Tucson Dragway

Destroyer Category Set For Second Competitive Season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 1, 2007) – And just like that, the offseason is over and racers are back at the drag strip vying for trophies and those important Screamin' Eagle championship points.

The 2007 AHDRA season kicks off Friday with the first round of qualifying for the AHDRA Screamin' Eagle Bike Week Nationals presented by Gainesville Harley-Davidson.

The first of three scheduled qualifying sessions starts at 5 p.m. on Friday. The second and third sessions will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday before final eliminations for professional classes starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

"We're just excited the season has finally come back around and it's always fun to have Daytona Bike Week as the backdrop to the first event of the season," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. "The Bike Week Nationals event ushers in the Screamin' Eagle racing season really. We have the AHDRA season opener this weekend and in two weeks, we'll be back here for the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season opener. Before we know it, the AMA Flat Track season will kick off and our Wrecking Crew team will be back in action too. It all starts with this AHDRA event."

Craig Tharpe, president of AHDRA, said the Daytona Bike Week just adds to the excitement of the action on the track.

"Gainesville Raceway is the perfect setting for the 2007 season opener," Tharpe said. "We have bikers gearing up for nearby Daytona Bike Week and that combined with the action-packed thrills of Harley drag racing is quite an experience."

While Tharpe said participation numbers are likely to rise this season, there are some racers who want to see a repeat of 2006. Of course, they won the Screamin' Eagle championship in their respective categories, so who could blame them?

Mike Romine earned the Nitro Top Fuel championship on his Salt Lake City Harley-Davidson with four wins in six final round appearances. Michael Ray took the top honors in the Destroyer category in its inaugural season. Ray rode his Alamo Harley-Davidson to three wins in six final rounds.

Donnie Huffman earned the SEP championship with two wins in three final rounds while JP Hendrzak took the ET championship with three victories.

"We have so many new racers coming on board this year and that's fantastic," Tharpe said. "It means the word is spreading and ultimately, the sport is growing. We are also lucky to have two great sponsors on board for this event. Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts and Gainesville Harley-Davidson have helped this event grow over the past few years. The attendance has doubled at this race over the past two years and I think we're ready for another great race here."