Track holds
annual Sonny McCoy race
By
Cariss Trueblood
In honor of the late
Sonny McCoy, Northeast Dragway hosts a race every year for his family to come
out and enjoy.
Family members came
all the way from New York to celebrate the life of the former racer, who passed
in 2011 after a crash at Outer Banks Speedway.
The Pasquotank County
native had a strong career in the Empire State, setting records at New York
National Speedway in the 1970s before returning home in the 1990s.
Due to the heat,
gates opened at 5 p.m. and the race began at 7.
There were four
different classes for the racers to participate in: Gamblers Mod, Gamblers Top,
Stock Block, and 10.5.
Joey Owens took the
win in the Gamblers Mod class in his 1985 Ranger. D.J. Jackson took first in
the Gamblers Top in his 1987 Daytona.
Jed Drew in his 1984
Camaro won in the Stock Block class while Billy Gordon was tops in 10.5.
“That’s the fastest I
have ever been in a car with 10.5-inch radial tires,” Gordon said.
Gordon is the
new record holder for Northeast Dragway’s small tire
class, marking a speed in excess of 180 mph.
On Friday, Northeast
will have a Test and Tune where anyone can come out and try out their
vehicle.
A grudge event will
be hosted by “Block” Wallace the next day as racers will be able to
test and tune or grudge all day.
Gates will open at 1
p.m. and time runs will start at 3. Top ET, Mod, and Bike classes will be
available.