in third. Fourth went to former Super Pro champion, Ben Parks of Salisbury with 642 points and another former champ, Mike Jones of Salisbury rounded out the top five with 625 markers.
Also receiving cash and trophies in six through 13th were: Billy Groton of Seaford, Del., Chad Cathell of Seaford, Jamie Russell of Dover, Del. Ricky Payne of Salisbury; Sterling Clough of Marion, Md.; Laura Landry of Townsend, Del.; Christian Walston of Crisfield, Md.; and Steven Truitt of Parsonsburg. Trophies were presented by Pepsi Bottling Ventures.
Roger Ridgeway, Jr. of Dover rebounded from his 13th place finish to post his second track championship in the Pro division. His five final round wins and 870 points netted him $1050 from the point fund. Chad Thurman of Vienna, Md. had his best season with four final round wins finishing second with 681 points. Third was Vincent Wade of Eden, Md. with 610 with Ryan Groton of Laurel, Del four with 583 and Mark Cathell of Seaford rounded out the top five with 527.
Finishing sixth through tenth were: Jim Williams of Seaford; Crystal Hudson of Millsboro, Del.; Tim Foskey, Jr. of Rhodesdale, Md.; Andy Davenport of Seaford; Marcus Wongus of Rhodesdale; Buddy Layfield of Parsonsburg; Daryl Beauchamp of Princess Anne, Md. and Humphrey Maddox of Princess Anne. Trophies were presented by the Cheswold Connection.
In 2014 no one was able to unseat James Farmer of Denton, Md. in Pro Bike. Farmer rode to his third consecutive championship and his eighth overall with ten wins. He earned 1016 points which was the highest in any division and took home $600. Jimmie Miller of Gambrills, Md. led the points in the early season and held on to finish in second with 670 points and Marquise Blake of Frankford, Del. finished in third with 667 points. Trophies were presented by Insinger Performance, Inc.
Since the Dragway’s beginning, Gary Stickles of Delmar, Md. has attending racing and competed when he could afford it. In 2014 he won his first championship coming out on top in Street Eliminator and ending Frank Parks’ streak. Stickles won two final rounds and earned 617 points. Second went to Josh Nichols of Hebron, Md. with 585 points and last year’s runner-up, Ronn Carey of Dagsboro, Del. finished third with 583 points. Trophies were presented by Insinger Performance, Inc.
The top ten each of the Jr. Dragster 1 and Jr. Dragster 2 divisions were recognized and for the first time in the history of the track a pair of brothers won both championships! Winning his first Jr. Dragster 1 title was Nicholas Bowie of Greensboro, Md. who made eight final round appearances and taking three wins for 530 points. Finishing just 29 points back in second was Cody Drummond of Laurel and Keith Riddle of Millsboro rounded out the top three. Fourth went to Brittany Hooper of Hurlock and Ethan Hubbard rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were: Nyck Shirkey of Ridgley, Md.; James Paylor of Northeast, Md.; Kayla Holden of Ridgely; Morgan Larkin of Salisbury and Caitlyn Hooper of Hurlock. Trophies were presented by Steve Drummond of Drummond Race Cars.
The Jr. Dragster 2 championship went to Jacob Bowie of Greensboro. Jacob made it to the final round five times and came away with two wins and 569 points. Cortney Cathell of Laurel made a good run at the title coming in second with 482 points while Matthew Wilkinson of Salisbury finished in third with 395. Fourth went to Tyler Powell of Salisbury and Katelyn Muir of Salisbury rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were: Dacia Powell of Salisbury; Kody Mariner of Salisbury; Jerel Davis of Salisbury; Alex Bradford of Newark, Md. and Amanda Clem of Hurlock. Trophies were presented by Steve Drummond of Drummond Race Cars.
Also recognized was the High School Challenge winner who represented U.S. 13 at the NHRA NED 1 Bracket Finals. That award went to Sara Davis of Laurel. Harvey Powell of Parsonsburg received an award for winning the “King of the Track�..
All champions received championship jackets, a jewelry item and a “Gold Card� which grants them free admission to the 2015 season. Jerry Ketterman received special recognition for 40 years of service and Charles “Bunky� Truitt retired at the end of 2014 and received a plaque recognizing his involvement as a competitor and NHRA inspector since the track’s opening.
Plaques and a special thanks went to season sponsors Drummond Race Cars, Delmar Pizza, NAPA, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, the Cheswold Connection, Insinger Performance and Why Not Travel.
