Rain Cools the Action at The Rock

Words and photos by Tim Hailey

The Honda/Suzuki of Sanford Spring Bike Open was held March 27-28 at in Rockingham, North Carolina.

The rain that was supposed to wash out the entire day of racing finally materialized in the middle of the afternoon, allowing Steve Earwood’s hard working Rockingham Dragway staff to fit in two full rounds of Mickey Thompson MiRock Superbike Series competition.

Defending Orient Express Pro Street champ Vinnie Demito qualified number 1 with a 7.23, while Pro Street rookie Jeremy Teasley nailed down second spot with a 7.31 on a nitrous Kawasaki ZX14. Teasley’s Adams Performance bike burned through some ignition parts in the process and wasn’t around to race on Sunday..

Demito had the bye in round 1, and number 2 plateholder Rodney Williford ran low ET for the round with a 7.40. But Williford broke in the water box in round 2 and gave way to Rickey Wood, whose 7.38 was low for that stanza. When racing resumes May 22, Wood will face Dimey Edinger, who went rounds on a little GSXR streetbike. Edinger’s Hayabusa wasn’t ready for the April weekend, but the ladder fell his way with Teasley no-showing in round 1 and a scheduled bye in 2. Demito takes on Lil’ Curtis McDougald in the other semi.

His contract done aboard the struggling Muzzy Kawasaki NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle, Ryan Schnitz returned to The Rock aboard the Real Street championship winning HTP Performance Suzuki GSXR1000. Schnitz failed to disappoint in qualifying, nailing down the number 1 spot with a 7.94. But after beating Eddie Chapman in round 1, Schnitz lost to New Jersey’s Ashon Dickerson in round 2. Dickerson and his Hayabusa will face Jeremy Teasley on one of Roger Starrette’s ZX14s when racing resumes, while Rickey Gadson faces nephew Richard Gadson in the other semi.

Boo Brown beat Jimmy Shifflett for the FBR Shop Quick 32 win, Dave Young won Saturday night’s NX Pro ET race, and Mike Herman Sr. won Saturday’s Schnitz Racing Street ET. Purses were split amongst remaining competitors in all other classes.

Saturday night’s Grudge Racing crowd was fat with bikes and spectators, all thumping along to the bass of Afterdark Underground’s first DJ.

The MiRock Superbike series races next at Maryland International Raceway on April 24-25, and back at The Rock on May 22-23.