NESBITT CLAIMS $10,000 PRIZE IN MEMORIAL WEEKEND BRACKET RACES
Phillips Just Misses Sweep of Jr. Dragster Titles in Rockingham Dragway Event
 
ROCKINGHAM – Brett Nesbitt of McLeansville claimed the biggest single share of a record cash purse and took home one of the four special IHRA trophies awarded during Rockingham Dragway’s Memorial Weekend Bracket Nationals and Ironman Classic.
After losing Saturday’s Top Eliminator final to Pittsboro’s Bob Harris by .002 of a second, Nesbitt came back on Sunday to claim the $10,000 top prize.  He completed a Sunday sweep by beating Footbrake winner Carl Duff of Holly Springs in the runoff for the Ironman trophy.
 
Other winners in the holiday event included Nicole Phillips of Sumter, S.C., who was stopped just shy of a complete sweep in the Jr. Dragster division; Richard Alford of Raleigh, who claimed an Ironman trophy in his Chevelle after winning the Footbrake title on Saturday; and Randall Cantrell of Elon, who duplicated Alford’s feat on Monday.
 
Chad Brewer of Shannon won Friday’s Gamblers Race, Bert McBride of Jackson Springs prevailed in Saturday’s High Rollers Shootout and Junior Raper of Mauldin, S.C., joined Harris and Nesbitt in the “big money” fraternity with a $5,000 Top Eliminator win on Monday.
 
Phillips, won the Saturday and Sunday Jr. Dragster titles but saw her bid for a sweep end with a foul start against first time winner Kelli Blake of Rockingham on Monday.  Phillips also won the single Ironman trophy awarded in the Jr. division, beating Larry Ratley Jr. of Thomasville.
 
Results from the Memorial Weekend Bracket Nationals and Ironman Classic at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway.
 
FRIDAY Gambler’s Race – Chad Brewer, Shannon, dragster, def. Brian Townsend, Parkton, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.
 
SATURDAY Top Eliminator
 Quarterfinals – Nicholas Womack, Lillington, dragster, .022, 4.830 on a 4.820 dial-in, 140.18 mph, def. E.J. Womack, Lillington, dragster, .030, 4.804 on a 4.800 dial-in, 141.06 mph; Bob Harris, Pittsbor, dragster.012, 4.922 on a 4.910 dial-in, 138.43 mph, def. Randy Anderson, Saluda, S.C., 1074 Chevy Vega, foul; 85.96; Brett Nesbitt, McLeansville, dragster, bye.
 Semifinals – Nesbitt, .020, 4.56, 4.526, 152.57, def. N. Womack; Harris, bye.
 FINAL – Bob Harris ($5,000), Pittsboro, dragster, .009, 4.916 on a 4.910 dial-in, 138.61 mph, def. Brett Nesbitt, McLeansville, dragster, .011, 4.554 on a 4.550 dial-in, 145.52 mph. 
 
SATURDAY Footbrake
 Quarterfinals – Perry Green, Lake Waccamaw, 1968 Ford, .015, 7.281 on a 7.250 dial-in, 92.25 mph, def. Johnny McVicker, Maxton, 1988 Ford Mustang, foul; Dell Britt, Dillon, S.C., 1970 Chevy Nova, .026, 7.553 on a 7.550 dial-in, 88.98 mph, def. Steve Alford, Angier, 1971 Ford Pinto, .032, 6.778 on a 6.770 dial-in, 99.81 mph; Richard Alford, Raleigh, 1982 Chevy Chevelle, .004, 7.195 on a 7.150 dial-in, 88.85 mph, def. Barbara Terry, Haw River, 1971 Pontiac Firebird, 028, 7.215 on a 7.150 dial-in, 95.18 mph; Carl Duff, NA, bye.
 Semifinals – Green, .113, 7.307 on a 7.260 dial-in, 88.10 mph, def. Britt, .202, 7.571 on a 7.550 dial-in, 91.53 mph; R. Alford, .070, 7.159 on a 7.150 dial-in, 94.37 mph, def. Duff, .058, 7.089 on a 7.060 dial-in, 93.79 mph.
 FINAL – Richard Alford ($1,000), Raleigh, 1982 Chevy Chevelle, .038, 13.879 on a 7.180 dial-in, def. Perry Green, Lake Waccamaw, 1968 Ford, foul.
 
SATURDAY Jr. Dragster
 Quarterfinals – Timothy Thomas, Lumberton, .078, 9.915 on a 7.920 dial-in, 82.76 mph, def. Kendal Funderburk, Pageland, S.C., broke; Larry Ratley, Jr., Thomasville, .004, 8.560 on an 8.500 dial-in, 73.94 mph, def. Daniel Fields, Lumberton, broke; Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C. bye.
 Semifinals – Phillips, .014, 8.392 on an 8.390 dial-in, 77.91 mph, def. Thomas, .059, 7.880 on a 7.930 dial-in, 83.03 mph; Ratley, bye..
 FINAL – Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., .040, 8.386 on an 8.380 dial-in, 77.89 mph, def. Larry Ratley Jr., Thomasville, .049, 8.580 on a 8.600 dial-in, 74.01 mph.
 
SATURDAY Highrollers Shootout – Bert McBride, Jackson Springs, dragster, .009, 5.572 on a 5.540 dial-in, def. Donny “Hollywood” Urban, Pittsboro, dragster, .031, 4.644 on a 4.630 dial-in.
 SATURDAY Ironman – Richard Alford, Raleigh, 1982 Chevy Chevelle, def. Bob Harris, Pittsboro, dragster.
 
SUNDAY Top Eliminator
 Quarterfinals – Brett Nesbitt, McLeansville, dragster, .021, 4.496 on a 4.460 dial-in, 147.29 mph,
def. Kevin Brannon, Boiling Springs, S.C., dragster, .011, 5.227 on a 5.160 dial-in, 129.72 mph; Bobby Hardee, Mullins, S.C., 1969 Chevy Nova, .034, 6.695 on a 6.670 dial-in, 101.48 mph, def.. Ken Sullivan, West Carrollton, Ohio, .026, 4.989 on a 4.990 dial-in, 131.20 mph; Kip Maddox, Piedmont, S.C., 1986 Ford Mustang, bye.
 Semifinals – Maddox, .025, 6.026 on a 6.010 dial-in, 110.11 mph, def.
Hardee, .056, 6.697 on a 6.680 dial-in, 101.48 mph; Nesbitt, bye.
 FINAL – Brett Nesbitt ($10,000), McLeansville, dragster, .016, 4.456 on a 4.460 dial-in, 153.53 mph, def. Kip Maddox, Piedmont, S.C., 1986 Ford Mustang, foul.
 
SUNDAY Footbrake
 Quarterfinals – Michael Beard, Seagrove, Dodge, .033, 7.190 on a 7.160 dial-in, 90.37 mph, def.
Ken Worden, Wilmington, 1986 Chevy S-10 truck, .089, 7.034 on a 7.000 dial-in, 93.07 mph; Carl Duff, NA, .057, 7.064 on a 7.050 dial-in, 93.46 mph, def. Susan Harris, Willis, Va., 1981 Ford Mustang, .053, 7.775 on a 7.720 dial-in, 86.30 mph; Steve Alford, Angier, 1971 Ford Pinto, 018, 6.780 on a 6.780 dial-in, 98.21 mph, def. Richard Alford, Raleigh, 1982 Chevy Chevelle .038, 7.133 on a 7.150 dial-in, 94.98 mph; W.G. Lankas, Sneads Ferry, S.C., NA, .061, 6.796 on a 6.770 dial-in, 94.33 mph, def. Staton Nichols, Rockingham, .083, 7.541 on a 7.520 dial-in, 90.06 mph.
 Semifinals – Duff, .017, 7.067 on a 7.050 dial-in, 95.77 mph, def. Beard, .030, 7.149 on a 7.120 dial-in, 93.60 mph; Lankas, .026, 6.776 on a 6.770 dial-in, 98.23 mph, def. S. Alford, .022, 6.800 on a 6.700 dial-in, 97.72 mph.
 FINAL – Carl Duff ($1,000), Holly Ridge, 1971 Chevy Nova,.018, 7.054 on a 7.060 dial-in, 95.07 mph, def. W.G. Lankas, Sneads Ferry, S.C., NA, .032, 6.745 on a 6.770 dial-in, 97.75 mph.
 
 SUNDAY Jr. Dragster
 Quarterfinals – Larry Ratley, Jr., Thomasville, .036, 8.600 on an 8.590 dial-in, 73.73 mph, def. Troy Brewer, Shannon, .047, 8.023 on a 7.990 dial-in, 80.39 mph; Tyler Mayhew, Indian Trail, .035, 7.992 on a 7.980 dial-in, 80.12 mph, def. Devin Gilbreath, Mauldin, S.C., .090, 9.116 on a 9.130 dial-in, 68.01 mph; Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., bye.
 Semifinals – Phillips, .049, 8.416 on an 8.400 dial-in, 77.58 mph, def. Ratley, foul; Mayhew, bye.
 FINAL – Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., .015, 8.406 on an 8.400 dial-in, 77.54 mph, def. Tyler Mayhew, Indian Trail, .322, 8.040 n a 7.980 dial-in, 79.77 mph. 
 
 SUNDAY Ironman – Brett Nesbitt, McLeansville, dragster, def. Carl Duff, Holly Ridge, 1971 Chevy Nova. 
 
 MONDAY Top Eliminator
 Quarterfinals – Terry Collins, Shannon, dragster, .024, 4.927 on a 4.920 dial-in, 141.36 mph, def. Shawn Carpenter, Elm City, 1968 Chevy Camaro, .030, 5.368 on a 5.360 dial-in, 129.12 mph; Junior Raper, Mauldin, S.C., 1978 Chevrolet Corvette, .024, 5.999 on a 5.990 dial-in, 114.68 mph, def. Lauen Freer, Lewisville, dragster, .004, 4.923 on a 4.890 dial-in, 139.53 mph; Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, .003, 6.579 on a 6.570 dial-in, 104.43 mph, bye.
 Semifinals – Raper, .008, 6.015 on a 5.990 dial-in, 114.45 mph, def. Johnson, .006, 6.621 on a 6.570 dial-in, 104.28 mph; Collins, .022, 4.932 on a 4.920 dial-in, 140.81 mph.
 FINAL – Junior Raper ($5,000), Mauldin, S.C., 1978 Chevrolet Corvette, .009, 6.018 on a 6.010 dial-in, 114.24 mph, def. Terry Collins, Shannon, dragster, .039, 4.955 on a 4.920 dial-in, 140.72 mph.
 
 MONDAY Footbrake
        Quarterfinals – Michael Beard, Seagrove, 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, .008, 7.175 on a 7.160 dial-in, 93.11 mph, def. Steve Alford, Angier, 1971 Ford Pinto, .015, 6.814 on a 6.780 dial-in, 97.43 mph; Roger Rhodes, Pikeville, 1971 Chevy Nova, .013, 6.989 on a 6.970 dial-in, 96.62 mph, def. Terry Rucker, Benson, 1972 Chevy Nova, .033, 6.919 on a 6.900 dial-in, 98.36 mph; Randall Cantrell, Elon, 1967 Chevy Nova, .024, 7.004 on a 6.980 dial-in, 95.49 mph, def. Carl Duff, Holly Ridge, 1971 Chevy Nova, foul; Don Anderson, Bennett, 1966 Oldsmobile 442, bye.
 Semifinals – Cantrell, .018, 7.017 on a 6.980 dial-in, 95.76 mph, def. Rhodes, foul; Beard, .027, 7.146 on a 7.160 dial-in, 93.86 mph, def. Anderson, foul.
 FINAL – Randall Cantrell ($1,000), Elon, 1967 Chevy Nova, ..017, 7.011 on a 6.990 dial-in, 95.96 mph, def. Michael Beard, Seagrove, 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, foul.
 
 MONDAY Jr. Dragster
 Quarterfinals – Timothy Thomas, Lumberton, .069, 7.935 on a 7.920 dial-in, 81.54 mph, def. Trey Thomas, Aberdeen, .049, 8.920 on an 8.950 dial-in, 71.39 mph; Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., .035, 8.475 on an 8.390 dial-in, 76.79 mph, def. J.P. Britt, Clarkton, foul; Tyler Mayhew, Indian Trail, .012, 7.950 on a 7.900 dial-in, 80.17 mph, def. Larry Ratley Jr., Thomasville, .019, 8.693 on an 8.630 dial-in, 72.94 mph; Kelli Blake, Rockingham, bye. 
 Semifinals – Phillips, .002, 8.445 on an 8.420 dial-in, 77.39 mph, def. Timothy Thomas, .027, 7.910 on a 7.920 dial-in, 82.12 mph; Blake, .096, 8.084 on an 8.060 dial-in, 81.22 mph, def. Mayhew, .137, 7.929 on a 7.900 dial-in, 80.95 mph.
 FINAL – Kelli Blake, Rockingham, .070, 8.128 on an 8.070, 81.05 mph, def. Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., foul.
 
 JR. DRAGSTER Ironman – Nicole Phillips, Sumter, S.C., def. Larry Ratley Jr., Thomasville.
 
 MONDAY Ironman – Randall Cantrell, Elon, 1967 Chevy Nova, def. Junior.Raper, Mauldin, S.C., 1978 Chevrolet Corvette.