LAST UPDATED 02/16/08

THUNDER IN PISGAH BAY
By:  Donna Salsman
Photos By:  Graybeard Photography


The Kentucky Drag Boat Association held their second race of the
season on July 7th and 8th in Pisgah Bay on Kentucky Lake.  There
were about 38 boats that traveled from the surrounding states to
race for the big purse that was offered in 4 of the 5 classes.

Before we get started giving the results of the races, I want to
thank everyone that came and raced with us, all the fans, and most
of all our sponsors.  It takes everyone working together to put on a
great race.  We are doing our very best to show all our racers a
good time and a safe fun race.
 
Let's get started!!  Saturday, July 7th, had a slow start because of
some of the equipment had to be checked and relined.  After
everything was checked and ready to run it worked great.  The racers
got five qualifying runs if they wanted it.   The reaction time pot
was still up as anyone's win until Barry Salsman cut a .005.  He
held on to the best reaction time up until the fifth round.  The
fifth round Rick Conklin cut a .005 also.  Salsman and Conklin were
getting ready to discuss if they wanted to take it out to the next
digit or just split the money when Roger Childers cut a .000 fair
light!    Well, I guess you could say "That's what happens when you
start counting your chickens before they all hatch!"  Roger Childers
took home around $125 for the best reaction time.

12 Second Class

Suzy Shepherd, driving Gotta Believe, took the top qualifier for the
second race of the season.   Pat McDaniel, of Atwood, IL, was trying
to run in a faster class but decided to give Miss Suzy a little
competition after he couldn't get his boat to run in the 11 second
class.
Suzy Shepherd ran a 12.234 ET on a .294 light against Pat McDaniel's
12.924 ET.  He couldn't get his boat off the starting line at first
but did get it fired and he was able to complete the run.  Suzy
Shepherd took the win and Pat McDaniel took second.

11 Second Class

The 11 second class had six entries and Brian Jackson was top
qualifier in the class.
Jackson is from Elsberry, MO and he is driving Floodrunner.  He
qualified with an 11.010 ET.  Brad Murphy of Lansing, IL, was second
qualifier with an 11.018 ET.

Brian Jackson ran an 11.096 ET on a .112 light @ 108 MPH to take the
win in the first round against Freddie Webb's 12.315 ET on a .747
light @ 93 MPH.  Freddie had a little trouble getting off the
starting line but when he did get it running, the boat did well.  We
want to take this opportunity to welcome Cody Webb back to the races
with us.  Cody was in a bad car accident a few years ago and was in
the hospital for awhile.  We were really glad to see him and his
family with us again this year.  (Cody is Freddie's son).

Brad Murphy, of Lansing, IL and driving Murphy's Law, ran an 11.133
on a .454 light @ 107 MPH but Joey Bishop, of Guntersville, AL,
driving H20 Rocket, came off the light with a .294 and ran an 11.181
ET @ 88 MPH to take the win over Brad.
Dave Ellison, of Evansville, IN, driving Keep It Fun, ran a 10.949
ET on a .581 light @ 101 MPH and Sam Schultz of Winfield, MO,
driving Krazy Kracker, had a .230 light and ran a 10.894 ET.  Just
in case you didn't notice, we are still in the 11 second class! 
Dave Ellison took the win because he broke out of the class the
least.

The second round gave Brian Jackson in Floodrunner a bye run. 
Jackson ran an 11.050 ET on a .242 light @ 114 MPH.  Joey Bishop, in
H20 Rocket, ran an 11.207 ET with a .279 light on a loosing effort
against Dave Ellison's .191 light with an 11.290 ET.  Lloyd Burns
would have been so proud of Dave!  The race was won at the light.

The final round had Dave Ellison running an 11.233 ET on a .388
light, but that wasn't good enough to bet Brian Jackson's .063 light
with an 11.085 ET @ 102 MPH to take the win.  Jackson's winnings
were $960 and Ellison won $240.

10 Second Class

The 10 second class was the largest class and the one that paid the
most money to win.  It had 14 boats racing for the $2240 purse.
Kurt Siewert, of Mt Zion, IL, driving Dazed and Confused, was the
top qualifier with a 10.009 ET.  Dan Roak was second qualifier with
a 10.016, Barry Salsman was third with a 10.019, Shane Phillips was
fourth with a 10.024, and Ron Morton was fifth with a 10.042 ET.  I
printed those ET's just to show everyone how close the 10 second
class was.  The top 10 ET's ranged from 10.009 down to 10.098.  

First round had Kurt Siewert running a 10.377 ET on a .959 light @
96 MPH against new comer, Papa Dan.  Papa Dan is from Gregory, MI
and he was driving Flat Attack.  He ran 10.404 on a .144 light to
take the win over Siewert.

Shane Phillips, of Rainbow, AL, ran a 10.261 ET on .108 light over
Buddy Bullard.
Buddy Bullard, of Iuka, MS, driving White Lighting, cut a 10.304 ET
on a .203 light.  Phillips moved on to the next round.  Ron Morton,
of Indianapolis, IN, driving Rampage, ran a 10.075 ET on a -.026 red
light giving the win to Roger Childers.  Childers ran a 9.802 ET on
a .216 light.  Roger Childers ran to fast for the class but Ron
Morton had cut a .026 red light first.
Dan Roak ran a 9.936 ET on a .460 light @ 107 MPH taking the win
over Angela Perkins's 10.603 ET on a -.041 red light.  Once again,
Roak broke out but Angela cut a red light first.  Bob Lipton, of St.
Charles, MO, driving Moisture Missle, cut a .043 light on a 10.229
ET @ 96 MPH to take the win over Michael Glade's 10.195 ET on a .290
light.  Barry Salsman, of Buffalo, KY driving Wildthing, cut a .188
light and ran a 10.021 ET @ 104 MPH against Shane Stafford's 10.007
ET on a .412 light @ 106 MPH.  Salsman moved to the next round.
Wade Wallace, of Benton, KY driving Rush, ran a 10.047 ET on a .120
light taking the win over Rick Conklin's -.070 red light.  Conklin,
of Ottawa, IL, ran a 10.220 ET @ 92MPH.

Second round had Papa Dan running a 10.141 ET with a .583 light on a
bye run.  Shane Phillips ran a 10.220 ET with a .140 light and took
the win over Roger Childers's 9.997 ET.  Roger was to fast for the
class!  Bob Lipton, driving Moisture Missle, ran a 10.149 ET on
a .052 light against Dan Roak's .280 light and 9.938 ET.  Dan joined
Roger Childers in the to fast for the class category.  Barry Salsman
ran a 10.126 ET on a .180 light @ 111 MPH but that wasn't good
enough to take the win.  Wade Wallace cut a .090 light and ran a
10.073 ET @ 100 MPH and he took the win and moved to the next round.

The third round had Papa Dan facing Shane Phillips.  Papa Dan ran an
11.018 ET on a .366 light giving the win to Shane.  Shane Phillips
ran a 10.446 ET with a .145 light.  Wade Wallace ran a 10.229 ET on
a .203 light against Bob Lipton's 10.422 ET on a .145 light. 
Wallace went to the final round against Shane Phillips.

The final round had Wade Wallace running a 10.101 ET with a .263
light @ 116 MPH against Shane Phillips's 10.267 ET with a .061 light
@ 106 MPH.  Shane Phillips won $2240 and Wallace won $560.

9 Second Class

The 9 second class had 9 boats in its class.  Once again, Ashly Ruf
took the top qualifier in the class.  She qualified with a 9.002. 
Tim Townsend, of New Waterford, OH, diving River Rat, was the second
qualifier with a 9.010 and Paul Branard, of Dunbar, WV, was third
with a 9.073.

First round gave Ashly Ruf a bye run.  She ran a 9.141 ET with
a .332 light @ 116 MPH.  Bob Baker, of Momence, IL driving Dressed
in Black, ran an 8.995 ET with a -.039 red light.  Leo Rinke, of
Chesterfeld, MI driving Shakedown, ran a 9.083 ET with a .370
light.  Rinke moved on to the next round.  Tim Townsend, of New
Waterford, OH, ran a 9.080 ET with a .284 light against Dathan
Arant.  Arant, of Dresden, TN driving Warpath, took the win with a
9.033 ET and a .185 light.
Paul Branard, of Dunbar, WV, ran a 9.127 ET on a .258 light @ 110
MPH over Jeff Miller's 9.686.  Jeff Miller was driving Mike and Mary
Deaton's Spoiled Rotten boat.  Kelvin Perkins, of Auburn, KY driving
Blow'n Money, ran a 9.113 ET on a -.113 red light.  Jeff Young, of
Murfreesboro, TN driving Rude Attitude, took the win with a 9.164 ET
and .429 fair light.

The second round had Leo Rinke cutting a .136 light and running a
9.186 ET @ 127 MPH against Ashly Ruf's loosing efforts.  Ashly cut
a .307 light and ran an 8.970 ET which was to fast for the class.
Dathan Arant ran a 10.609 ET on a bye run.  He cuts a -.002 red
light.
Paul Branard cut a -.226 red light and ran a 9.478 ET @ 112 MPH
giving the win to Jeff Young.  Young ran a 9.165 ET with a .238
light @ 129 MPH.

Jeff Young was granted a bye run.  He chose not to run this round. 
Leo Rinke ran a 9.012 ET with a .282 light taking the win over
Dathan Arant.  Arant ran to fast for the class with an 8.866 ET.

The final round in the 9 second class.

Leo Rinke, of Chesterfield, MI driving Shakedown, ran 9.984 ET on a -
.243 red light against Jeff Young's 9.231 ET on a -.257 red light.
Leo Rinke won $1440 for first place in the 9 second class and Jeff
Young won $360 for second place in the 9 second class.

8 Second Class - Pro Eliminator

The Pro Eliminator class had 5 boats in its class.  Ed Anderson was
top qualifier with a 8.045 ET, Steve Wagner was second qualifier
with an 8.056, and Rock Guthrie was third with an 8.089 ET. 

Ed Anderson ran a 7.956 ET with a .101 light @ 163 MPH on a bye
run.  Rock Guthrie ran an 8.106 ET on a .265 light @ 124 MPH taking
the win over Charles Duncan's 7.592 ET and .266 light.  Duncan ran
122 MPH.  Steve Wagner cut a .229 light and ran an 8.502 ET @ 131
MPH against Butch Beach's 8.261 ET and .707 light.  Butch Beach went
142 MPH.

The second round has Ed Anderson running against Rock Guthrie.  This
run was almost picture perfect.  If you were watching it from either
side of the lake you couldn't tell who won.  Ed Anderson ran an
8.150 ET with a .258 light and Rock Guthrie ran an 8.188 ET with
a .282 light.  Ed Anderson took the win.
Steve Wagner ran an 8.074 ET with a -.026 red light on a bye run.

The final round was like a repeat from the June race.  Ed Anderson
and Steve Wagner back for another final round.  Steve Wagner ran an
8.129 ET with a .116 light and Ed Anderson ran an 8.146 ET but he
cut a .064 light giving him the win!
Ed Anderson took home $800 and Steve Wagner took $200.

We want to invite everyone back for the August 4th and 5th race and
also for the Livermore race.  The Livermore race will be 1000 ft
course.  There will be a test and tune on Friday at Livermore. 
Please go to our web site for more information about all our races.

We would like to thank everyone that helped put this race on the
race, the Marshall County Football Boosters that do all the cooking
during the races.  They have really great barbecue ribs. 

We'd like for everyone to help support our sponsors while you are at
Kentucky Lake.  Cheers helped sponsor one of the race lanes and the
other race lane was sponsored by FROGGY 103.7 the radio station out
of Murray, KY. 
The Marshall County Tourist Commission, Kentucky Lake.com, Southside
Outboards, Full Throttle Energy Drink, Bee Spring Lodge, The
Forestry Service that allows us to have our races at Pisgah Bay. 

I hope to see everyone back at the next race and maybe you can bring
a friend along that would like to race.