Track records are expected to fall next weekend in Valdosta, Georgia and if you’re a fan of 500-inch Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Pro Modified – the 8th annual Eastern Spring Test Nationals presented by Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has all the ingredients to deliver. Initial weather forecasts are predicting clear weather and low-Seventies throughout the week.
Top 500-inch Pro Stock racers such as GM Stalwarts Warren and Kurt Johnson, Greg Stanfield; Mopar sensations Allen Johnson (no relation to the aforementioned), Richie Stevens, Larry Morgan, Erica Enders, and Rodger Brogdon are all pre-entered and gunning for low-6.50s. Allen Johnson is the current track record holder with a 6.592.
The Pro Stock Motorcycles are gunning for the low-6.90s. Among those pre-entered are defending NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Andrew Hines with his potent Harley-Davidson. He’s expected to be challenged by the Suzuki contingent of Karen Stoffer, defending ESTN champion Matt Smith and past NHRA U. S. Nationals victor Steve Johnson. The current Pro Stock Motorcycle track record stands at a 6.96.
A large contingent of Mountain Motor Pro Stockers are pre-entered and gunning for the 6.2-second zone. Rickie Smith, a seven-time IHRA World Champion (5 in Pro Stock), has the SGMP track record in his grip with a 6.309 hit in recent Valdosta testing. He’ll be joined by defending IHRA Torco’s Competition.com Pro Stock champion Pete Berner, current class record holder Robert Patrick (6.315) as well as past world champions John Nobile, Brian Gahm and Steve Spiess.
Pro Modified brings to the table the largest entry count at thirty-six of the quickest and fastest the NHRA and IHRA has to offer. The mix of cars will include supercharged, nitrous-injected and turbocharged. Defending ESTN champion and the first legal five-second runner Josh Hernandez leads the way for the NHRA AMS cars. Defending IHRA Torco’s CompetitionPlus Pro Modified World Champion Quain Stott and Jim Halsey will be gunning with their proven rides while Mike Castellana, Shannon Jenkins and Scott Cannon, Jr., (new track record holder 6.06, 238) will be breaking in new.
A score of other cars will make test runs over the course of the weekend including several nitro burners. Scotty Cannon will make his first runs behind the wheel of Evan Knoll’s Top Fuel dragster. Georgia favorite Bob Vandergriff, Jr., will bring his UPS-sponsored digger for some testing as well.
Thursday and Friday are unlimited test days. Saturday will be run on a schedule with the event slated to complete at 5 PM. Testing resumes on Sunday and continues through Wednesday.
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