Sponsor builds race winning motor

By Wendy Curling

Owner and operator Mark Moreland of Mark’s Truck Repair in Edenton has spent most of his life around drag racing. An accomplished racer and engine builder, he has amassed more wins than he can recall, helped countless newcomers to the sport, and was named to the Suffolk Raceway Little Guy Nationals Hall of Fame in 2009.

When the 5.90 Index class was forming at Northeast Dragway, Moreland, who fields cars in Top Eliminator and 4.90 Index, was among the first to step up with sponsorship money for the up and coming class.

Moreland not only sponsored Saturday’s event, but also built the motor and transmission that powered Brian Martin’s Chevy Nova that took first place.

“I was happy to do this and look forward to helping out again next year”, said Moreland as he congratulated Martin in the winner’s circle.

Martin excelled through five rounds of competition with an average elapsed time of 5.92. He ruled the starting line with an average pro-tree reaction time of .022, including a perfect light in the second round and .001 in the final. Willie Corl of Chesapeake was runner up.

Moreland earned the first round bye in the 4.90 Index class by being the number one qualifier but lost in the second round to eventual race winner Skip Moore of Chesapeake.

Moore collected his second straight 4.90 Index win by dominating the 15 car field on the starting line and on top end. His Pontiac Grand Prix posted an average elapsed time of 4.92 while his reaction time average of .019, including a perfect light against Moreland in the second round, sealed the deal.

Moore defeated Jimmy Williams’ “White Witch” in the final by a margin of .007 which equates to a little more than twelve inches at the finish line.

Kent Sessoms and Rickey Akers went head to head in the Top Eliminator class where Sessoms carried a .001 advantage on the starting line to a win by the same margin at the stripe for his first victory of the year.

Nathan Lilley of Camden brought his Modified class Chevy Malibu out for the first time this year hoping to get tuned in for the upcoming Little Guy Nationals and went home with the first place trophy. Although his final round opponent, Jamie Holt, ran dead on his dial Lilley’s starting line advantage reflected the .0398 margin of victory.

Troy Styron of Virginia Beach picked up his third Street Class win of the season by defeating Mike Bowman in the final round. Styron ran 11.09 on his 11.03 dial while Bowman broke out on top end.

Two-time Pro Bike track Champion, Big Kev Richardson ended a season long winless streak by taking the final round win over Willie Warren. Warren was best off the line but Richardson’s “Rolling Tones” Suzuki ran closest to the dial for the win.

In the Junior Dragster class, Erin Arledge of Chesapeake faced Cole Phthisic of Winfall in the final. With both drivers dialed in at 7.90, a clean start from both drivers made it an all out, side by side race to the finish line where Phthisic ran under his dial by .003 giving Arledge her third win of the year.

The Little Guy Nationals will headline the upcoming weekend events complete with cars shows, nostalgia drag racing, and more. Gates will open both Saturday and Sunday at 8 am for two full days of gear-head heaven.

Friday night Test and Tune will be held from 7 to 10 p.m.

Log onto www.northeastdragway.net for more details.