AHDRA’S SCREAMIN’ EAGLE CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION HEADS TO VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK THIS WEEKEND…McCLURE STYLE!

S & S JIM McCLURE NATIONALS SEPTEMBER 20^TH AND 21^ST

VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK, DINWIDDIE, VA

As the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) heads to Virginia Motorsports Park this weekend, the scenario in the Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel championship standings could not be better suited for its event namesake—the late Jim McClure.

The S & S Jim McClure Nationals were named after the legendary 19-time national champion who passed away in 2004. Because McClure was so loved and respected by all who knew him, this weekend’s event is an opportunity to pay tribute to him and his immeasurable contributions to the sport.

With only two race events left in the AHDRA 2008 season, the Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel Championship title is wide open for the taking.

“That’s just the way Jim would have like it,” said his widow, Phyllis. “He loved when the competition was this good!”

Sitting at the top of the standings is Mark Conner of St. Louis, MO. Like so many in the sport, Conner has a special place in his heart for Jim McClure.

He was the reason I started doing this,” explained Conner. “I went to my first professional drag racing event many years ago in Gulfport, MS, with a few of my friends. We sat at the mid-way part of the grandstands, and Jim came flying down the track in front of us with his wheel up in the air. I looked at my buddy and said, ‘That’s what I want to do!’”

And that’s exactly what Conner did do. He went on to earn an AHDRA Top Fuel championship in 1996 and a Pro Fuel championship in 1997. Several years later he would take on the most rewarding challenge of his career: He took over the Top Fuel seat for a retired Jim McClure on his famed Nitro Harley (known as “Da Judge”), and rode it in both AHDRA and IHRA competition.

I asked Conner what went through his mind when he was asked to ride the bike of such a mentor and legend of the sport. Was there a lot of added pressure?

Conner said, “Of course I wanted to do everything perfect for him. And whenever I did something wrong on a pass, Jim would have this way, with a sly look, of motioning with his index finger for me to come into the trailer, where he would meticulously point out my mistakes on the computer.” He went on to say, “I really did try so much harder when I was with him and Phyllis. It was the best racing experience I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Phyllis McClure has fond memories of their experience with Conner as well. “He is a great rider,” she said. “You can put him on anything and he can ride it.”

She recalled that Jim said more than once, “If I had put Conner on the bike sooner, we would have had the IHRA championship!”

Phyllis revealed that she has a soft spot for Conner in the tight battle going on for the championship title this year. “I know in my heart he is the best rider out there and it would mean a lot for him to win.” She added, “Not just to me, but winning would be special to him, too.”

She spoke about the others contending for the title “They all deserve to win,” she said. “I will be happy for any of them.”

For Conner to earn the Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel Championship, he will have to fight off the defending titleholder, Doug Vancil of Albuquerque, NM. He trails Conner by only twenty-seven points.

Vancil was the first recipient of the “Red Line Oil/Jim McClure Memorial Award,” chosen each year by Phyllis McClure and awarded annually for exceptional contributions to the sport both on and off the track.

Currently in the third spot is Phil Schmidt of Orangevale, CA. He trails the leader by a forty-seven-point margin. Both Schmidt and Vancil made valiant moves up in the standings at AHDRA’s last meeting in Woodburn, OR.

That Oregon race could possibly be the “one that got away” for Conner at the end of the season. Heading into that event, Conner (the leader) was just shy of fifty points ahead of Japanese rider Takeshi Shigematsu. Most observers expected the pair to battle it out on the West Coast track for the number one spot; instead, Conner surprised the nitro field and did not enter the Oregon competition, leaving the spot wide open for Shigematsu to take over. Then, the unthinkable happened: Shigematsu failed to qualify and was out of the competition, falling to the fourth spot in the standings. Meanwhile, Vancil moved up a notch to second place and Schmidt leapt from fifth to third.

Conner is aware that the Oregon absence could haunt him at the end, but he didn’t seem regretful for the decision. “I said in Bristol, TN, that if I couldn’t get the job done here, it wasn’t going to get done in Oregon.” Luckily for him, the outcome was not as bad as it could have been—thanks to Shigematsu’s performance that weekend.

Four riders are thus vying for the championship title, with only two races to get it done. There are still a few more out there, however, who could rattle the standings after this weekend’s competition at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Steve Dorn of Gladstone, OR, is in the fifth spot and still in contention with only sixty- five points separating him from the leader. Making up the sixth and seventh spots currently and just over one hundred marks away are Joey Sternotti of Blackwood, NJ, and Jay Turner of Julian, NC.

Turner, the most recent recipient of the Redline Oil/Jim McClure Award, has a remarkable record at Virginia Motorsports Park. He has competed and earned victories in both the Screamin’ Eagle Top Fuel and Rush Pro Fuel categories for two consecutive years (2006, 2007) at the event that pays tribute to his lifelong friend. With the competition level heading into Virginia this weekend, Turner will have to be nearly flawless to pull off a third double victory.

As for Conner who now rides for Edge Motorsports, he says that Jim has been riding along with him all year. “I’ve made too many mistakes. For me to be in this position, he has to be the one looking out for me,” said Conner. “He is always on my mind.”

Phyllis recalled that Jim spoke of Conner’s ability to “stir things up.” I asked him if he was still stirring things up. “Oh, I guess it depends on the race,” he replied with a grin. “It seems I sure stirred things up in Oregon!”

Fans can catch Conner going head-to-head for the national title against a stiff field of Top Fuel Nitro Harley entries this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park as they rumble down the quarter-mile at over 200 mph in six seconds.

In addition to the three Nitro classes competing this weekend, the S & S Jim McClure Nationals will include Modified Gas classes, street bikes, and more. A total of sixteen classes compete for cash and awards in excess of $60,000, and many of them could seal their championship position in the 2008 Screamin’ Eagle Championship Series standings.

Qualifying begins on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. On Sunday, sportsman eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m., and the Pros take the track at 12:30 p.m.

Admission to the S & S Jim McClure Nationals is $50 for the weekend or $30 for single- day admission. The price of admission includes access to the pits. Children 11 and under are admitted free; AHDRA also offers free admission to active and reserve military personnel. H.O.G. members receive a $5 discount at the gate with valid H.O.G. card.

Discount tickets are available at Hampton Roads and Southside Harley-Davidson dealers.

For more information on the S & S Jim McClure Nationals, contact 336-924-2095 or visit www.ahdra.com.