Holcomb Motorsports Fall Civil Wars Race Recap From Rockingham

Click the drop down at the top to select the race results and gallery

Perennial Outlaw 10.5 king Tim Lynch, who scored a victory at the Holcomb Motorsports Spring Civil Wars in April, remained unbeaten at North Carolina’s Rockingham Dragway this season; except of course by feisty old Mother Nature.

Sunday’s conclusion of the Holcomb Motorsports Fall Civil Wars presented by TRZ Motorsports, AA Performance, and Heads-Up Composites was washed out by rain, cutting short the Outlaw 10.5 final, the semifinals in True 10.5, 275 Drag Radial, and King of the Street, and the later rounds in the Footbrake and Real Street categories.

With the decision made to call the event, Lynch and Billy Gordon, who were set to meet in the finale, split the $5,000 winners purse and runner-up money.

Despite a rain-filled forecast for the weekend, racers and fans turned out in abundance for the always-exciting Civil Wars event that featured full fields in very heads-up category with racers hailing from as far away as Canada, South Florida, and Alabama. The event also saw a record turnout of 6.0 Index, Footbrake, Pro Tree Doorslammer, and Open Comp racers with over 375 total entries.

In the headliner Outlaw 10.5 class, Bedford, Virginia native Gordon led the field into eliminations with a 4.269-second charge at 184.65 MPH that edged Lynch’s equal 4.269 by virtue of a faster speed. in the opening round of eliminations, Lynch cranked off a 4.30 to defeat Curthis Rhodes, while Gordan record a 4.32 rout of Mike Locklear.

In round two, Tony Johnson took down Jeff Lutz, 4.42 to 4.88, while Gordon used a 4.3 to down Lennie Buff’s Chevy Beretta. Lynch then advanced with a low-for-the-round 4.29 defeat of Keith Jackson, setting up what would be a wail of a semifinal bout between Lynch and Johnson’s supercharged Camaro. There, Johnson scored a scant .003 edge at the tree, but Lynch’s 4.33 was enough to edge out Johnson’s game 4.37. On his single, Gordon recorded a 4.29 of his own for lane choice in the final, but the weather was the ultimate victor.

In True 10.5, South Carolinian Brian McGee – in an identical case to Outlaw 10.5 – qualified on the pole with a 4.631 that was matched by Jason Black’s own 4.631 only by a faster 168.51 to 159.68 MPH speed.

In the first round of eliminations, Brad Edwards coaxed a great 4.75 from his Mustang to advance over a fouling Jeremy McElraith, Ben Harris blasted to a 4.76 to down Proline’s Eric Dillard and his struggling 5.17 effort, and Black came close to matching his qualifying time with a 4.65 defeat of a slowing Will Tate. McGee, meanwhile, recorded low ET of the event with a stout 4.47 at 168.26 MPH to down Kevin Mullins. Marty Witt, Jason Richards, Keith Szabo, and Kevin Fiscus also advanced.

In round two, Szabo used a great 4.65 to defeat Edwards’ slowing 4.90 at just 135 MPH and McGee advanced with an equally off-pace 5.24 that was more than enough to handle Fiscus’ 5.91. Harris and Richards both also moved on with runs of 5.27 and 4.84, respectively.

NMRA regular Bob Kurgan earned the #1 qualifying spot in the huge 275 Radial field with a 4.882 at 147.63 from his Mustang, leading Peter Harrell, Rich Bruder, and Bobby Flippin. Kurgan’s weekend however was cut short in round two as he fell to a Jack Collins’ 5.04 effort.

In the third round – the last round completed before the rains came – Collins downed Justin Smith and his Camaro by a 5.17 to 5.24 count and Bruder clocked a stellar 4.90 at 147.05 to defeat Jason Mueller. Harrell, as the highest qualified car remaining, earned the bye run that was, unfortunately, all for naught.

In the large 6.0 Index category, Kenny Floyd recorded a 6.006 in round four, a 6.025 in the semifinals, and took his ’58 Corvette to the winners circle in the final round with another on-the-money 6.007 and better reaction time than opponent Terry Floyd, who pushed to a breakout 5.98 losing effort.

In the 7.0 Index class, Howard Brewer gained a slight edge out of the gate in his ’85 Mustang and ran a close 7.026 at 101.18 MPH for the title as opponent Rusty Wright and his ’72 Dart ran a too-quick 6.976 elapsed time.

With the cancellation, the 275 Real Street class prize money was split by the remaining competitors, which included Bryan Fendren, Kevin Robinson, Jonathan Atkins, and Dean Goodin.

The popular King of the Street category, also cut short in the third round of eliminations, came down to a would-be battle between Scott Owenby, Darrin Hoyle, and Eric McMillon.

That round, Owenby defeated Jason Hoots, 5.03 to a game 5.14, and Hoyle advanced with a 5.14 that just barely edged out opponent Barry Mitchells’ right-there 5.16. McMillon meanwhile, had an easy competition single into what would’ve been a great semifinal round.

Open Comp was won by Knoxville, Tennessee’s Shane Williams, who won on the red-light start from opponent Daniel Frazier. Likewise, Pro Treet Doorslammer was decided on a foul start, as Keith Daniel picked up with the win in his ’88 Mustang, carding a 6.796 on the 6.80 dial, for those keeping score. And in the Saturday Footbrake race, which took eight rounds to complete, was survived by Randy Etheridge and Tim Davis. In the money round, Etheridge grabbed an .023 to .066 holeshot advantage and came out on the winning end of a double breakout affair, 6.629 on a 6.640 to 7.822 on a 7.86 dial.

ROCKINGHAM – Results from Sunday’s Holcomb Motorsports Fall Civil Wars drag racing event at Rockingham Dragway:

Rock Batteries OUTLAW 10.5 Qualifying – 1. Billy Gordon, Bedford, Va., 2004 Ford Mustang, 4.269, 184.65 mph; 2. Tim Lynch, Woodstock, Ga., 2010 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.269, 184.07 mph; 3. Tony Johnson, Conyers, Ga., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.372, 176.49 mph; 4. Joe Newsham, Sicklerville, N.J., 1992 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.380, 175.87 mph.

Round 1 – Jeff Lutz, Callery, Pa., .163, 4.859, 165.56 mph, def. Joe Newsham, Sicklerville, N.J., 1992 Chevrolet Camaro, .103, 8.237, 56.96 mph; Tim Lynch, Woodstock, Ga., 2010 Chevrolet Corvette, .089, 4.306, 184.07 mph, def. Curtis Rhodes, Childerburg, Ala., .026, 5.003, 145.41 mph; Lennie Buff, Shelby, 1989 Chevrolet Beretta, .062, 4.554, 156.44 mph, def. Rick Fedorovien, Greensboro, 2001 Ford Mustang, .319, 4.701, 155.92 mph; Keith Jackson, Bennettsville, S.C., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, 2.004, 4.515, 164.45 mph, def. Mark Swanson, Newton, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, no time; Billy Gordon, Bedford, Va., 2004 Ford Mustang, .132, 4.321, 183.79 mph, def. Mike Locklear, Raeford, .301, 4.716, 161.50 mph; Tony Johnson, Conyers, Ga., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, .494, 4.433, 174.75 mph, def. Frank Pomplilio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, no time.

Round 2 – Johnson, .081, 4.423, 175.46 mph, def. Lutz, .197, 4.880, 168.03 mph; Gordon, .130, 4.332, 184.14 mph, def. Buff, .067, 7.506, 56.30 mph; Lynch, .083, 4.309, 184.62 mph, def. Jackson, .064, 4.502, 165.33 mph.

Semifinals – Lynch, .069, 4.333, 185.23 mph, def. Johnson, .066, 4.379, 176.74 mph; Gordon, .082, 4.298, 183.67 mph, bye.
FINAL – Not contested. Tim Lynch, Woodstock, Ga., 2010 Chevrolet Corvette, and Billy Gordon, Bedford, Va., 2004 Ford Mustang, split winner and runner-up money due to weather.

TCI TRUE 10.5 Qualifying – 1. Brian McGee, Pelion, S.C., 4.631, 168.51 mph; 2. Jason Black, Matthews, 1996 Ford Mustang, 4.631, 159.68 mph; 3. Keith Szabo, Gainesville, Ga., 1993 Ford Mustang, 4.702, 171.88 mph; 4. Ben Harris, Clover, S.C., 2002 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.749, 153.28 mph.

Round 1 – Marty Witt, Rainbow City, Ala., 1981 Mercury Capri, .063, 4.850, 163.87 mph, def. David Braxton, Chocowinity, .086, 5.069, 145.94 mph; Brad Edwards, Leicester, 1997 Ford Cobra, .080, 4.759, 163.45 mph, def. Jeremy McElrath, Leicester, foul; Jason Richards, Gastonia, .035, 5.228, 149.55 mph, def. Josh Grossman, Sanford, 2000 Chevrolet Camaro, .279, 5.369, 145.58 mph; Ben Harris, Clover, S.C., 2002 Chevrolet Camaro, .301, 4.762, 153.96 mph, def. Eric Dillard, Woodstock, Ga., .045, 5.178, 168.53 mph; Jason Black, Matthews, 1996 Ford Mustang, .224, 4.658, 159.38 mph, def. Will Tate, NA, .118, 6.052, 136.30 mph; Brian McGee, Pelion, S.C., .352, 4.472, 168.26 mph, def. Kevin Mullins, High Point, .026, 7.782, 83.85 mph; Keith Szabo, Gainesville, Ga., 1993 Ford Mustang, .166, 4.764, 171.40 mph, def. Kevin Scott, NA, no time; Kevin Fiscos, Jacksonville, Fla., 2002 Ford Mustang, no time, def. Willard Kinzer, Allen, Ky., 1989 Ford Mustang, no time.

Round 2 – Harris, .146, 5.276, 149.86 mph, def. Witt, foul; Richards, .028, 4.848, 157.08 mph, def. Black, .138, 5.880, 82.37 mph; Szabo, .052, 4.652, 171.03 mph, def. Edwards, .089, 4.907, 135.86 mph; McGee, .074, 5.249, 144.21 mph, def. Fiscos, .086, 5.918, 128.65 mph.
Semifinals – Not contested. Money split between three semifinalists due to weather.

Kooks Headers 275 DRAG RADIAL Qualifying – 1. Bob Kurgan, Brasson, Ga., 4.882, 147.63 mph; 2. Peter Harrell, Denton, 4.991, 152.00 mph; 3. Rich Bruder, Edison, N.J., 1988 Ford Mustang, 5.015, 147.21 mph; 4. Bobby Flippin, Gloucester, Va., 5.103, 138.76 mph.

Round 2 – Jason Mueller, Sanford, .076, 5.056, 142.25 mph, def. Eric Kenward, Vero Beach, Fla., .026, 5.804, 138.86 mph; Justin Smith, LaCrosse, Va., 2001 Chevrolet Camaro, .086, 7.615, 64.67 mph, def. Lyle Barnett, Robbins, foul; Jack Collins, Rocky Mount, 1989 Ford Mustang, .009, 5.048, 146.69 mph, def. Bob Kurgan, Brasson, Ga., .087, 8.097, 53.81 mph; Rich Bruder, Edison, N.J., 1988 Ford Mustang, .057, 4.910, 147.28 mph, def. Dale Handy, Sophia, .057, 10.604, 51.42 mph; Peter Harrell, Denton, .076, 5.636, 143.98 mph, def. Montgomery Ragland, Andrews, S.C., 2000 Ford Mustang, no time.

Round 3 – Collins, .002, 5.173, 145.13 mph, def. Smith, .093, 5.247, 142.94 mph; Bruder, .034, 4.900, 147.05 mph, def. Mueller, .084, 5.688, 137.36 mph; Harrell, bye.
Semifinals – Not contested. Money split between three semifinalists due to weather.

Ultimate Converters 6.0 INDEX Round 4 – Kenny Floyd, Charlotte, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, .021, 6.005, 111.51 mph, def. Eric Hamilton, Washington, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro., .058, 6.041, 114.21 mph; David Barnett, Trenton, 2004 Ford Mustang, .022, 6.066, 106.77 mph, def. Justus Daniel, Charlotte, Henry J, .076, 6.047, 115.24 mph; Terry Floyd, Lake Wylie, S.C., 1955 Chevy, bye.

Semifinals – K. Floyd, bye; T. Floyd, .065, 6.025, 115.82 mph, def. Barnett, .054, 5.993 breakout foul, 110.32.

FINAL – Kenny Floyd, Charlotte, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, .029, 6.007, 113.58 mph, def. Terry Floyd, Lake Wylie, S.C., 1955 Chevy, .050, 5.980 breakout foul, 115.68 mph.

Ultimate Converters 7.0 INDEX Round 2 – Rusty Wright, Kings Mountain, 1972 Dodge Dart, .024, 7.011, 95.40 mph, def. Willie Morgan, Eagle Springs, 2004 Ford Ranger, .097, 6.948 breakout foul, 98.88 mph; Howard Brewer, Bennett, 1985 Ford Mustang, .073, 7.043, 100.91 mph, def. Jerry Cline, Mooresville, 1970 Chevy Nova, .129, 6.973 breakout foul, 96.22 mph; Jamie Yelton, Beaumont, .021, 7.123, 86.56 mph, def. Austin Acker, NA, .346, 7.103, 98.38 mph; Christopher Schneider, Wilkesboro, .093, 6.994, 100.70 mph, def. Michael Jackson, Benson, .100, 6.985 breakout foul, 95.19 mph.

Semifinals – Brewer, .038, 7.042, 100.68 mph, def. Yelton, .078, 6.980 breakout foul, 96.67 mph; Wright, .050, 6.978, 96.96 mph, def. Schneider, foul.

FINAL – Howard Brewer, Bennett, 1985 Ford Mustang. 037, 7.026, 101.18 mph, def. Rusty Wright, Kings Mountain, 1972 Dodge Dart, .048, 6.976 breakout foul, 96.81 mph.

PTC CONVERTERS 275 REAL STREET – Due to weather, money split between Bryan Fendren, Dunn, 1979 Ford Mustang; Kevin Robinson, Blythwood, S.C., 1979 Ford Mustang; Jonathan Atkins, Mooresville, 1999 Pontiac Trans Am; Dean Goodin, Statesville, 2002 Pontiac Trans Am.

MSD IGNITION KING OF STREET Round 2 – Scott Owenby, Marion, bye; Barry Mitchell, Davidson, 1968 Chevy Nova, .117, 16.104, 79.43 mph, def. Ziff Hudson, Concord, 1966 Chevy II, foul; Darrin Hoyle, Taylorsville, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, .112, 5.143, 137.25 mph, def. Steve Hicks, Concord, 1969 Chevy Nova, .091, 5.289, 137.81 mph; Jason Hoots, NA, 1990 Ford Mustang, .128, 5.168, 139.00 mph, def. David Pearson, Deep Gap, 1988 Ford Mustang, .044, 5.356, 136.04 mph; Eric McMillon, Axton, Va., 1991 Ford Mustang, .037, 5.093, 140.52 mph, def. Jerry Hildebran Jr., Sherrills Ford, 1986 Ford Mustang, foul.

Round 3 – Owenby, .105, 5.033, 150.35 mph, def. Hoots, .099, 5.144, 138.91 mph; Hoyle, .071, 5.141, 136.81 mph, def. Mitchell, 5.164, 137.36 mph; McMillon, bye.

Semifinals – Not contested. Money split between three semifinalists due to weather.

EDELBROCK  SATURDAY OPEN COMP Round 4 – Daniel Frazier, Asheboro, 1990 Ford Mustang, .089, 11.272 on an 11.230, 110.35 mph, def. Ralph Williams, Eagle Springs, .121, 11.188 on a 10.940, 100.21 mph; Shane Williams, Knoxville, Tenn., .020, 11.952 on a 12.040, 107.21 mph, def. Travis Frazier, Ramseur, 1987 Ford Mustang, .073, 10.364 breakout on a 10.520, 108.73 mph; Will McKay, Rockingham, 1985 Ford Thunderbird, .039, 11.650 on an 11.830, 111.71 mph, def. Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, 1991 Ford Mustang, .057, 11.634 breakout on an 11.840, 117.54 mph; Reggie Burnette Jr., Rougemont, 2000 Ford Mustang, .004, 10.904 on an 11.020, 120.65 mph, def. Eric Pendergrass, Bear Creek, 1986 Ford Mustang, .076, 10.081 breakout on a 10.230, 132.41 mph.

Semifinals – Williams, .011, 11.981 on a 12.040, 102.97 mph, def. McKay, .087, 11.821 breakout on an 11.930, 115.53 mph; D. Frazier, .008, 11.336 on an 11.230, 122.05 mph, def. Burnette, .146, 11.052 on an 11.020, 114.77 mph.

FINAL – Shane Williams, Knoxville, Tenn., .013, 11.961 on a 12.040, 107.29 mph, def. Daniel Frazier, Asheboro, 1990 Ford Mustang, foul.

PERFORMANCE AUTOMATIC SATURDAY PRO TREE DOORSLAMMER Round 5 – Mullet Jefferson, Belhaven, 1994 Ford Mustang, .144, 6.319 on a 6.320, 109.09 mph, def. Shane Williams, Knoxville, Tenn., 1999 Ford Mustang, .052, 7.483 breakout on a 7.500, 89.29 mph; Steve Hilburn, Loris, S.C., .010, 5.877 on a 5.870, 117.02 mph, def. Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, .026, 6.339 breakout on a 6.340, 107.02 mph; Donald Norris, Conway, S.C., 1974 Chevy Monza, .026, 6.238 on a 6.210, 110.87 mph, def. David Hall Jr., New Bern, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, .047, 5.992 on a 5.970, 115.76 mph; Keith Daniel, Currie, 1988 Ford Mustang, .021, 6.801 on a 6.780, 102.81 mph, def. Dale Sanders, Eagle Springs, 1991 Ford Mustang, .035, 7.502 on a 7.450, 91.35 mph.

Semifinals – Daniel, .013, 6.819 on a 6.790, 102.58 mph, def. Norris, .047, 6.206 breakout on a 6.220, 103.74 mph; Hilburn, .020, 5.920 on a 5.880, 110.94 mph, def. Jefferson, .046, 6.386 on a 6.310, 108.44 mph.

FINAL – Keith Daniel, Currie, 1988 Ford Mustang, .031, 6.796 on a 6.800, 102.39 mph, def. Steve Hilburn, Loris, S.C., foul.

SATURDAY FOOTBRAKE Round 6 – Tim Wilson, Fayetteville, 1987 Ford Mustang, .091, 6.267 on a 6.260, 110.32 mph, def. Chuck Grover, Vanceboro, 1991 Ford Mustang, foul; Randy Etheridge, Engelhard, 1994 Chevrolet Camaro, .022, 6.653 on a 6.640, 98.25 mph, def. Dwayne Rozier, NA, 1970 Chevy Nova, .044, 6.682 on a 6.670, 103.45 mph; Tim Davis, Fayetteville, bye; Michael Jackson, Benson, .062, 6.968 on a 6.960, 96.79 mph, def. Tim Wilson #2, 1987 Ford Mustang, .092, 6.284 on a 6.260, 109.99 mph.

Semifinals – Davis, .038, 7.864 on a 7.860, 86.68 mph, def. Wilson, foul; Etheridge, .018, 6.657 on a 6.640, 99.62 mph, def. Jackson, .051, 6.982 on a 6.960, 97.55 mph.

FINAL – Randy Etheridge, Engelhard, 1994 Chevrolet Camaro, .023, 6.629 on a 6.640, 102.88 mph, def. Tim Davis, Fayetteville, .065, 7.822 breakout on a 7.860, 84.43 mph.