7/8/2017
US 13 Dragway
MIKE LARKIN DIPS INTO THE SIXES AND WINS BAD 8 AT U.S. 13
MIKE LARKIN DIPS INTO THE SIXES AND WINS BAD 8 AT U.S. 13Delmar, DE – There was some quick racing Friday night under the full moon at the U.S. 13 Dragway. Mike Larkin of Salisbury, Md. set Low E.T. and Top Speed in the Bad 8 Open Wheel qualifying with a 6.946/192.80 and then went on to win the final against Eric Mason of Pocomoke, Md. Billy Groton of Seaford, Del. faced Vernon Russell for the second week in a row and won the Bad 8 Full Body. W.R. Ketterman of Salisbury qualified second quick and then went on to win Top ET. Other winners on the night included: Ben Garnett of Smyrna, Del. in Mod ET; Drew Birch of Whaleyville, Md. in Pro Bike; Gary Stickles of Delmar, Md. in Street; Jerry Wilkerson of Delmar in Hot Rod; Cole Foskey of Rhodesdale, Md. in Jr. Dragster 1 and Brett Holston of Felton, Del. in Jr. Dragster 2.
Mike Larkin faced Eric Mason in the Bad 8 Open Wheel final. Mason had the better reaction but broke out with a 7.171/185.45 on a 7.18 dial. Larkin got the win with a blistering 6.938/192.59 on a 6.92 dial. The Bad 8 Full Body was a rematch of the week prior with Billy Groton paired against Vernon Russell. Groton had a .008 reaction light and drove his Camaro to the win with an 8.527/154.82 on an 8.48 dial. Russell had an 8.713/154.79 on an 8.66 dial. Low E.T. and Top Speed were set by Kevin Merritt of Chincoteague, Va. in his ‘70 Duster with a 7.811/173.87.
It was a battle of the top two qualifiers in the Top ET final with W.R. Ketterman across from Mike Larkin on the starting line. Ketterman had a .009 reaction light and was dead-on his dial with a 7.230/182.18 on a 7.23 for the win. Larkin broke out with a 6.946/191.36 on a 6.95 dial. Semi-finalists were Horace Willey who lost to Larkin and Phillip Truitt who lost to Ketterman.
Ben Garnett in his ‘71 Maverick went up against Kevin Yates of Odenton, Md. in the Mod ET final. Yates had the better reaction but broke out with a 9.556/133.63 on a 9.59 dial. Garnett was on his dial with a 9.272/144.09 on a 9.27 dial for the win. Semi-finalists were David Keyton who lost to Yates and Crystal Hudson who lost to Garnett.
Drew Birch rode up against defending champion Harvey Powell in the Pro Bike final. Birch took the double break-out win with a 9.048/144.95 on a 9.08. Powell was out by more running a 10.181/124.36 on a 10.25 dial. Semi-finalists were Joseph Lopez who lost to Powell and James Farmer who lost to Birch.
Gary Stickles took the Street final over Ronn Carey. Carey had the better start but Stickles had the better run with a 13.634/97.48 on a 13.62 dial for the win. Carey ran a 12.720/105.44 on a 12.65 dial. In Hot Rod it was Jerry Wilkerson in his ‘67 Nova over Zachary White in his Chevy S-10. Wilkerson ran an 11.742/111.81 on an 11.69 dial while White had an 11.020/119.58 on a 10.92 dial.
In Jr. Dragster 1 action, Cole Foskey got the final round win over Michael Chapman. Foskey had the better reaction and ran a 12.109/52.14 on an 11.97 dial. Chapman had a 12. 053/54.29 on an 11.90 dial. In Jr. Dragster 2 it was Brett Holston over Hope Clarke. Clarke left a fraction too early and fouled and Holston took the win with a 7.921/83.26 on a 7.93 dial.
