8/12/2017
US 13 Dragway
“LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON� JAMIE RUSSELL WINS TOP ET A WEEK AFTER DAD
By Charlie Brown, DELMAR, DE – Friday night was the 1st Annual Ray Townsend, III Memorial for Jr. Dragsters at the U.S. 13 Dragway. It was a good night of racing as Jamie Russell of Dover, Del. took the win in Top ET just one week after his father Vernon Russell won. Chad Thurman of Seaford, Del. won in Mod ET and defending champion, Harvey Powell of Felton, Del. won in Pro Bike. In the Jr. Dragsters it was Chase Huber of Queen Anne, Md. winning Jr. Dragster 1 over his sister Autumn and Keith Riddle of Millsboro, Del. took the win in Jr. Dragster 2. Other winners included Michael Jefferson in Street and Jerry Wilkerson of Delmar in Hot Rod.
It was Jamie Russell’s chance to repeat his dad’s accomplishment of a week prior when he drove his ‘97 Dragster to the starting line against the ‘64 Chevy Nova of Glenn Reese. Russell made short work of it with a hole shot .011 reaction light and a run of 7.452/177.61 on a 7.44 dial-in for the win. Reese was on his dial but it wasn’t enough as he ran a 10.326/128.05 on a 10.32 dial. With the victory Russell vaulted into the point lead ahead of Ben Parks. Semi-finalists were Bill Groton who lost to Russell and Mike Larkin who lost to Reese.
Chad Thurman in his ‘69 Camaro faced Crystal Hudson in her ‘83 Chevy S-10 in the Mod ET final. Hudson had a -.029 red light foul. Thurman had a .007 reaction but saw the win light come on in his lane when Hudson fouled and coasted to a 20.637/54.07 on a 9.55 dial. Semi-finalists were Daryl Beauchamp who lost to Thurman and Vincent Wade who lost to Hudson.
Harvey Powell rode his ‘08 Suzuki up against Brain Wongus also on a ‘08 Suzuki in the Pro Bike final. Powell had the better reaction and rode to the win with a 9.172/122.06 on a 9.00 dial. Wongus finished as the runner-up with a 9.572/137.11 on a 9.25 dial. Semi-finalists were Levi Smith who lost to Powell and Brad Edwards who lost to Wongus. Jason Taylor moved into the point lead.
Michael Jefferson extended his point lead in Street Eliminator by defeating Buddy Layfield. Layfield broke out running a 14.027/91.58 on a 14.04 dial and Jefferson got the win with an 11.581/114.63 on an 11.51 dial. The Hot Rod final was a solo for Jerry Wilkerson in his ‘67 Nova, running an 11.660/115.45.
In the Ray Townsend, III Memoral for the Jr. Dragsters it was a brother and sister final in Jr. Dragster 1 with Chase Huber taking on Autumn Huber. Autumn left a tick too early and fouled at the start and Chase got the win running a 12.204/55.05 on a 12.27 dial. In Jr. Dragster 2 it was Keith Riddle up against Nyck Shirkey. Shirkey broke out with a 7.940 on a 7.98 dial and Riddle got the win running a 7.935/80.72 on a 7.91 dial. Each winner in Jr. Dragster received $100 in Ray Townsend’s memory.
The Friday night will be the final Friday before switching back to Sunday’s with Top vs. Mod and a full Summitt Super Series program. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with time runs at 4:30 and elimination at approximately 8:00 p.m.
