WILLIFORD HOPES TO END ON 200 MILE-AN-HOUR HIGH AT ROCKINGHAM

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Astride a turbo charged Suzuki that's headed to extinction in the MiRock Superbike Series, Rodney Williford tries to end the abbreviated Turbo Era on a positive note this week when he sends his 200 mile-an-hour hybrid after the Outlaw Pro Street title in the Lee's Fall Bike Nationals at Rockingham Dragway.
Heavily-favored to claim his third consecutive 

victory in the MiRock Series and, with it, the 2006 Schnitz Outlaw Pro Street championship, Williford nevertheless will face challenges from reigning MiRock champion Tony Girardi of Hollywood, Fla., rising star Ralph Medrano Jr. of Miami, Fla., and Angie McBride of Lewisville, N.C.

The question being asked most often in advance of the event isn't whether the turbo will win, but how low it can go on Rockingham's high traction quarter mile.

Williford lowered the Rockingham track record to 6.999 seconds in qualifying No. 1 for the Summer Sizzler event in August and then was clocked in 6.977 seconds at 202.15 miles per hour en route to victory in last month's Fast by Gast Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.

A recently-announced rules change will not allow turbo charged to compete in Outlaw Pro Street beginning with the 2007 season.

In addition to Outlaw Pro Street, Lee's Fall Bike Nationals champions also will be crowned in Orient Express Pro Sport Bike, Honda-Suzuki of Sanford 5.60 Pro Comp, FBR Shop Quick 32, Nitrous Express Pro ET and Psychobike Street ET classes.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday with pro qualifying at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. followed by Rockingham's popular "Afterdark Underground" session featuring music, grudge racing and time trials until midnight.  Gates open at 8 a.m. Sunday with single elimination finals beginning at 12 noon.

Adult tickets are $10 for Friday's motorcycle specific test-and-tune session, $20 for Saturday qualifying and $20 fo Sunday eliminations.  Kids 6-12 are $5 daily.  Children under six are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.  All tickets include pit access and free parking in Rockingham Dragway's main lot.

While Williford enjoys a comfortable lead in Outlaw Pro Street, points leaders Anthony Navarro of Royersford, Pa. (Pro Sport Bike), Robin Procopio of Wake Forest, N.C. (Quick 32) and Brad Hill of Asheboro, N.C. (5.60 Pro Comp) face more serious challenges in their respective categories.
 
Navarro will try to hold off Jason Miller of Mechanicsville, Md., to whom he lost in the August Sport Bike final while three Procopios will determine the Quick 32 championship.  Robin leads Ronnie Procopio by 20 points and Joe Procopio by 40 with only the Fall Bike Nationals remaining.

Ronnie Procopio also is in contention for the 5.60 Pro Comp title, trailing Hill by a single point entering this weekend's finale.

Point standings after seven of eight events in the 2006 Mickey Thompson Performance MiRock Super Bike Series:
 
Schnitz Outlaw Pro Street – 1. Rodney Williford, Rougemont, N.C., 606; 2. Tony  Girardi, Hollywood, Fla., 569; 3. Angie McBride, Lewisville, N.C., 501; 4. Ralph Medrano Jr., Miami, Fla., 493.

Orient Express Pro Sport Bike – 1. Anthony Navarro, Royersford, Pa., 720; 2. Jason Miller, Mechanicsville, Md., 645; 3. Dimey Eddinger, Winston-Salem, N.C., 432; 4. Steve Jester, Salisbury, N.C., 389.

FBR Shop Quick 32 – 1. Robin Procopio, Winston-Salem, N.C., 340; 2. Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 320; Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 300; 4. Shayne Proctor, Indian Head, Md., 200.

Honda-Suzuki of Sanford 5.60 Pro Comp – 1. Brad Hill, Asheboro, N.C., 45; 2. Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 44; 3. Tie, Jack Durant, Durham, N.C., and Robin Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 40 each.