Tyler Shelton
Race #2 was one for the books at North Florida Motorplex in Fountain Florida with overcast skies and a nicely prepped track. The SNRA roster held down the Nitrous Pro Mod division with a 7-car line up.
Roberts Motorsports came out of the pits swinging with Doug and Ric taking the #1 and #2 spots in qualifying with 3.93 and 3.99 runs respectively. But the tides started to turn for the family team after Doug Roberts suffered the biggest upset of the weekend losing to Bruce Millender after major engine damage in the 1st round. Ric was knocked out some time later in the semifinals.
The damage report for the second race of the season featured more than just Doug Roberts. Bruce Millender and his team suffered a broken 3rd member in the finals. Tori Cagle and driver Michael Wilson rolled up their sleeves and replaced 3 pistons this weekend to sort out their engine troubles. And Billy Cleavenger suffered heartbreaking transmission troubles in the qualifying round after making his SNRA return showcasing a new 975ci engine from TRE Engines.
Despite the damage, the SNRA had its share of good news this weekend as well. Team Fugitive and JT Thompson made great progress with their new ‘68 Camaro, running a 3.96 in the 1st round.
But it was Johnny Piltcher and Piltcher Auto motive & Machine Shop who stole the show this weekend. Even while battling tire shake all weekend, the chips started to fall in his favor when he secured the 1st round bye after qualifying 4th with a 4.14 run. He laid down the fastest run of the night with a 3.95 to take down Ric Roberts in the semifinals. In the final race, Johnny took home the purse and secured his time in the winner’s circle after defeating Bruce Millender with a pedal job. Johnny successfully left North Florida will the points lead.
Race #3 took the SNRA down to the Middle Georgia Motorsports Park in Jeffersonville Georgia. The nitrous pro mod roster was once again held down by the SNRA with a good ole fashioned 8-car shoot out.
The final qualification times after the opening 2 qualification rounds for Race #3 were:
Edelen at 3.81; Thompson at 4.00; Scott at 4.12; Sandefur at 4.22; Measell at 5.55; Roberts at 5.57; Pilcher at 5.58; and Clevenger at 6.52.
The damage report for this race welcomed Clevenger back again after he suffered from transmission issues in Race #2. He found himself suffering from yet another breakdown after being defeated in the 1st round by Jimmy Sandefur. JT Thompson joined the wounded this week as well with a nitrous line leak resulting in his 1st round elimination against Ric Roberts. Kenny Scott blew a tire down track in his semi-final matchup against Edelen, causing potential issues with his converter and sending him back to the trailer.
Roberts Motorsports was a man down this race with Ric Roberts holding down the track in Doug’s absence. The win over the damaged Team Fugitive in the 1st round pushed Roberts into the semi-finals against Sandefur. Roberts walked out of that matchup headed into the finals with a 4.35 over 4.45 win.
Ralph Edelen laid down the fastest most consistent times of the night with 3.81, 3.83, 3.89, and a 3.93 run in the semi-finals.
Unfortunately for Edelen and Roberts, the finals were called off due to time constraints from a significant race delay from off-track circumstances and a transmission fluid leak on the track from a race before the scheduled finals. The points lead is up in the air at this point with Johnny Piltch, Ric Roberts, and JT Thompson still battling for the top of the roster.
After three events, the Youngster Ric Roberts becomes the youngest racer in the Series’ History to take the points lead.
The season is heating up and the SNRA roster is heading to Montgomery Alabama for Race #4 on May 26th. We’re expecting a great turnout! Montgomery International Dragway, we hope you’re ready!
