McClure Nitro Harley Nationals Ready to Rattle The Rock
When Rockingham Dragway posted their recent Street Outlaws event as the biggest Rockingham crowd of the year, PennGrade1 American Motorcycle Racing Association (AMRA) series boss Greg Baugh said, “Hold my beer!” Because those TV car boys ain’t got nothing on the show that the flame-throwing Nitro Harley-Davidson two-wheelers and the rough folks that ride them put on.
The PennGrade1 AMRA Jim McClure All-Harley World Finals will shake even Rockingham’s concrete grandstands as the world’s largest all-American motorcycle drag racing series comes back for its annual celebration of nitro, V-Twin speed and the late, great Jim McClure.
Headlining this hallowed Harley Drags competition are the most thundering motorcycles on the planet— Circle M Ranch/Dove Fuels Top Fuel.
Defending Rockingham winner Jordan Peterson is fresh off a win at Bowling Green. His Mike Henry-owned, Mike and Jack Romine-tuned mount is on point and looking to hunt in the Sand Hills.
But this is Jay “Bulldog” Turner country, and the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Famer doesn’t take kindly to out-of-towners poaching on his land. Along with his teammates—two time NHRA champ Tii Tharpe on his Pfafftown-based Spevco mount and AMRA’s own John “JT” Toth—Turner intends to stand his ground.
He’ll have to deal with invaders from as far away as Finland at this truly international event. Juha “Sushi” Hintukainen and his wild ProCharged bike and Samu Kemppainen intend to pillage in the name of the Vikings. Even Elmeri Salakari and his dad Jaska’s blown 4 valve, 5.8 second V-Twin will be making exhibition passes.
Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile has sat out the season so far, but the allure of the McClure Nationals has him back in the seat for this great event. AMRA champ Ryan Peery, California’s Tim Kerrigan, Virginia’s Ziggy Stewart, and more are expected to throw down at The Rock.
Bad Apple’s Jimmy “Mac” McMillen is also coming back to competition for the first time since the season opener in Louisiana. He’ll be riding Armon Furr’s Nitro Funnybike at The Rock against his teammate Cameron Gunter, champion Jim Doyle, Michael Balch, Racin’ Ray Robinson, Jason Leeper, and more.
The carbureted Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel class is one of the fastest growing in the country, with every event bringing out new riders and the return of old ones. Champion Sam White will face Cecil County winner “Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow, Norwalk and Bowling Green winner Curt Sexton, Funnybike racer Leeper, Hot Rod Carlisle, Rocky Jackson, Jim “Bad Influence” Martin and more
Not every bike at AMRA races is a nitro noisemaker, the majority are gasoline hot rods.
Outlaw Street bikes take gas to its most mind-blowing limits, mixing it with nitrous or compressing it with massive turbos. Charley Douglass will have to sit this one out after flipping over backwards last time out, but Tim Grindle, Ken Miller, and more are expected to turn out and put out.
Put bags on your Outlaw and you’ve got Zipper’s Performance Pro Bagger—turbo and nitrous behemoths throwing everything available in the mechanical and technological world to make all-out quarter mile assaults. Michigan winner Chaz Kennedy, Jeremy Williamson, Bowling Green winner Rick Hunnicutt, Jeremy Justice, Bert Baker, Andy Simon Sr. and more will be unleashing their Bagger beasts.
Thundermax Street Baggers will see Bowling Green winner Jimmy Maikranz, Michigan winner Keith Evans, No Problem winner Dave “Paco” Cartwright, Jeff Boudreaux, Thomas Boone and more fighting to keep their front wheels down the whole quarter mile.
Axtell Cylinders Hot Street bike will see Martin and Bowling Green winner Clayton Danford, Joe Petersen, Jason Crisp and more working no-bar, streetbike magic
Pro Modified and Zippers Performance Modified are wheelie-barred, gas-powered, tube chassis pure breds. Legendary racers Gary Douglass, Billy Doherty, Dave Doremus, John Price, Jason Adams, Chris Hoppe and more battle it out on these bikes.
Index classes are Top Eliminator 9.30 index, Super Gas 9.90, Thundermax Street Eliminator 11.50, BK Electric Super Pro 10.30, and Pro Eliminator 10.90. Sportsman legends such as Donnie Huffman, Cody Hayworth, Matt Hawkins, Bryce Creek, Chris “Crank” Lanktree, Monty Garrelts, John Shotts, Josh Maikranz, Heather Jendruch, Terry Mason, Chris Phipps, Chad Traynor, Crosby Blair, Bob Willis, Sean Clarke, and more apply their finishline skills in these classes.
Many of these same riders will also enter Eliminator Dial-in bracket racing, and so can you. Want to try your own American-made V-Twin out on the quarter mile? Bring it along with your safety gear and send it!
PennGrade1 AMRA’s Greg and Julia Baugh, and John “JT” Toth and Marianne Miller look forward to welcoming the whole Harley-Davidson family to Rockingham Dragway for the most special race on the motorcycle drag racing calendar.
Friday, gates open at 10 am. The test and tune will start at 4 pm.
Saturday, Oct 26, gates open at 9 am. Sportsman qualifying is at noon. Nitro qualifying is at 1:30, 4:00, and 6:00 pm.
Sunday, Oct 27, gates open at 8 am. Opening ceremonies and round 1 of eliminations start at noon.
Online Admission prices are $20 per day, $35 for two days, and $45 for the weekend available at https://tickets.thefoat.com/Ro…
PRICES GO UP AT THE GATE.
You can tent for free. RV hookup is $300 for the weekend, $250 for power only. Dry camping is $40 for the weekend. Please reserve at THEROCKRV.COM or call Rockingham Dragway at 910-582-3400.
This story was originally published on October 21, 2024.
The post McClure Nitro Harley Nationals Ready to Rattle The Rock first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
