SILANCE, RINER, BAKER SHINE IN MEMORIAL WEEKEND IRONMAN CLASSIC     ROCKINGHAM – Jacksonville’s Chaz Silance earned the most money and Kevin Riner and Jacob Baker both were double-up winners, but the biggest story at the 16th annual Memorial Weekend IHRA Ironman Classic at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway involved two drivers who never even made it to a final round. When fourth round opponents William Brewer of St. Pauls and Jessica Dean of Monroe got to the finish line Saturday, the electronic timing system printed WIN beside both competitors on the tower computer printout.. Brewer had a .009 reaction time and his 1988 Ford Mustang covered the eighth mile in 6.222 seconds against a 6.210 target. Dean had a perfect light at .000 and her dragster ran 4.841 on a 4.820 dial-in. The two “packages” were identical and just .021 shy of perfection. But the race was even closer than that. The scoreboards only show times in thousandths of a second, but the computer that runs the Compulink system, the gold standard of timing equipment, carries times out to 10 digits. Even with that level of precision, it still could not determine a winner, resulting in a dead heat. Compulink system creator Bob Brockmeyer confirmed that it is only the third such dead heat result in the 30-year history of Compulink. 9 digits out is one-billionth of a second, a nanosecond, that is 1/1,000,000,000th of a second! Both drivers advanced to round five in Top ET, but, unfortunately, neither survived to the semifinals. Meanwhile, in a holiday classic that honors the memory of “Big John” Leviner, Rockingham Dragway’s former Competition Director, Silance picked up the $7,500 prize awarded to the Sunday Top ET winner and just missed getting another $5,000 on Saturday as runner-up to David Dean of Waxhaw. The third big money Top ET winner was Richard Alford Jr. of Raleigh, who claimed his $5,000 prize on Monday. Although the biggest shares of the purse went to the Top ET winners, the most impressive performances were those turned in by Riner and Baker. Riner drove his Autryville-based 1972 Chevy Nova to the Footbrake title on both Sunday and Monday and was in the hunt for a third win Saturday before fouling out in round six. Baker, of Yorktown, Va., battled Rockingham regular Noah Johnson of Fayetteville all weekend long in the Jr. Dragster class and finished the weekend with a slight edge. Although the two split four heads-up races, Baker wound up with two trophies and two winners’ checks while Johnson had to settle for his second straight Ironman. Like Riner, Baker won on both Sunday and Monday, beating Johnson in the Monday final. The Fayetteville driver came back, however, and reversed the order of finish in the the special Ironman runoff that followed the regular program. In the other matches in their rivalry, Johnson beat Baker in Saturday’s third round and Baker beat Johnson in the Sunday semifinals. Former Carolina Coalition champion Tommy Plott won the other Footbrake race and Nikolas Edick of Florence, S.C., claimed Saturday’s Jr. Dragster title. While Johnson got the lone Ironman awarded in Jr. Dragster, the Top ET winners swept the daily Ironman races with their Footbrake rivals with Dean, Silance and Alford all taking home the same trophies awarded to champions in the IHRA Nitro Jam Series. ROCKINGHAM – Results from the 16th annual Memorial Weekend IHRA Ironman Classic at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway: MONDAY TOP ET Round 6 – Dalton Pearsall, LaGrange, .010, 4.895 on a 4.850, 136.34 mph, def. Chuck Bowman, Stony Point, .049, 4.715 on a 4.690, 147.33 mph; Brian Hicks, Pageland, S.C., .050, 4.855 on a 4.840, 142.16 mph, def. Kim Bowers, Lancaster, S.C., foul; Eric Aman, Clinton, .009, 4.718 on a 4.700, 142.69 mph, def. Ken Batchelor, Leland, .005, 4.616 on a 4.590, 141.31 mph; Jerry Brewer, Lumberton, .024, 4.735 on a 4.730, 143.44 mph, def. David Dean, Waxhaw, .044, 4.536 breakout on a 4.540, 152.54 mph; Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .042, 6.437 on a 6.420, 104.84 mph, def. Joe Julsrud, Stony Point, foul; Arthur Whitley Albemarle, bye. Round 7 – Pearsall, .002, 4.865 on a 4.850, 141.08 mph, def. Hickens, .000, 4.874 on a 4.850, 137.54 mph; Alford Jr., .008, 6.434 on a 6.430, 102.80 mph, def. Brewer, .023, 4.731 on a 4.720, 145.30 mph; Whitley, .000, 5.159 on a 5.150, 135.62 mph, def. Aman, .045, 4.705 on a 4.700, 147.41 mph. Semifinals – Alford, .019, 6.446 on a 6.430, 102.55 mph, def. Whitley, .047, 5.193 on a 5.150, 132.90 mph; Pearsall, bye. FINAL – Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .014, 6.444 on a 6.430, 103.40 mph, def. Dalton Pearsall, LaGrange, no time. MONDAY FOOTBRAKE Round 6 – Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, .021, 6.771 on a 6.750, 99.57 mph, def. Richard Synger, Dudley, 1972 Chevy Nova, foul; Tesz Powell, Morganton, .005, 6.091 on a 6.060, 108.45 mph, def. Chad Terry, Efland, .073, 7.203 on a 7.190, 93.93 mph; Corbitt Marshburn, Clinton, .063, 7.081 on a 7.090, 95.33 mph, def. Eric Aman, Clinton, foul; Michael Jackson, Benson, .020, 5.856 on a 5.870, 116.79 mph, def. Tim King, Winnsboro, foul; Steve Alford, Angier, .056, 6.763 on a 6.750, 95.12 mph, def. Scott Yates, Gold Hill, 1965 Ford Mustang, .064, 6.557 on a 6.550, 105.50 mph. Round 7 – Riner, .009, 6.779 on a 6.760, 97.93 mph, def. S. Alford, .014, 6.734 breakout on a 6.750, 96.32 mph; Marshburn, .017, 7.138 on a 7.080, 94.41 mph, def. Jackson, .065, 5.872 on a 5.840, 115.21 mph; Powell, bye. Semifinals – Powell, .041, 6.091 on a 6.070, 108.84 mph, def. Marshburn, .049, 7.116 on a 7.080, 94.45 mph; Riner, bye. FINAL – Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, .034, 7.627 on a 6.760, 67.94 mph, def. Tesz Powell, Morganton, foul MONDAY IRON MAN – Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, Top ET winner, .022, 6.432 on a 6.430, 103.42 mph, def. Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, Footbrake winner, .037, 6.759 breakout on a 6.760, 97.84 mph. MONDAY JR. DRAGSTER Round 3 – Dawson Wiggins, Dunn., .145, 9.074 on a 9.010, 71.41 mph, def. Blane Parrish, Clayton, foul; Kaylee Creech, Clayton, .092, 8.968 on an 8.960, 72.10 mph, def. Hayden Dial, Rowland, foul; Nikolas Edick, Florence, S.C., .004, 8.933 on an 8.890, 73.10 mph, def. Cam Whisnant, Dallas, .040, 8.947 breakout on an 8.970, 71.79 mph; Kimberly Dawn Messer, Four Oaks, .059, 8.065 on a 7.950, 80.13 mph, def. Nick Weaver, Sanford, .110, 8.644 on an 8.560, 74.78 mph; Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .028, 7.945 on a 7.900, 80.69 mph, def. Brittney Dial, Pembroke, foul; Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .053, 7.943 on a 7.900, 80.70 mph, def. Kaylee Miller, Lancaster, S.C., .101, 8.280 breakout on an 8.300, 77.01 mph; Kristy Carol Messer, Four Oaks, .005, 8.041 on a 7.950, 79.51 mph, def. Ashleigh Stafford, Kernersville, .031, 8.096 on an 8.030, 77.06 mph; Nicholas Rabon, Florence, S.C., .052, 7.948 on a 7.940, 78.48 mph, def. Jessica Winkler, China Grove, .067, 8.671 on an 8.610, 72.92 mph. Round 4 – Johnson, .022, 7.889 on a 7.900, 80.84 mph, def. Rabon, .060, 7.883 breakout on a 7.900, 80.93 mph; Baker, .049, 7.961 on a 7.900, 78.13 mph, def. K.D. Messer, .114, 8.000 on a 7.950, 81.03 mph; K.C. Messer, .100, 7.981 on a 7.960, 80.89 mph, def. Creech, .115, 8.944 breakout on an 8.960, 70.92 mph; Edick, .075, 8.974 on an 8.930, 72.39 mph, def. Wiggins, .089, 9.016 breakout on a 9.060, 71.96 mph. Semifinals – Johnson, .066, 7.928 on a 7.900, 79.25 mph, def. K.C. Messer, .057, 8.021 on a 7.960, 80.44 mph; Baker, NA, 7.837 on a 7.900, 82.50 mph, def. Edick, foul. FINAL – Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .063, 7.907 on a 7.900, 76.69 mph, def. Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .063, 7.883 breakout on a 7.900, 81.50 mph. JR. DRAGSTER IRONMAN Round 1 – Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .032, 7.986 on a 7.900, 77.66 mph, def. Kimberly Dawn Messer, Four Oaks, .141, 7.964 on a 7.950, 81.09 mph; Hayden Dial, Rowland, .074, 9.072 on a 9.100, 71.24 mph, def. Nikolas Edick, Florence, S.C., foul; Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., bye. Semifinals – Baker, .034, 7.920 on a 7.900, 76.23 mph, def. Dial, .052, 9.100 on a 9.060, 71.03 mph; Johnson, bye. FINAL – Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .033, 7.896 on a 7.900, 79.17 mph, def. Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .016, 7.862 breakout on a 7.900, 81.18 mph. SUNDAY TOP ET Round 6 – Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, .019, 4.749 on a 4.730, 143.23 mph, def. Jimmy Broadway, Vanceboro, 1966 Chevy II, .022, 6.410 on a 6.390, 106.91 mph; Matt Hamilton, Staunton, Va., .018, 4.476 on a 4.450, 147.88 mph, def. Joe Julsrud, Stony Point, .041, 4.863 on a 4.860, 134.38 mph; Charles Doss, Statesville, .005, 4.911 on a 4.890, 135.25 mph, def. Tim Thomas, Lumberton, .016, 4.789 on a 4.770, 142.85 mph; Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, .008, 4.660 on a 4.650, 142.93 mph, def. Tommy Strickland, Raeford, .038, 4.612 on a 4.600, 149.78 mph; Nick Womack, Lillington, .029, 4.652 on a 4.640, 148.10 mph, def. Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, .020, 6.405 breakout on a 6.410, 103.69 mph; Ken Batchelor, Leland, bye. Round 7 – Batchelor, .017, 4.588 on a 4.540, 140.68 mph, def. Doss, .077, 4.908 on a 4.900, 139.06 mph; Silance, .027, 4.642 on a 4.630, 145.81 mph, def. Womack, .002, 4.691 on a 4.650, 144.40 mph; Vogler, .011, 4.743 on a 4.740, 145.94 mph, def. Hamilton, .004, 4.461 on a 4.450, 149.81 mph. Semifinals – Silance, .015, 4.649 on a 4.630, 146.67 mph, def. Batchelor, .031, 4.565 on a 4.550, 149.91 mph; Vogler, bye. FINAL – Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, .015, 4.651 on a 4.640, 145.85 mph, def. Robert Vogler III, Lewisville, .018, 4.768 on a 4.750, 145.53. SUNDAY FOOTBRAKE Round 6 – Tesz Powell, Morganton, .025, 6.045 on a 6.030, 110.57 mph, def. Barbara Terry, Haw River, 1971 Pontiac Firebird, .018, 7.088 on a 7.050, 94.81 mph; Tim Davis, Fayetteville, .028, 7.865 on a 7.860, 86.89 mph, def. Terry Rucker, Benson, .004, 6.589 on a 6.560, 96.05 mph; William Roberts, Benson, .053, 6.641 on a 6.640, 102.45 mph, def. Steve Alford, Angier, .016, 6.758 breakout on a 6.760, 96.36 mph; Derek Harris, McLeansville, .046, 6.398 on a 6.420, 103.71 mph, def. Chris Gibson, Lexington, .084, 6.339 breakout on a 6.400, 107.33 mph; Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, .024, 6.802 on a 6.770, 92.13 mph, def. Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, 1971 Chevy Chevelle, .042, 6.432 breakout on a 6.440, 98.79 mph; Randall Cantrell, Elon, 1967 Chevy Nova, bye. Round 7 – Powell, NA, 6.034 on a 6.030, 112.12 mph, def. Davis, foul; Roberts, .010, 6.637 on a 6.630, 102.39 mph, def. Cantrell, .020, 6.637 on a 6.620, 101.29 mph; Riner, .051, 6.750 on a 6.750, 100.46 mph, def. Harris, foul. Semifinals – Riner, .047, 6.750 on a 6.750, 97.45 mph, def. Powell, .048, 6.031 on a 6.010, 11.94 mph; Roberts, bye. FINAL – Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, .023, 6.779 on a 6.750, 71.54 mph, def. William Roberts, Benson, .071, 6.622 on a 6.620, 102.65 mph. SUNDAY IRON MAN – Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, Top ET winner, .026, 4.649 on a 4.640, 142.06 mph, def. Kevin Riner, Autryville, 1972 Chevy Nova, Footbrake winner, .023, 6.762 on a 6.720, 99.39 mph. SUNDAY JR. DRAGSTER Round 4 – Kaylee Creech, Clayton, .056, 8.966 on an 8.920, 71.54 mph, def. Blane Parrish, Clayton, .126, 8.826 on an 8.760, 73.24 mph; Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .010, 7.954 on a 7.900, 79.43 mph, def. Trevor Jenkins, Heath Springs, S.C., .058, 7.938 on a 7.900, 82.21 mph; Brittney Dial, Pembroke, .023, 7.930 on a 7.900, 80.26 mph, def. Jeremy Barbee, Stanfield, .089, 7.975 on a 7.900, 79.02 mph; Kimberly Dawn Messer, Four Oaks, .054, 7.956 on a 7.920, 81.57 mph, def. Dawson Wiggins, Dunn., .087, 9.045 on a 9.010, 69.61 mph; Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .020, 7.940 on a 7.900, 78.59 mph, def. Nick Weaver, Sanford, .079, 8.659 on an 8.640, 75.11 mph. Round 5 – Johnson, bye; Baker, .051, 8.320 on a 7.900, 63.68 mph, def. Creech, .226, 8.940 on an 8.920, 72.74 mph; Messer, .037, 7.971 on a 7.930, 81.55 mph, def. Dial, .044, 7.998 on a 7.900, 76.29 mph. Semifinals – Baker, .000, 7.984 on a 7.910, 79.13 mph, def. Johnson, .082, 7.912 on a 7.900, 81.72 mph; Messer, bye. FINAL – Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .029, 7.927 on a 7.920, 81.92 mph, def. Kimberly Dawn Messer, Four Oaks, foul. SATURDAY TOP ET Round 6 – David Dean, Waxhaw, .030, 4.506 on a 4.510, 153.47 mph, def. Terry Locklear, Shannon, foul; Randy Sessoms, Roseboro, 1970 Chevy Nova, .017, 6.229 on a 6.220, 108.09 mph, def. Danny Walters Jr., LaGrange, .043, 4.801 on a 4.800, 139.07 mph; Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, .046, 4.624 on a 4.610, 149.86 mph, def. A.J. Currie, Goldwin, foul; Stewart Newton, Bennettsville, S.C., .048, 4.765 on a 4.750, 142.51 mph, def. Jessica Dean, Monroe, .061, 4.812 on a 4.800, 142.96 mph; Jerry Brewer, Lumberton, .023, 4.744 on a 4.750, 145.39 mph, def. Chad Duke, Wilmington, 1970 Chevy Nova, foul; Danny Hoover, Kinston, 1967 Chevy Camaro, bye. Round 7 – Dean, .033, 4.500 on a 4.500, 152.71 mph, def. Brewer, .022, 4.752 on a 4.740, 144.71 mph; Silance, .006, 4.629 on a 4.620, 145.08 mph, def. Sessoms, .028, 6.233 on a 6.230, 107.77 mph; Hoover, .012, 6.510 on a 6.500, 104.41 mph, def. Newton, .005, 4.776 on a 4.750, 145.50 mph. Semifinals – Dean, .028, 4.495 on a 4.490, 152.90 mph, def. Hoover, .010, 6.498 breakout on a 6.500, 104.01 mph; Silance, bye. FINAL – David Dean, Waxhaw, .006, 4.501 on a 4.490, 152.78 mph, def. Chaz Silance, Jacksonville, .011, 4.629 on a 4.620, 149.28 mph. SATURDAY FOOTBRAKE Round 5 – David Sears, Holly Springs, 1989 Ford Mustang, .015, 5.924 on a 5.920, 115.20 mph, def. Art Laselle, Fayetteville, .051, 6.576 breakout on a 6.590, 103.70 mph; Steve Alford, Angier, .022, 6.729 on a 6.730, 96.57 mph, def. Doug Walton, Maysville, .006, 6.132 breakout on a 6.140, 112.63 mph; Andrew Davis, Fayetteville, .069, 7.823 on a 7.830, 87.20 mph, def. Mike Allred, Linden, 1983 Chevrolet El Camino, .082, 6.489 breakout on a 6.510, 101.19 mph; Kevin Riner, Autryville, .001, 6.769 on a 6.760, 97.94 mph, def. Mallie Pennington, Goldsboro, 1982 Chevrolet Camaro, .024, 6.805 on a 6.800, 101.32 mph; Tommy Plott, Winston-Salem, .078, 5.447 on a 5.450, 127.15 mph, def. Richard Alford Jr., Raleigh, 1972 Chevy Chevelle, .008, 6.433 breakout on a 6.440, 104.52 mph; Justin West, Dunn., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, .082, 7.854 on a 7.830, 83.11 mph, def. Scott Yates, Gold Hill, .150, 6.538 breakout on a 6.540, 105.81 mph; Steve Alford #2, Angier, .031, 6.772 on a 6.750, 96.11 mph, def. Matt Finney, China Grove, .032, 6.575 breakout on a 6.580, 101,61 mph; Tim Davis, Fayetteville, .026, 7.867 on a 7.850, 84.59 mph, def. Tesz Powell, Morganton, .024, 6.029 breakout on a 6.030, 110.83 mph. Round 6 – A. Davis, .024, 7.840 on a 7.830, 87.11 mph, def. S. Alford, foul; West, .017, 7.845 on a 7.840, 84.51 mph, def. Riner, foul; Plott, .085, 5.466 on a 5.480, 127.29 mph, def. Sears, foul; T. Davis, .046, 7.854 on a 7.850, 85.58 mph, def. S. Alford #2, .029, 6.706 on a 6.680, 95.18 mph. Semifinals – Plott, .063, 5.463 on a 5.440, 126.90 mph, def. West, .043, 7.821 breakout on a 7.840, 83.51 mph; A. Davis, no time, def. T Davis, not time. FINAL – Tommy Plott, Winston-Salem, .034, 8.007 on a 5.470, 76.24 mph, def. Andrew Davis, Fayetteville, foul. SATURDAY IRON MAN – David Dean, Washaw, Top ET winner, .065, 4.534 on a 4.510, 151.68 mph, def. Tommy Plott, Winston-Salem, .043, 5.483 on a 5.430, 126.89 mph. SATURDAY JR. DRAGSTER Round 3 – Kaylee Creech, Clayton, .019, 8.881 on an 8.900, 73.88 mph, def. Dawson Wiggins, Dunn, .057, 8.978 breakout on a 9.010, 72.77 mph; Nikolas Edick, Florence, S.C., .093, 8.825 on an 8.850, 73.80 mph, def. Bryce Pittman, Selma, foul; Hayden Dial, Rowland, .094, 8.969 on an 8.990, 72.27 mph, def. Blane Parrish, Clayton, .182, 8.779 breakout on an 8.800, 73.67 mph; Noah Johnson, Fayetteville, .066, 7.941 on a 7.900, 77.43 mph, def. Jacob Baker, Yorktown, Va., .040, 7.888 breakout on a 7.900, 78.37 mph; Kimberly Dawn Messer, Four Oaks, .008, 7.936 on a 7.900, 77.43 mph, def. Kristen Byrd, Benson, .987, 7.920 breakout on a 7.950, 82.38 mph; Brittney Dial, Pembroke, .014, 7.908 on a 7.900, 78.97 mph, def. Ashleigh Stafford, Kernersville, .000, 7.983 breaout on an 8.000, 78.67 mph; Jessica Winkler, China Grove, .061, 8.553 on an 8.490, 74.78 mph, def. Kristy Carol Messer, Four Oaks, foul; Tucker Creech, Clayton, .023, 7.940 on a 7.900, 81.50 mph, def. Cam Whisnant, Dallas, .048, 8.959 breakout on an 8.990, 71.14 mph. Round 4 – Johnson, .011, 7.910 on a 7.900, 82.24 mph, def. K. Creech, foul; H. Dial, .203, 8.932 on an 8.950, 72.72 mph, def. K. Messer, foul; Edick, .031, 8.779 on an 8.850, 74.35 mph, def. B. Dial, foul; Winkler, .036, 8.529 on an 8.540, 74.96 mph, def. T. Creech, .072, 7.919 breakout on a 7.940, 81.73 mph. Semifinals – H. Dial, .014, 8.932 on an 8.920, 72.83 mph, def. Johnson, foul; Edick, .056, 8.821 on an 8.820, 74.61 mph, def. Winkler, foul. FINAL – Nikolas Edick , Florence, S.C., .244, 8.798 on an 8.820, 74.02 mph, def. Hayden Dial, Rowland, .297, 8.906 breakout on a 8.930, 73.23 mph.