Fontana, Hill, Marshall, Bradford, Robinson among top dogs entering championship Sunday at MIR
BUDDS CREEK, Md. (July 9, 2011) – It was billed as the biggest and grandest sportsman drag race in the 40 year history of the International Hot Rod Association.
And so far, after just one day of competition, it looks like the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Spectacular is living up to that hype.
A massive contingent of championship race teams filled the grounds at Maryland International Raceway on Saturday as the opening rounds of qualifying and first round of eliminations wrapped up day one at the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Spectacular at MIR.
In addition to the $5,000 awaiting class winners on Sunday, Summit Racing Equipment also added a $100 bonus to top qualifiers on Saturday leading to some fierce competition to grab the top spot in each class. And leading their respective fields after a busy Saturday at MIR are Alan O’Brien (Top Dragster), Todd Fontana (Top Sportsman), Roy Hill (Super Stock), Jim Marshall (Stock), Mike Daymude (Quick Rod), Jay Bradford (Super Rod) and Matthew Robinson (Hot Rod).
Unfortunately, however, not all of those drivers are still alive entering championship Sunday.
Following the completion of qualifying, round one of eliminations and a single round of buy backs filled the evening hours at Maryland International Raceway, narrowing the field nearly in half entering the final day of competition.
Those top qualifiers still alive include Todd Fontana, Roy Hill, Jim Marshall, Jay Bradford and Matthew Robinson.
Fontana (Fair Lawn, N.J.) topped the Top Sportsman field in his ’68 Camaro with a solid pass of 6.763 seconds at 206.13 miles per hour at the Maryland quarter-mile. He was just ahead of Mike Kaufman, Wayne Rogers, Ronnie Proctor and Marc Combs.
Top Dragster’s top dog, Alan O’Brien of Ronceverte, W.Va., paced the field on Saturday with a lap of 6.463, 231.60 behind the wheel of his very fast twin-turbo dragster, but fell short in both rounds on Saturday and will not be a part of the action on Sunday. Other top qualifiers in Top Dragster included Jimmy Pergine, Brett Nesbitt, David Cullison and John Toolis.
In the Stock categories drag racing icon Roy Hill (Sophia, N.C.) drove his 2010 Ford Mustang to the top of the Super Stock charts and is still alive entering Sunday’s competition. Bryan Worner, Bob Cupp, Norm Hall and Barry Allen rounded out the top five. In Stock Jim Marshall (Scottsville, N.Y.) paced the field in his 1980 Chevrolet Corvette, followed by Amanda Justice, Richard Adkins, Robbie Hudlow and Lee Truell.
Saturday’s only other top qualifier not still alive in competition entering Sunday is Mike Daymude (Hedesville, W.Va.) who topped the Quick Rod charts with a .003 package before being eliminated in round one and the re-entry round. Chip Johnson, Michelle Chiles, Brett Nesbitt and John Dustin rounded out the top five.
Super Rod was led by Newark, Md. native Jay Bradford in his ’94 Lumina who put a .033 package on the field to top the class. Keith Mayers, Bryan Gillespie, Craig Porter and Randy Davis were just behind. Finally Hot Rod top dog Matthew Robinson (Garner, N.C.) produced a .013 package to lead his class. Michael Bailey, Layton Sumpter, Richard Knarich and Richard Payne round out the top five.
Championship Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Spectacular will get underway at 10 a.m. with eliminations throughout the day capped off with the crowning of champions at IHRA’s biggest ever sportsman event.
