-Piedmont Dragway - The Proud Home of IHRA Drag Racing, Bracket Racing, The Big Dog ShootOut and More!!

(April 11, 2008) Julian, NC - Piedmont Dragway put on a season-opener to remember yesterday, as fans enjoyed action-packed racing and weather fit for a king. After a single shake down session and two qualifying rounds, the field was set for an eye-opening Big Dog event that many won't soon forget.

As cars and drivers aliketried to shake off winter's ring rust, Todd Tutterow found himself sitting at the top of the ladder, driving his blown Willys to a 4.18 @ 175mph. Seven positions south sat Darrin Hoyle on the bump, making the show in his first Big Dog start. After a brilliant career in ORSCA Limited Street, Hoyle drove his ex-Rickie Smith Pro Stock Cobalt to a 4.30 @ 170mph.

Hoyle jumped into Big Dog with both feet when he rolled to the line to face Tutterow on his first race start with the series. Hoyle almost caught a break after Tutterow made his usual half track burnout, then sat stranded past the 330 mark as his reverser went out. It was the longest minute of Tutterow's life as the fans looked on and Hoyle

waits patiently on the starting line, refusing to move until Tutterow made it back. Suddenly, a roar of applause from the crowd as Tutterow caught reverse and proceeded to return to the starting line almost as fast as he left. The cars staged quickly and Tutterow left first. At the finish line it was Tutterow ahead of Hoyle, 4.23 - 4.45 in a thrilling first round match up.

Batman Vows to Return.

Rocky "Batman" Raynor came into Big Dog with big hopes with his Rick Hendrick Chevrolet after qualifying #2 at the season ending 16 car shootout. He sent his car to Wally Stroupe for Painting and a few updates. The sharp 1963 Corvette was ready for action and Rocky even sat out the shakedown run at 5pm, confident he would make the field. The first pass Rocky's car went right and he had to abort. This had him on the outside looking in with one shot to go. Going into the final session, "We Fly Together" Motorsports Team put their 4.25 setup in the car. They had more problems almost running off the track and going only a 4.31. Good enough for #9 spot in the 8 car field. Rocky said "this was a humbling experience" to be on the outside looking in. The good thing after phone calls to Stroupe Race Cars they determined the Struts had been adjusted which on a single

system pass the car wouldn't notice the change but when it was time to go fast it upset the car. Rocky said: "I will be at Piedmont with my mid 20 setup testing Thursday night and I will qualify for May 1st BIG DOG and I will not let my fans down again". Rocky will run this Thursday along with 6.49 and our wild wheelstand contest. Gates open 5pm with runs time runs from 6pm to 9pm.

You couldn't ask for a better day for racing. The sun was out and a slight breeze blowing throughout the day. With the first part of the racing season filled with rain, it was nice to have a clear day. It was good to see the normal Piedmont regulars out, but also a great surprise to see some people coming all the way from Virginia. We know some tracks are running a limited schedule, leaving racers with few places to race. All racers are welcome at Piedmont and we'll do anything we can to accommodate you.

JULIAN, N.C. (WGHP) -- The racing action at Piedmont Dragway isn't just for adults. On Sunday, the junior dragsters competed, and many parents of the young racers are learning that heading to the track can be an effective incentive for good grades.

What a day. When I have kids, I will tell them to become a weatherman. The only profession where you're allowed to keep your job when you're bad at your job. With promises of sun and clear weather, we were anxious to wake up Sunday and get our first points race of the year on. You can imagine our surprise when we woke up to rain. The track crew at Piedmont started very early Sunday attempting to dry the rain soaked track. From 8am to 12:30pm, the crew worked non stop to get the racing surface ready. Even a very fine mist falling throughout the day, we were able to get the entire race in. We made the call to give footbrake an extra round of time runs in order to get rubber down on the track prior to the Top Eliminator calls making their first run. It appeared the

decision paid off as the track came around during time runs. The conditions were against us and we really appreciate the racers working with us. We know its been a frustrating 2 weeks with all the rain. We will always do whatever we can to get a race in!

I have been asked this question a lot since putting together Piedmont Dragway's first ever all bike Quick 8. I did my format a little different from others. There are no rules. If it has two wheels and can make it down the track, you can enter. Since we took over June of last year, our goal has been to provide unique entertainment. Since this is the first time since Jim Turner was putting on the SCRA events for bikes to have their own events, we are going to give away tickets! If you come Thursday to BigDog or our TNT on Friday, you will get a free general admission ticket for Saturday. Qualifying for the Quick 8 will be at 5 and 6:15pm. With eliminations being 7:30-8:30-9:45. I don't have any personal video of the bikes that will be coming. However, I was able to find some video's on YouTube of some of the bikes that will be making the trek to piedmont. By opening the rule book we can have everything from Nitro Harley's, promod bikes and even funny bikes. We hope you'll co

me see us this Saturday. If you aren't able to get to the track to get a free admission ticket, it will be just $10.00 for an all day pass. Racing will begin for the bracket race at 10:30 for time runs and 1pm eliminations. We look forward to seeing you guys!

We have our first two time winner in 8.99. However, it's only the car that won the race. A substitute driver was in place tonight. There is nothing better than seeing a group of kids deciding to build a car for a class and doing well in it. They built this car to run 8.99 and they have proven that coming out on TNT and practicing has paid off. From the start of the year this car was out practicing and it shows. Congrats, they now have a 25.00 bounty on their heads for the 8.99 race!

Racers have been asking, is Piedmont going to cut the purse in the bracket races??? We are here to announce WE WILL NOT be cutting our purses for the 2008 racing season. Not only are we NOT cutting our purse's, we're paying 2nd round winner! We believe bracket racing is still strong. We hope the racers feel the same. The only major change to our bracket races will be the buy back round. It is no longer a buy back, but a re-entry round. 1st round losers that choose to enter the re-entry round will run each other between 1st and 2nd round. The winners from the re-entry round will be put into 2nd round. No more two round buy backs and no more waiting till 3rd round to collect round money! You will see that the cost of re-entry is $1.00 more than the buy back last year. That increase goes directly into a racers fund for the bracket finals at the end of the year.

We will be one of the only tracks charging NO ENTRY for Jr. Dragsters. That's right, car and driver entry will be FREE. A big thanks to Big Tony's Chevelle Parts for making this happen!

We will debut a new class during our bracket racing events called Street ET. This is meant for street legal beginner bracket racers. You are not allowed to enter this if you have been entered in the points at any other track the past two years. No slicks are allowed. Street ET will have it's own points as well.

Our first points race is coming up this Sunday, April 6th. The 2nd race will be April 13th. Special thanks goes to Andy Beal from Beal Racing Engines and Carolina Drag Tire for sponsoring our Top Eliminator points and Big Tony's Chevelle Parts for sponsoring our Jr Dragster class! Check out our points system and payouts here: