All posts by Van Abernethy
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ON THE ROAD: Coles County Dragway
I thoroughly enjoy when my On the Road gig unearths a gem of American history as I trek...
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ON THE ROAD: Alien City Dragway
Who doesn’t love a quality UFO story? Oh sure, there’s plenty of time-honored tales, eyewitness accounts, even the...
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ON THE ROAD: Osceola Dragway
I will always remember the first time I rolled through the gates of Osceola Dragway back in 2015....
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‘Mutt and Jeff’ Inject Fun Into Annual Bracket Race
Paul Burruss and Dylan Griffey readily admit they’re a couple of “goofy guys” who don’t take themselves too...
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Northeast Dragway’s Unlikely Road to Success
Northeast Dragway continues to thrive since opening for business 18 years ago. Nestled in Hertford, North Carolina, which...
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Vance Usilton’s Black Magic
Sixteen-year-old Vance Usilton has been patiently waiting his turn to experience the euphoria that is “Black Magic,” a...
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Donnie Gibbs Jr. is Bringing North Carolina’s Famed Mooresville Dragway Back From the Brink
Longtime chassis builder and racer Donnie Gibbs Jr. says that owning a drag strip was something of a...
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Louisiana’s No Problem Raceway Keeps the Tires Turning Year-Round
If there’s ever been a drag strip that’s perfectly positioned to take advantage of year-round racing, Belle Rose,...
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Keep on Truckin’: John Taylor’s Highly Successful Pickups
John Taylor vividly recalls those exhilarating radio spots he used to hear as a kid growing up in...
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Southern Outlaw Top Sportsman Series Enjoys Surging Car Counts
The Southern Outlaw Top Sportsman series has been consistently exceeding expectations since day 1, beginning with the Saturday...
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HOOSIER STATE HIT: Racers and Fans Flock to Muncie Dragway
Five years ago, Muncie Dragway was in a state of noticeable decline. Interest was waning from both racers...
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ON THE ROAD: Roxboro Motorsports Park
When I begin to think of tracks that host well-known events that have stood the test of time,...
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ON THE ROAD: Saying Goodbye to the DI Sprinter
Every time I head to Florida in the wintertime, I’m always reminded of the first time I ever...
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Sisters Hailey and Camryn Hawkins Excel in PDRA Pro Junior Dragster
Although the Hawkins sisters literally grew up at the dragstrip from the time they were infants, their love...
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Wilkins’ Engine Building Talent and Driving Skills Result in ‘Dream Season’
Drag racing veteran Sandy Wilkins seems to age like fine wine within the Top Sportsman division where he’s...
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NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Montana Brothers Represent Long Island in NEOPM
When one thinks of Long Island, New York, one doesn’t immediately conjure up images of a Saturday night...
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PDRA’s Franklin Among ELD Mandate Opponents
It’s not often that a prominent drag racing series owner travels to Washington, D.C., to support opposition of...
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Q&A: Bill Orndorff and Jerry Eckman
Together again thanks to Jeff Rudisill’s recreation During the late 1980s and through the following decade, the pairing...
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ON THE ROAD: Van Abernethy Recounts World Series of Drag Racing Trip
Cordova, Illinois, is among the tiniest towns you’ll ever visit. It’s a quaint little community neatly tucked away...
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FEEL THE BURN: Ed Burnley Dishes on Nitrous Quarter-Mile E.T. Record-Setting Pass
Ed Burnley records quickest quarter-mile pass by a nitrous car Veteran racer Ed Burnley made headlines at Crofton,...
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GRABBING GEARS: Wheels-Up, Gear-Jamming Action at Stick-Shift Nationals
With a massive field of 75 clutch-dumping entries in attendance, the 7th annual Stick-Shift Nationals at Farmington Dragway...
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REMEMBERING PRO STOCK’S YESTERYEAR
Southeast Outlaw Nostalgia Pro Stock series memorializes Don Carlton Jeff Rudisill and Tyrone Graham continue to look back...
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Daydream Believer: Kenny Floyd is Living the Dream
Whenever Kenny Floyd catches a glimpse of something that hooks his attention, it’s usually not just a passing...
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CLOSE UP: Morgan Miles is Climbing the Ranks
If anyone was destined to race cars based solely upon their upbringing, Morgan Miles definitely fits the description...
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DIALED IN: Jackie Robison Carrying on Chevy II’s Pro Mod Roots
Jackie Robison’s beautiful 1966 Chevy II has more than stood the test of time in the ranks of...
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Musi Breaks Records En Route to Mad Mule Victory
Benson, North Carolina’s stunning GALOT Motorsports Park hosted the first of three scheduled Mad Mule events this past...
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ON THE ROAD: The History of Shadyside Dragway
Shadyside Dragway is a fascinating place for many reasons, not the least of which is the eye-catching 1968...
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Rico Dragstrip Sees Continuous Improvement
Rico Dragstrip continues to forge ahead with ongoing renovations, which have dramatically improved the facility in recent years....
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ON THE ROAD: Van Abernethy Visits Silver Dollar Raceway
On a warm spring day in 1960, twelve-year-old Ed Swearingen was riding around the family farm with his...
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DIALED IN: Allan Kremkau’s ‘American Express’ AMC Gremlin
Allan Kremkau still vividly remembers the day he excitedly told his dad about the 1972 American Motors Gremlin...
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CLOSE UP: When Opportunity Knocks, Ty Tutterow Answers
Alongside the scrutiny and assumptions of success that come with being the only son of drag racing legend...
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ON THE ROAD: Van Checks in at Wilkesboro Dragway
A dear lady named Pat Prout once dreamed of owning a drag strip. But not just any drag...
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DIALED IN: Butch Dresback’s Ford is No Ordinary Thunderbird
Butch Dresback remembers quite well the first time he ever laid eyes on his sporty 1988 Ford Thunderbird...
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CLOSE UP: Jeff Russell’s Barn Find 1966 Barracuda
When Jeff Russell arrived at a rustic barn in rural Indiana a few years ago to look at...
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ON THE ROAD: The Story of Greater Evansville Dragway
As I travel the country on an almost weekly basis, I see drag strips of all shapes, sizes...
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DIALED IN: Getting to Know Loose Rocker
Loose Rocker Promotions is a racer-friendly sportsman series that burst onto the scene several years ago and has...
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ON THE ROAD: Greater Evansville Dragway
As I travel the country on an almost weekly basis, I see drag strips of all shapes, sizes...
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ON THE ROAD: Mid-Michigan Motorplex
Few people have ever been as determined to refurbish a dilapidated drag strip as Jim and Mary Ledford...
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DIALED IN: Virginia Bohanon’s Mature Cruiser
Denver, North Carolina’s Virginia Bohanon has spent many years at the drag strip, although this mother of two...
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DIALED IN: Clarksville Speedway Stays True
Clarksville Speedway may easily be described with an assortment of portrayals, although the most authentic description might simply...
