Local racers excels at Little Guy Nationals

By Wendy Curling

Northeast Dragway held the first event of its kind this past weekend and entertained the largest spectator crowd in track history. Recently added parking allowed ample space for event goers, vendors, car shows and race cars on the sprawling 80 acre facility on Lake Road in Hertford.

The tire smoke that billowed from the burn out box wafted through the air amid reminiscing racers who swapped stories of the “good old days” at Suffolk Dragway, home of the original Little Guy Nationals.

“Back then” and “we used to” prefaced nearly every sentence as 1967 World Super Stock Champion Ed Miller remembered his glory days of racing. “We used to pay 25 cents a gallon for gas and fifteen dollars a night for hotel rooms” he said with a chuckle. “It was hard then, too, but we did it”.

Hard is still the way most drivers describe the economy of drag racing today but seem to almost thrive on the challenge.

It’s the reward that comes from conquering the challenge that makes it all worth while. Eric Whitehurst of Elizabeth City agrees. He and his father, Melvin, have raced for years under the name of Popz Boyz Racing and have faced their share of hardship and tragedy, but always manage remain positive.

Whitehurst had not found his way to Victory lane this year and was not sure if he would even make Saturday’s race after replacing two rear ends in his 1969 Chevy Camaro in as many weeks. Problems with his father’s car, also a Chevy Camaro, kept the the family race team burning the mid-night oil for the weeks in advance of the race.

The 88 car line up of “Foot brake” or Modified class racers standing between Whitehurst and his first season win fell by the wayside round by round until he met his final competitor, Bryant Denning, also of Elizabeth City.

Denning’s late sixties model Firebird staged up beside Whitehurst anticipating a six and a half second run into the record books of nostalgia racing history that ended with Denning jumping the start with a red light foul.

Whitehurst nailed the tree with a .004 reaction time and ran dead on his 6.74 for the win.

Surrounded by family and friends in the winner’s circle, showing a fraction of the emotion he was sure to feel inside, Whitehurst expressed through a modest grin, “Now we finally get to be in the paper”.

Tim Taylor of Harbinger took first place in the “Old Geezer” driving his Chevorlet Corvette race against Donnie Allred of Suffolk and his 1955 Chevy. This race pitted drivers age 55 and older against each other giving drivers the chance to showcase their “senior” skills.

Donnie Allred then paired with Mike Mayo of McDonald Farms racing in his newly restored 57 Chevy for the “Shoe Box” race where Allred went all red giving Mayo the win.

Car show award winners included a black 39 Chevy owned by Dick White of Chesapeake and the magnificent purple 1953 Henry J owned by Ronnie Meano of Gloucester, Virginia.

Rocky Pirrone bested Fred Bear in the Willys shootout on Sunday just before thunderstorms moved into the area cancelling the remainder of the event.

Racing legends Bunny Burkett, Barb Hamilton and Melinda Green displayed their vehicles and signed autographs for fans and shared priceless memories of their successful and storied careers.

The ladies were recognized along with Northeast lady racers in a special ceremony at the start of events on Saturday.

The Memorial Day weekend lineup includes Points race number 5and a special appearance by the Extreme Outlaw ProMods who promise to rock the scoreboard with heart-pounding low 4 second passes. An invitation only Quick 8 Pro Bike race will also be featured.

Heads up 4.90 and 5.90 Index racing is on tap for Sunday along with the Annual IHRA Iron Man race.

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

Log onto www.northeastdragway.net for more details on these and other upcoming events.