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event: AMA/AHDRA Don “DJ” Johnson Spring Nationals
when: March 17-19, 2023
where: North Florida Motorplex, Fountain, USA
The AMA/AHDRA All-American motorcycle drag racing series opened the 2023 season with the Don “DJ” Johnson Spring Nationals presented by MTC Engineering at Fountain, Florida’s eighth mile North Florida Motorplex.
While all gasoline classes ran to completion, Top Fuel and Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel will finish at the next event in Rockingham after a series of shutdown area incidents were a cause of concern for AHDRA’s Bill Rowe.
The deciding moment was when “Jimmy Mac” McMillan ran off the end of the track in his Top Fuel semi, skipped completely over the sand trap and into the woods when his throttle stuck partially open and his chute failed to deploy. McMillan suffered two broken vertebrae and two broken ribs in the accident.
Waiting at the ready line was 2021 champ Ryan Peery for a bye to the final. Peery had his own shutdown drama in the first round of qualifying when his front tire exploded as soon as he touched the brake. His chute also didn’t deploy and Ryan dug deep into the sand.
Peery will face current champ Tracy Kile—who thundered away to an advantage that he held to the stripe for a 4.25 to 4.38 win against McMillan—when the final is run at The Rock.
The Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel final will also run at Rockingham, with champion Sam White facing “Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow. White’s 4.61 against Jason Leeper gave him lane choice against Mary, who ran 4.91 while beating her teammate Walter Halonski.
Nitro Funnybike was able to run to completion, as champion Michael Balch never had an opponent that could fire the bike and stage.
“It was a good weekend for me and a good weekend for the AHDRA,” said Balch. “There were some great looking and well-running machines there, there was just not a big turnout in my class.
“Nitro is an expensive class to run and it was a far drive for most, so I can understand the turnout. Diesel is expensive. But make no mistake—no matter how far the race is, my team will be there. You will not beat me while sitting home watching (videos on the internet.)
“My crew was there, all hands on deck. My crew chief Steve Rominski worked closely with my mentor John Red Rhea and Eli mixed the fuel to the percentage they deemed necessary. The tune-up was great but we did battle an air leak this weekend.”
Still, the team Autolite/Millenium Industrial Services Nitro Funnybike went home with a win. “The other Funnybike that was there broke in the water box, so it was an easy win for us. I would much rather have stiff competition and compete, but I feel we can and will win every event.
“We broke the intake scoop in the last qualifying round and Jay Turner Racing was nice enough to loan me one so I could continue racing. I truly appreciate the sportsmanship.
“It was a scary ending with my good friend and a man that I look up to, Jimmy Mac, going off the track. But that man is a gladiator and a warrior and I have faith that he will heal up 100% and be back as soon as he can be.
“I thank my sponsors, the track photographers, Billy Rowe and the entire AHDRA staff. Also the crew at North Florida Motorplex for doing a fantastic job, and I look forward to the next race.”
There were a few classes that seemed to be starting too early in the spring for some competitors to be ready, including GMS Racing Engines Xtreme Outlaw. Mike Motto turned the event into his own record-setting session, shattering the eighth mile, no-bar, street tire Harley-Davidson record but falling short of the 4 second pass he was looking for.
“Our goal was to set another record,” said Motto. “We reset the eighth mile record on Saturday with a 5.06 at 146 mph. Then Sunday we had a slightly better track and reset the record again at 5.03 at 147.
“What a weekend for the season opener. Despite Mother Nature (cold, cloudy, windy weather) we got it done! We will be in Rockingham next to see if we can better what we have started.
“I want to thank everyone at GMS Racing Engines. Not only have we developed great friendships but we have put together the GMS Racing Team, which will be unstoppable!
“Gregg (Dahl of GMS) said I rode like an animal, but that’s because Gregg and Damon gave me a BEAST to ride! Every single person at GMS has contributed to this project and I would like to thank them all.
“Also I would like to shout-out to the others who help make this machine what it is. Thank you Energy One Clutches, R&D Racing Transmissions, Renegade Fuels, NGK spark plugs, Bandit Belt Drives, and MTC Engineering.
“Most of all we had a couple friends go down this weekend, so let’s keep them in our prayers for a speedy recovery. See you all at the races!”
In addition to McMillan’s injuries, John Cabral wheelied over backwards on his turbo Bagger during qualifying. Cabral was back at the track on raceday with no broken bones.
Motto’s GMS teammate (and brother-in-law) Chris Hoppe won Zippers Performance Pro Modified handily as final round opponent Kimberly “K-Charm” Deshields is learning her way around her Pro Mod bike. Hoppe thanked GMS Racing Engines.
2022 Pingel Modified champion Deshields raced her way unopposed to the winners circle of the brand new Axtell Cylinders Super Modified class.
Pingel Modified fared a little better, and saw Kentuckian Jeff Workman take out Nate “St. Patrick’s Day” Carnahan. Workman’s .132 light was enough despite Carnahan’s .056 as Jeff put up a 6.14 to Nate’s 6.28.
“Everyone was struggling to find the right tune and traction for the conditions we were in,” said Workman. “I got lucky on this one to hit the better tune.
“Like to give thanks to Powermist Racing Fuel for their continuing support, DBR Fabrication for an amazing frame and exhaust, and Pingel for sponsoring the Modified class.”
Tim Whitehead and AHDRA champion Scott Tomsu shared the bagger bounty at North Florida, with Tomsu beating Whitehead in the Pro Bagger final and Whitehead reversing the outcome in the Bagger Streetbike final.
Tomsu ceded the tree by .039 to Whitehead in the Pro Bagger final, but drove around for the win. “Took home a first and a second in the bagger classes on my foot-shift bike while tweaking on the new turbo bike (pictured). It (the turbo) is going to be a rocket when we get it where we want.
“I want to thank my sponsors—STFU Motorcycles, Ward Performance, Gardner Racing Concepts, Lyndall Brakes, and all my supporters in the STFU Crue.”
Whitehead bit back in Bagger Streetbike, despite once again getting left on (.162 to .214 ) by Tomsu. This time Whitehead drove around, taking the win with a 7.37 at 98.21 to Tomsu’s 8.46 at 80.16.
“Wow, what a weekend!” said Whitehead. “I was in four different classes and took third in Eliminator ET, runner-up in Pro Bagger, and won Bagger Street.
“Was in the Street finals with Scott, who has a really fast bagger. STFU had a little trouble and I was able to make an A-B pass for the win.
“This is my second year running AHDRA. I was runner-up in Hot Rod Bagger in 2022, so to start the season off with a win is pretty dad-gum amazing!
“I’d like to thank the good Lord above for watching over all of us, my mom and dad, and rest of my family and friends for all the support.
“Also Area 51 Customs, Cherry&Irwin Trial Lawyers, Renegade Virtual Trade, The Glass Doctor, #itsallgood, Xtreme Shotz Productions—XSP, and Harley-Davidson of Dothan.
“I dedicate this win to my late grandmother ‘Mama Bobbie’ that we lost last June. Never give up on your dreams and always stay humble!”
Ken Strauss’ .014 starting line advantage was enough to push Chris Hoppe out the back door in a double breakout 5.95 Top Eliminator race.
Brian Harris seemed to have Super Pro 6.60 in hand until he crossed the centerline against Mike McManus.
“Luck of the Irish on St. Patricks Day racing weekend,” said McManus. “I got lucky every round!
“My bike runs low 6 seconds, so trying to slow down to 6.60 is really hard. So first round I won ‘cause my opponent had a motor or shift issue. I went 8.99 at like 48 mph in the semi’s but got lucky again. My opponent broke out with a 6.599 on my 6.70ish —wow could not believe it!
“So on to the the finals. I get lane choice and take left lane. So my opponent gets the winlight, but as he is chicken winging me he crossed centerline and takes out the eighth mile cone and MPH cone, gets DQed and I get the win. Wow, luck of the Irish weekend!
“I want to thank Eatmyink, 41 Performance, Mac Tools, and St. Patrick!”
AHDRA champion Brad Croneberger nailed a 7.02 to 7.10 against Casey Smith in the Universal Fleet and Tire 7.00 Pro Eliminator final. “Spun the tire leaving and couldn’t make the distance up,” reported Smith.
“It was a real challenging race weekend with the changing weather conditions,” said Croneberger. “The cold and the strong tailwind made it real difficult to stay in the index all weekend.
“Then they had some issues with the qualifying, so we ended up having to draw chips for first round matchups and right off the bat I had to race Chris Phipps—who I usually end up racing in the finals.
“Then things didn’t get any easier, and I had to race Bryce Creek followed by Donnie Huffman—always a tough matchup. Then to top it all off I had to race Casey Smith in the finals, and it seemed like he was in every final this weekend, so it was a very difficult road to get this win.
“Would like to thank North Florida Motorplex for giving us a top notch facility to race at. It’s a long drive from Pennsylvania, but definitely worth it to race here.
“Also Bill and Chrissy Rowe for putting on top notch events, my dad for helping me make some repairs to the bike in the off-season, and last but not least—my wife for helping get to the race and helping out at it.”
While Smith didn’t win that 7.00 Pro Eliminator final, he did pretty well elsewhere after deciding to make the trip to Fountain from Macon, Georgia, at beyond the very last minute.
“I was in the shop working on some customers bikes and got a call that they didn’t finish qualifiers on Saturday,” said Smith. “So per the rules, I called Bill Rowe and asked if I could still get in the runs on Sunday morning. He said ‘Yes sir, registration is still open. We start at 11:00am.’ So I finished the shop work and packed up to head south. Drove all night and got to the track about 7:00am. All I can say is some people just love racing!
“Signed up for four classes and then went to work. Made one small change after two passes and dialed her in.”
His .041 light against Chris Phipps’ .146 set the stage for Phipps to go way too quick in a double breakout, 7.35 Super Eliminator final.
“In Super Eliminator I faced Chris Phipps in the finals. I cut a better light and we had an awesome race looking at each other all the way. Straight up whack-fest, double breakout. He just went a little more than I did past the index.”
Smith caught a break in Saturday’s Eliminator, leaving .022 after final round opponent Chris Ussery, who’s transmission then broke and allowed Smith to drive around.
“Was able to win the Eliminator class racing against some awesome competitors, including 2022 Eliminator champ Chris Ussery in the finals,” said Smith. “Great race.
“I do a lot alone at the track, but the guys in the background that make it possible are Chad Hart at XLXBHORSEPOWER and the guys at Harley-Davidson of Macon making sure I got all the parts I need.
“GEN2 Smith Racing starting off the year the right way. Long way to go ahead of us.”
Racin’ Ray Robinson raced his short wheelbase, bucking Buell to the Sunday Eliminator win, beating the great Donnie Huffman when Donnie had an uncharacteristically bad reaction time.
“I would like to thank AHDRA for putting on a good race weekend despite the weather and accidents,” said Robinson, who sadly is adding a swingarm and shock to his handful Buell. “And to my crew at Universal Fleet and Tire—couldn’t have won the ET class without all their help and motivation. And to my family, thanks for supporting me while I chase my dreams. Love y’all!”
Huffman my have blown the race against Robinson, but delivered for the win against AHDRA champion Cody Hayworth in Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 6.35. Huffman put a killer .019 light up against Hayworth’s .158 and stayed close to the index with a 6.38
“It was freaking cold, I was ready to go back to Florida,” laughed Huffman.
Michael Hines Jr. took the tree .022 to .203 against his brother Jaden to set up the Junior Dragbikes win, running 9.96 to Jaden’s 10.56.
“Michael broke into the 9s for the first time ever,” said proud dad Michael Sr. “And all day Sunday, he was so happy!
“They loved seeing all the big bikes, and they got to meet Tii Thorpe this weekend. They loved that too. Can’t wait for The Rock in April!”
That’s right, AHDRA’s next stop is the brand new, but still legendary, Rockingham Dragway—the spiritual home of Nitro Harley drag racing. Bill and Chrissy Rowe can’t wait to welcome the AHDRA family back to The Rock on April 28-30.
The AMA/AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/
For more information, email AHDRA’s Bill Rowe at bcrowe92891@gmail.com
AMA/AHDRA thanks Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson, MTC Engineering , Hawaya Racing, Pingel Enterprise, GMS Racing Engines, Zippers Performance, Horsepower Inc., Vanson Leathers , Universal Fleet & Tire, IHDRA, V-Twin Powersports, Daryl Coffin Motorsports, All-Harley World Shootout, Axtell Cylinders and Racers For Christ.
This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com ;
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INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING LEADS MISSION® SUPER HOOLIGAN® NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOLLOWING SEASON OPENER AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
2022 Super Hooligan® Champion Tyler O’Hara Takes Early Points Lead Following Back-to-Back Wins At Daytona Doubleheader
Indian Motorcycle Racing Comes Away with Podium Finish in Mission® King of the Baggers,
O’Hara Ranks Fifth In Season Standings with 21 Points, McWilliams Eighth with 19
MINNEAPOLIS (MARCH 14, 2023) – Following an offseason that expanded the competitive landscape with new manufacturers lining up for the MotoAmerica® Mission® Super Hooligan® National Championship (SHNC), it was Indian Motorcycle Racing and its factory team claiming the top two spots on the leaderboard, following the season-opening doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway. Piloting a pair of S&S®-built Progressive® Mission® Foods Indian FTRs, reigning SHNC champion Tyler O’Hara and teammate Jeremy McWilliams each left Daytona with a pair of podiums, including back-to-back victories for O’Hara and third and second-place finishes for McWilliams.
On Friday, March 10, O’Hara strategically tailed RSD Indian FTR privateer Bobby Fong for nearly the entire six-lap race. Waiting for the final lap to strike, O’Hara was able to carry more speed through the chicane and go up and around the outside of Fong to capture the season’s first win by .0064 seconds. McWilliams rounded out the podium to complete the Indian FTR podium sweep.
“Bobby was running fast all weekend and gapped me for a period until I was able to make up some ground. The lapper through the chicane definitely played a big role as I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to draft pass him on the finish,” said O’Hara. “But what a fun race, and for Indian Motorcycle to sweep the podium just shows how impressive this Indian FTR really is.”
Race 2 on Saturday, March 11, was filled with plenty of action. After an early crash caused a red-flag restart, it was a five-rider group at the front of the pack. Pushing hard in the group, KTM rider Andy DeBrino lost his front end and laid his bike down, while Fong encountered a technical issue – making it a three-rider run for first between Harley-Davidson rider Corey West, O’Hara and McWilliams. While West ultimately crossed the finish line first, a post-race bike inspection found an illegal air intake that resulted in a disqualification – awarding O’Hara his second win of the weekend and earning McWilliams a second-place finish.
In the MotoAmerica® Mission® King of the Baggers (KOTB) class, O’Hara reached the podium with a third-place finish in Race 1. While the Indian Challenger had been running fast all weekend, even clocking the weekend’s fastest speed on a bagger at 182 mph, both O’Hara and McWilliams suffered technical issues in Race 2. Indian Motorcycle Racing concluded the opening rounds at Daytona with O’Hara in fifth (21 points) and McWilliams in eighth (19 points) on the season’s leaderboard.
“Our issues this weekend were specifically with our tires, MotoAmerica is a spec tire series, we are only given one choice for tires for Daytona and they failed with our higher speeds after four laps, but our new bikes are performing incredibly well, with a significantly higher level of both handling and power, as evidenced by both our riders registering speeds of more than 180 mph throughout the weekend,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “At the end of the day, the performance of our Indian Challengers, coupled with our success in the Super Hooligan class has us feeling extremely optimistic and incredibly motivated heading into the second round in Atlanta.”
The 2023 KOTB and SHNC seasons continue with Road Atlanta April 21-23. For more information visit MotoAmerica.com.
Indian Motorcycle Racing is presented by Progressive Insurance®, Mission® Foods and Medallia®, with additional support from Indian Motorcycle Motor Oil, S&S®, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties®, Performance Finance, and J&P Cycles®.
For information about Indian Motorcycle, visit IndianMotorcycle.com, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hey,
Everyone gets the blues during the holidays. They can’t buy all the wonderful gifts they would like. They can’t visit all the folks they want to see. They wish they could attend all the festive events available, maybe even in faraway places.
On the other hand, every day is a celebration of life, joy, giving, chrome, metalflake, boobs, whiskey and open roads. Sure, you want to buy more shit for your pals, but fuck-it. You need bike parts and something engraved.
It’s whiskey time and Christmas parties this weekend and next. Give as much cheer as possible and then ride…
— Bandit
Everyday on our airwaves, Radio Milwaukee works to help you learn more about Milwaukee. And August 1 through August 26, we’re challenging you to go out and explore our city yourself! “Explore Milwaukee with 88Nine!” is a month-long, county-wide scavenger hunt that challenges you to navigate Milwaukee to complete missions, earn points and, ultimately, prizes.
Join the Game: Download the GooseChase App
Once you’ve downloaded the app, search “Explore Milwaukee with 88Nine!” and click “Join.”
The Explore Milwaukee with 88Nine! scavenger hunt is now live with 100+ missions for you to tackle! Stay tuned for new missions released every Friday during the game. And keep your notifications on for special *flash missions* that will pop up through gameplay for a limited amount of time! These will be worth extra points and everyone who completes these missions will be entered to win special prizes!
At our end of scavenger hunt celebration event (stay tuned for details!), we’ll hand out trophies made by Milwaukee artist David Perez aka Wet Paint Chango for the top three players, and the first place player will also win our Grand Prize, generously provided by the Harley-Davidson Museum.
We’d like to give a huge thank you to our presenting sponsor! Harley-Davidson Museum….
and additional support from Sculpture Milwaukee, Regano’s Roman Coin and Lynden Sculpture Garden
View Terms & Conditions:
https://radiomilwaukee.org/explore/
Gear up with distinct style & ride to your favorite Motorcycling Events this season….Have a look at our ballistic nylon vest, the one & only Bandit’s Bedroll and get inspired by World’s Fastest Panhead book for upcoming Bonneville Salt Flats Land Speed records !!!
February 19, 2022 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (January 20, 2022) – Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship turned a cold shoulder to the sunny skies of the California coast as race fans were met with snowy air and subzero temperatures in Minneapolis, where Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson earned the 450SX Class victory, making him the first three-time winner in the class this season. The 250SX Eastern Regional Championship kicked off with Team Green™ flanking the podium with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Austin Forkner and Cameron McAdoo finishing in second and third place, respectively. Fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jett Reynolds sustained a wrist injury prior to the race that will postpone his pro debut indefinitely.
With veteran understanding of the unique Minnesota dirt, Anderson started his day with a clear intention of letting the track come to him. While the riders’ morning track walk daunted many as they recognized peakier jump faces and softer dirt than have been faced so far in 2022, Anderson expressed to the team his game plan of patiently allowing the track to develop and the transitions to wear in before pushing to race pace. The qualifying sessions went according to plan as Anderson tactfully waited until the final laps of the final session to jump to the top of the leader board. When qualifying concluded, Anderson’s 47.94 lap time earned him third position heading into the race program.
When the second 450SX heat race got underway, Anderson emerged from the first turn in 10th position. The Monster Energy Kawasaki KX™450SR rider had his work cut out for him as the track proved to have few viable passing areas during the short heat races lasting only eight minutes plus one lap. On par with what has come to be expected of him, Anderson paired fast laps with quick passes to set the best lap time of the race (48.69) to charge his way up the running order. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson crossed the finish within a bike length of third position, securing a fourth-place result and a direct transfer to the Main Event.
The start of the 450SX Main Event saw Anderson jockey for position at the front of the pack, settling into third place by the time the green flag waved. The No.21 Monster Energy Kawasaki pilot matched the pace of the leaders while enduring pressure from behind and allowing the race to unfold around him. On Lap 10, Anderson made a pass through the flat corner neighboring the mechanic’s area to take control of second place. For the latter half of the race, Anderson held close in tow of the lead as the two riders ran at a speed that would separate them from the field. With only two laps remaining, Anderson’s tactful measure proved key when the leader crashed, and he took control of the lead. Anderson went on to claim his third win of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship and now stands only three points shy of the championship lead.
“The track broke down a lot by the Main Event tonight but, that’s something we kind of expect with some of the East Coast tracks. I’ve been doing my best to prepare for it while practicing in California by riding with the Pro Circuit team every Thursday to sort of simulate race conditions. That helped tonight but, this was still a tough track for pushing the pace, and you kind of just had to let the race come to you. It’s awesome to have three wins already in the season but, we will keep taking it one race at a time as we go forward from here.”
– Jason Anderson
After much anticipation, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Forkner and McAdoo were eager to prove their place among the title contenders in the opening round of the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship. From the start of first practice, the Team Green duo quickly mastered the track and began fighting for the top qualification spots. At the end of the timed sessions, Forkner claimed the first pole position of the year with a fast time of 48.56, while McAdoo’s 48.81 lap time was quick enough to qualify him in sixth position.
In the first 250SX heat race, McAdoo found himself held up in the middle of the pack before coming through the first rhythm lane in 10th place. With his sights set forward, the No.48 KX™250 rider began quickly picking off the competition in the opening laps. Strong whoop speed and a readiness to alter his line choices lap-by-lap helped McAdoo make his way to sixth place by the end of the short qualification race.
In 250SX Heat 2, Forkner started the race in fourth place. Attempting to push his way to the front, Forkner made a few mistakes in the opening laps that shuffled him back several positions. The Missouri native was quick to regain his composure by the mid-point, however, and began to move forward once again. Matching his intensity with a respect for the technicality of an already deteriorating race track, Forkner secured fourth position when the heat race concluded.
The 250SX Main Event once again hosted green at the front with Forkner launching his KX250 out to the holeshot and leading the pack through the green flag lap, while McAdoo followed close behind in third. The No.33 of Forkner was overtaken on Lap 2 but held close in second place. The Team Green duo of Forkner and McAdoo proved themselves to be among the class of the field running in podium positions throughout the race. McAdoo fended off the pressure of several top contenders as he pressed forward, keeping Forkner in close company. In the late stages of the race, the distance between the top five grew even closer but, the front three never shifted position. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki mounted Forkner secured second place and his teammate McAdoo was right on his tail in third, making it a double podium result for Team Green.
“A podium finish is always a nice way to start the season. I was the fastest qualifier in the timed sessions and had a decent heat race. I grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event, I’ve been focused on making sure my starts are on point this year, so I was happy with that, and I just tried to focus on putting together clean laps. There weren’t many obstacles to separate the front guys on this track, so it came down to minimizing mistakes. My laps were consistent and I’m glad to have come away with a second, we are still right there in the points.”
– Austin Forkner“With the short lap times, we had to do a lot of laps on a technical track tonight, so I did my best to lock-in. When competing against a class as stacked as this 250SX East championship, it was important for me to just focus on hitting my marks and execute each lap. I’m happy to get through the opening round with a podium and I feel confident heading into Arlington next weekend.”
– Cameron McAdoo
Review & Photos by Koz Mraz
This riding apparel offers comfort against the weather conditions on the road.
The apparel wiring connectors are a standard design and will work with other brands.
The Synergy Pro-Plus line of jacket, vest, pants, and gloves all work together.
February 12, 2022 | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Anaheim, California
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (February 13, 2022) – Round 6 of Monster Energy Supercross returned to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for the final time this season where Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson claimed a decisive win over the the 450SX field leading start to finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda qualified second and was battling for the win in Heat 1 when an untimely crash forced a premature end to his night. Shimoda will receive further medical evaluation and additional updates will follow.
The third stop in Anaheim, California presented a new set of challenges for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Anderson and his competition, as the venue hosted several notably demanding obstacles. While the extended section of sand moguls served as the most readily detectable challenge on the track, the real separator was sure to be the peaky set of 14 whoops that headed toward home plate. From the outset of practice, Anderson capitalized on his prowess in the whoops by quickly mastering the section and jockeying for position at the top of the leaderboard. Building in intensity as the track wore in, Anderson rivaled for the fastest lap each time he took to the track. When the 450SX qualification sessions concluded, Anderson earned Pole Position with a fastest lap time of 56.700.
In 450SX Heat 2, Anderson placed his KX™450SR out front right from the drop of the gate. Leading into the first turn and through the green flag lap, Anderson took control of the six minute plus one lap race from the front. Anderson eluded pressure from the competition by setting the fastest times of the race in the opening laps and quickly established a comfortable lead. With clear track ahead, the No.21 Kawasaki rider extended his gap to five seconds over the competition and secured a commanding heat race victory, his second of the season.
The start of the 450SX Main Event was a carbon copy of his heat race with Anderson grabbing the holeshot and out to an early lead with the current championship point leader in close pursuit. The battle for the lead position drew roars from the fans in Anaheim as an exceptionally high pace met with a particularly challenging racecourse. As the track deteriorated and the front two racers separated themselves from the rest of the field, Anderson proved his mettle with each progressing lap. The New Mexico native overcame the trying conditions to steadily stretch the distance between him and his closest competitors.
In the latter half of the race, faced with arguably the most treacherous whoop section so far in the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross season, Anderson built his lead to over five seconds. Anderson blitzed across the whoops nearly every lap on his KX450SR and displayed his ability to charge forward with precision through the technical rhythm lanes. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson relished the heat from the Monster Energy fire cannons, having claimed a decisive win in the 450SX Main Event. Anderson’s win at Anaheim 3 marks his second win of the season and moves him to second in the overall point standings.
“From the fastest qualifying time to leading every lap of the heat race and the Main Event, we had a great day. In the Main, I grabbed my second holeshot of the night and immediately had pressure from Eli [Tomac]. The track was demanding and our speed was fast so I knew it would be a tough race but, my KX450SR took everything I threw at it and battles like that are what supercross is all about. While it was tough for us on the track, I had a blast fighting for the win and it sounded like the fans were absolutely loving the race. All things considered; I think that was one of my best main events ever.” – Jason Anderson
by Allison Keys from https://www.krqe.com
Toys for Tots begins collections for holiday season during motorcycle run.
As a child, there is nothing quite as exciting as waking up on Christmas morning with presents under the tree. However, not every child gets to experience that feeling.
The Toys for Tots campaign works to change that. Assistant Program Coordinator Paul Caputo and Maj. Mike Schroeder discuss the campaign and how it’s making a difference in the lives of local children.
A program by the US Marine Corps Reserve, Toys for Tots strives to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December every year and to distribute them as Christmas gifts to children in need within the community.
On Sunday, Oct. 24, the 17th Annual Ride for Toys for Tots will kick off the season at the Super Walmart located on 528 and Enchanted Hills. Registration for the motorcycle ride starts at 9 a.m. with a ride to Thunderbird Harley-Davidson at 5000 Alameda Blvd. for an afterparty. The entry fee to the event is an unwrapped gift.
If you’d like to put a donation box for toys at your business, call Paul Caputo at 505-975-2033.
Champions Strut at the XDA Season Finale
XDA’s fourth season has been another success with the 29th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals, crowning twelve champions at Maryland International Raceway (MDIR).
The season featured top-tier motorcycle drag racing action that can’t be seen anywhere else. And while the on-track action was hot, the racers’ payouts were hotter, with over $560,000 for the year and $131,000 in contingency offerings.
The 2021 season also saw records broken and performance barriers pushed to new levels. And because of the loyal XDA racers and fans, the series continued to grow and thrive during a time that is unpredictable month to month. XDA is looking forward to another successful season next year with their racing family.
The 2022 XDA season will begin where 2021 ended, at the world-renown Maryland International Raceway on April 22-24 for the Platinum Fleet Repair Spring Nationals. Mark your 2022 calendars now to race with the quickest and fastest sanction in the country!
April 22-24 / PFR Spring Nationals / MDIR
May 20-22 / MTC Engineering Summer Nationals / VMP
June 17-19 / FuelTech Superbike Showdown / MDIR
July 22-24 / WPGC Bike Fest / MDIR
August 26-28 / Bike Bash / VMP
September 23-25 / DME Racing Fall Nationals / MDIR
Orient Express Racing Pro Street
Winner – Rodney Williford / Runner-up – Jordan Haase
Champion – Rodney Williford
The Orient Express Pro Street class is the most exciting class to watch in all of motorcycle drag racing. With no wheelie bars, these 6-second, 230+mph motorcycles are launching like missiles as their riders fight to keep them straight through the quarter mile. This past weekend delivered numerous personal improvements among the class.
Rodney Williford came into the DME Racing Fall Nationals with the championship title already locked down. He went right to work taking the number one qualifying spot with a 6.482, followed by Greg Wallace’s personal best ET of 6.484. This makes Wallace the eleventh rider to enter the forties in Pro Street.
Curtis Brown, who is in his rookie season, ran a 6.760 in qualifying to make a big move down the Pro Street GOAT list. Midwest racer Jamie Hendricks also improved to a 7.136. And Jason Dunigan ran the top speed of the event in qualifying at 230.29 mph.
Rudy Sanzoterra with Quicktime Motorsports has been making big moves this season in his program and made the trip to his first XDA race of the season. Despite losing in round one, he ran his personal best of 6.688 to make him the twenty-fifth rider ever to enter the sixties in Pro Street. The XDA looks forward to seeing his team back next season.
In round one, Caleb Holt ran the quickest of the session at 6.499 to take a win over Curtis Brown. Like Sanzoterra, Brown also ran his personal best on a losing round at 6.735.
James Waugh would also improve his personal best in round one, winning against Ryan Bonitatis with a 6.562 making him the eighteenth rider to enter the fifties.
Problems for Greg Wallace in round one caused an upset as the fifteenth qualifier, Brad Christian, took the win over him, running a 7.202.
Also taking wins in the round were Williford 6.638, Ryan Hable 6.704, Justin Shakir 6.583, Jordan Haase 6.643, and Jason Dunigan 6.617.
In round two, the performance continued as Williford 6.503, Holt 6.542, Haase 7.103, and Dunigan 6.587 all took wins.
In the semi-final, Jordan Haase made a solo pass when Dunigan’s cam sensor broke, and he could not get the bike to fire in the water box. This sent Haase to his first final round appearance this season. Williford also took a win with a 6.488 over Holt’s 6.582.
If Jordan Haase is in the final, Williford is always in the other lane. With John Gover tuning, Haase was ready to lay down his best number of the weekend and finally get a win over Williford. Haase got the starting line advantage with a .032 reaction time to Williford’s .079. Haase gave his best effort with a 6.644, but it was no match for the run that everyone had been waiting for Williford to run all season, a 6.383 at 229.66 mph. With this pass, Williford won the race and became the third rider to enter the thirties, and the first person to ever run thirties on a Hayabusa.
With the XDA season complete, the top ten XDA Pro Street racers will focus on their $5,000 bonus race. The 25th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco on November 3-7 will host the fourth annual Pro Street Shootout sponsored by Platinum General Services.
This will be the largest event that Pro Street has ever raced at, competing in front of 40,000+ fans. Ten racers will show up, but only eight will make it to the show on Sunday! The ten racers that will strive to qualify for the eight-bike field are Rodney Williford, Justin Shakir, Jason Dunigan, Greg Wallace, Jordan Haase, Ryan Hable, Kenny Brewer, Curtis Brown, Ryan Bonitatis, and Darion Payne.
DME Racing Real Street
Winner – Trevor Schnitz / Runner-up – Mark Hylton
Champion – Mark Hylton
On Friday, you could feel the steam from the DME Racing Real Street pressure cooker as both David Stewart and Mark Hylton waited to start qualifying. With only a round of points separating them from a championship, the pressure was written all over their faces.
In qualifying Spencer Claycomb took the top spot with a 7.572, followed by Hylton’s 7.591. Stewart qualified seventh with a 7.693 at the bottom half of the field, putting him at a disadvantage for round one.
In round one, Ralphie Navarro would run a 7.613 to take out David Stewart’s 7.770 pass and end his hopes of a championship. Mark Hylton would win over Bud Harrod to cement his 2021 title. You could see the relief on Hylton’s team as they were able to switch gears and happily focus on an event win. Rickey Gadson won over Chad Sosnowski 7.751 to 7.724, and Trevor Schnitz won over Jovi Barnes.
In round two, Navarro and Schnitz gave us some action with a side-by-side nail biter. Schnitz had the starting line advantage with a.042 reaction time to Navarro’s .108. Schnitz was quickly in front of Navarro, but Navarro kept gaining, and by the eighth mile, they were side-by-side. Even from the top of the grandstands, you could not tell who was crossing the finish line first; they were that close. When the boards lit up, it was a 7.668 to a 7.669 in favor of Schnitz. Gadson and Hylton also took wins that round on solo passes.
Schnitz’s round two win earned him a bye to the final. The new champ, Mark Hylton, took an easy victory against Gadson, who broke on the starting line.
Headed to the final, this would be Schnitz’s second final round appearance this season and the second time facing Hylton. Schnitz once again took a slight starting line advantage with a .042 to Hylton’s .046. Both riders took off side-by-side until about the eighth mile when Hylton’s Hayabusa lost power, and Schnitz pulled away from him. When Schnitz’s win light came on, it made the sixteen-year-old the youngest winner in XDA history. It must be in the genes.
Real Street will return for the 2022 motorcycle drag racing season. If you are looking to enter the Pro ranks, now is the time to start preparing for next year.
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
Winner – John Collins / Runner-up – Chris Garner-Jones
Champion – Chris Garner-Jones
Chris Garner-Jones clinched the 2021 MaxxECU Pro Xtreme championship with a 159 point lead over the class. Jones also set the ET record earlier this season to an astounding 3.897.
Garner-Jones qualified number one with a 3.949 followed by his rival John Collins with a 3.95. At the DME Racing Fall Nationals, these two riders would find themselves in the opposing lanes for the fourth final this season. Collins is the only rider Garner-Jones has lost to all season.
In round one, Bobby Lovingood was broke, giving Garner-Jones an easy pass to the next round. Collins bested Chris Cutsinger with a 4.011 to a 4.103. And Rob Garcia ran the only three-second pass of eliminations with a 3.984 to win over Travis Davis.
Garner-Jones broke the beams in the semi-final with an earned bye, and Garcia went red with a -.024 against Collins.
Garner-Jones’ bike jumped out of gear during qualifying, slamming him into the tank hard, giving him some pain around his ribs. This happened again during round one of eliminations. Also, during a pass, he went to push down on the left foot peg when his foot slipped, slamming it to the pavement at about 170mph. The team later found the reason the bike was being so difficult; the wheelie bars had broken.
When the final round came around, he was still in pain and was concerned about safely riding the bike. And add to that, the PDRA race this weekend was coming up, and he would need to heal up if he wanted a shot at their championship. He ultimately decided to forfeit the round, giving Collins his second win this season.
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Ace Mechanical, Billy Vose Racing, Dallas Flat Glass, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.
HTP Performance Super Stock
Winner – David Fondon / Runner-up – Mike Davis
2021 Champion – David Fondon
The HTP Performance Super Stock season finished just as it started. David Fondon clinched the championship mid-season and finished with a staggering 591 point lead over the class. Fondon won every event this season except for the WPGC Bike Fest that Jeremey Teasley claimed.
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This past weekend Fondon took the number one qualifying position with an 8.808, followed by rival Mike Davis with an 8.861. Fondon and Davis found each other in the finals at the season opening PFR Spring Nationals, where Fondon took a win over Davis.
This past weekend their Kawasaki ZX-14’s found each other in opposing lanes for the final round once again. Fondon had the starting line advantage with a .098 reaction to Davis’ .132. Davis gave Fondon a fight to the finish line, but he didn’t have enough to overpower the quicker 8.833 of Fondon to his 8.946.
This makes two championships in a row for David Fondon. For 2022, will he be back in Super Stock again, or will he move up to Real Street or Pro Street to compete with the Big Dogs?
Vance & Hines 4.60
Winner – Michael Thyen / Runner-up – Tyler Cammock
2021 Champion – Ronald Procopio
The 2020 Vance & Hines 4.60 Champion continues his reign with back-to-back championships. Without taking a win this season, Ronald Procopio accumulated enough points from rounds won over the seven-race series to be the first consecutive champion in the class. This is also Procopio’s third Vance & Hines 4.60 career championship.
Procopio qualified number one at the DME Racing Fall Nationals with a perfect 4.600 over thirty-five competitors. He was taken out in round two by the two-time class champion Tyler Cammock. Cammock then went on to win two more rounds against Mac McAdams and Wes Hawkins before reaching the final round.
The competition was on point in Vance & Hines 4.60 that in all five rounds of competition, there was only one red light. Michael Thyen has only entered the class three times this season, but three times was the charm as he took wins against Curtis Griggs, Eran Pielert, Michael Stewart, and Chase Van Sant on his way to the final round against Cammock.
Thyen cut his best light of the day in the final with a .004 for the starting line advantage over Cammock’s .031. The light would earn him a hole shot win as Cammock ran a 4.611 to Thyen’s 4.622 pass.
The Vance & Hines 4.60 class continues to grow each year; mark your 2022 calendars now and race with the best competitors in the country.
HTP Performance Grudge
HTP Performance Grudge racers filled the lanes Saturday night with an impressive ninety-six ‘No Time’ motorcycles. Chris Moore returned with Melania looking for action in Boosted Bulls against the latest DME Racing entry piloted by multi-time record holder Frankie Stotz. The DME team had their money on the table, and they were ready to play. But once again, when it came time to do the deed, Melania was unable to make the call.
APE Nitrous Bulls
Winner – Ray Lee / Lil Ugly
Runner-up – Russell Dennison / Jimmy Hendricks
2021 Champion – Russell Dennison / Jimmy Hendricks
The APE Nitrous Bulls championship was locked in before the DME Racing Fall Nationals, with Russell Dennison on ‘Jimmy Hendricks’ claiming his first Bulls title.
In round one, Ray Lee on ‘Lil Ugly’ couldn’t be touched by Matt Dozier on ‘Kill shot’ as he flew past him. While fast, Alex Williams on ‘Master Blaster’ didn’t need to be, as Billy Vose on ‘Red Bull’ lost his wings right off the starting line. The Champ, Dennison, had an earned bye.
In the semi-final, Dennison executed another flawless pass as Williams struggled to keep his power on the track as it attempted to take flight off the starting line. And Lee had an earned bye to the final.
It got a little ugly in the final round when ‘Jimmy Hendricks’ lost his tune and let Ray Lee on ‘Lil Ugly’ get his first XDA win.
3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls
Winner – Michael Thyen / The Prisoner
Runner-up – David Page / Pickin’ Pockets
2021 Champion – David Page / Pickin’ Pockets
3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls was an action-packed night as it came down to the wire to determine the championship. 2020 class champion David Page had a three-point lead, but those three points would not be a lot of help when it comes to round wins. David Martin was on his heels and wanted the title just as much as Page.
In round one, both riders dominated their competition for wins. Page won against ‘Tick Toc’ to earn a bye to the final. In the semi-final Martin on ‘Unknown’ faced Michael Thyen on ‘The Prisoner.’ Martin left the starting line with ample power but was fighting to keep the front wheel down as ‘The Prisoner’ crept past him for the win.
With Martin out and Page going to the final, he would officially secure the 2021 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls championship despite the outcome of the final round.
The final was a slugfest between these two monsters, but Thyen got the drop on the pocket picker to secure a win and spot in the top five in the championship points. Page was still smiling with a 2x Monster Bulls Champion title to his name despite taking an event loss.
Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls
2021 Champion – Cody Lowe / Codeine
Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls was cut short on Saturday night when rain moved in before the final round at Midnight. Despite not crowning a winner, the Bulls still put on action-packed show with thirteen grudge racers vying for a win.
Duane Jackson was leading the points coming in the finals with Geoff Godfrey and Cody Lowe on his tail as they were both in contention for the title as well. Godfrey lost to Kyron Drake on ‘Drive By,’ taking him out of the running in round one. Lowe on ‘Codeine’ snatched a win light from Jordan McDougald’s ‘Quick Money’ to stay alive for another round.
In round two, Lowe would face Jackson on ‘Miss Behavin’ for a race that would determine Jackson’s championship fate. The two literbikes rolled into the beams, and when the yellow bulbs flashed, both bikes shot out like rockets side-by-side. Lowe was on a nonstop flight to the finish line while Jackson’s bike wouldn’t behave, forcing him to abort the pass as it quickly headed toward the wall. When Lowe’s win light came on, he was officially declared the Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls champion.
Lowe would take out Drake in the semi-final while Deshon Jones on ‘Mae Jean’ drove past Matt Dozier on ‘Tucci’ for a win. After the semi-round, the rain came, and the pot was split with no winner declared.
1 Stop Speed 5.60
Winner – Rico Brown / Runner-up – Jeff Stahl
2021 Champion – Dustin Lee
Dustin Lee secured the 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Championship title for a second time before he even rolled into MDIR last week. With the championship on lock, Lee was able to focus on win lights all weekend.
Kenny Webster earned the top qualifying spot on Saturday with a 5.603. Webster earned a first-round bye. However, he lost in the second round after breaking out with a 5.587 against Dustin Davis.
Jeff Stahl qualified with a 5.682 and turned on five win lights before getting to the final. Stahl’s average light of the weekend in 1 Stop Speed 5.60 was .330, making him a contender in the final.
On the other side of the ladder Rico Brown, who took a runner-up finish at the Bike Brawl, was on a mission to get to the winner’s circle. He was running consistently and turning on win lights every round.
As he turned the win light on against Duane Jackson in round four, Brown’s bike washed out from underneath him, sending him to the asphalt as his 2008 Hayabusa slid down the track. Brown was right up and walking around like it was just another tackle on the football field. His bike did not suffer any significant damage, and he was right back in the lanes for the semi-final, where another win light would send him to face Stahl.
In the final, Brown cut his best light of day with a .015 to Stahl’s .098, Brown had the starting line advantage, but Stahl would be too eager for the finish line and break out with a 5.553; sending Brown to his first 1 Stop Speed 5.60 win! And that’s what we call a comeback.
Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
Winner – John James / Runner-up – Pablo Gonzalez
2021 Champion – Bobby Holland
In Mickey Thompson Top Tires Sportsman, only thirty-two riders would qualify for the quickest bracket class in XDA. Bill Maturo Jr. would take the top qualifying spot with a 7.531, while Ohio racer Kevin Adams would round out the field in the thirty-second position with an 8.190 ET.
In round one of competition, points leader Jeffrey Santin lost with a -.001 red light to Michael Daddio, thus taking him out of championship contention. The top points leaders in contention also took first-round losses, except for the number two in points, Bobby Holland. Holland’s first-round win was enough to earn the 2021 Championship.
Philadelphia racer John James would win four rounds to face Pablo Gonzalez in the final. James had the better reaction time average than Gonzalez in the previous four rounds of competition. In the final, James would cut a .057 light to Gonzalez’s .073. The two racers barreled down the MDIR quarter-mile with eyes on each other as they approached the finish line side-by-side. Gonzalez misjudged his speed by a margin of two inches and broke out with a 7.547 on a 7.55 dial. James, with the win, ran an 8.014 on an 8.00 dial; this run is the definition of a photo finish.
MPS Racing Pro ET
Winner – Pablo Gonzalez
2021 Champion – Jeffrey Santin
The XDA staging lanes were brimming with MPS Racing Pro ET bikes as 189 of the best bracket racers on the east coast were looking for green lights. It took nine rounds of competition to get down to the final race of the weekend.
Jeffrey Santin came into the event with a slim lead on the class, and when he took a fourth-round loss, the potential of losing the championship became real. Dustin Lee, who was number two in points, went on to win the next two rounds. And with each win light, the drama ramped up; you could feel the seriousness of the situation in the air.
In round seven, Lee faced Pablo Gonzalez, and the winner of that round would have a bye to the final. And if Dustin Lee made it into the final and won, it would be Game Over for Santin. But Gonzalez put an end to the drama taking out Lee to secure Santin’s first XDA championship.
The season’s final race featured a stout $10K payout to the winner with the allowance of double entries, thus giving racers with multiple bikes two chances to win. And with this, for the first time in XDA’s history, one rider would have to face himself in the final. Gonzalez took his pair of Hayabusa’s to a ninth-round final and chose his 2005 Hayabusa to make the final lap down the track for the 2021 XDA season.
Brock’s Performance Street ET
Winner – Bubba Driscoll / Runner-up – Barry Purnell
2021 Champion – Derrick Milbourne
Going into the DME Racing Fall Nationals, 2020 class champion Derrick Milbourne had a healthy points lead in Brock’s Performance Street ET. His most significant threat to the championship, Mark Blake, took a first-round loss; and that sealed it for Milbourne to secure back-to-back championships.
Bubba Driscoll and Barry Purnell both won six rounds of competition to make it to the final. However, both racers opted not to race each other. With a rain delay holding up action on the track, Driscoll and Purnell decided they didn’t want to wait and flipped a coin in the lanes to determine a winner. Driscoll got the right side of the coin.
VooDoo Components Bracket Bash
Winner – Dustin Lee / Runner-up – Chris Sulkowski
On Saturday, 137 racers entered the VooDoo Components Bracket Bash for a chance at the $4,500 class payout. XDA multi-champion Dustin Lee made it look easy as he chopped the tree round after round. Lee not only had a perfect reaction time one round, his average reaction time over eight rounds was .024. In the final, Lee met Chris Sulkowski. Sulkowski took a first-round loss and bought back in, winning six more rounds to earn a lane in the final against Lee. However, luck would not go his way as a mechanical problem would make him a no-show for the final, sending Lee to another winner circle.
Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s Race
Winner – Boyd Mathis / Runner-up – Mike Schulz
The Friday night Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s race was at capacity with sixty-four sportsman competitors looking to start the weekend with a $4,000 payout. Boyd Mathias on his 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa was an intimidating competitor as four of his six competitors went red against him. He faced Mike Schulz, who cut a better light for a starting line advantage in the final. But Schulz would lose power as Mathis powered by him for his sixth win light of the night and first payout of the weekend.
Once again, congratulations to all our race winners, record breakers, champions, and every single racer as well as all the family and friends that came out to support this season’s events. We look forward to your support in 2022 as the series continues to evolve.
Don’t miss a weekend of racing with the quickest and fastest motorcycle drag racing sanction in the country; put XDA on your 2022 calendar now!
About XDA Racing
The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events.
For more information on the XDA, please visit www.xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing