Ronnie Gardner victorious in Mad Dawg thriller
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<img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii209/promodzone/MooresvilleMadDawg7-19-08082.jpg"
<br><font color="NAVY">"I've raced in 3 or 4 of these Mad Dawg events, but this is the first one I've ever won," said Gardner. </font>
<P> (7-20-08)Mooresville, NC -Diamond Jack Gaddy and his talented wheel man, Ronnie Gardner, continue to rack up wins among fast, heads-up competition around the southeast. Even a set of crooked-launching, mismatched slicks couldn't keep Gardner out of the Mooresville winner's circle last evening. The event, the 2nd annual DOORcarpalooza was headlined by the exceedingly popular Outlaw Mad Dawg series, of which Gardner and many other doorslammer stars compete.
Out of 16 hungry entries, Gardner drove his Prime Car Race Cars-prepared 68 Camaro to a 4.31 @ 169mph, to slide into the #6 spot after 3 full qualifying sessions were staged under sweltering conditions at Mooresville Dragway. Sitting atop the Mad Dawg pack was David Campbell, who clocked 4.24 at a staggering 179mph.
Sitting on the 8-car bump was season-opening winner, Gilmer Hinshaw. The past NHRA Top Sportsman champ drove his Don Ness Cobalt to a 4.33 @ 176mph.
In addition to eventual winner, Ronnie Gardner, opening round of eliminations saw David Lambert, Jason Harris, and David Campbell advance to the semi-final round. Approaching 10:00pm, the four remaining Mad Dawg entries begin to pair off in the staging lanes. Jason Harris and David Lambert were swinging for the fence out of the gate, knowing that a tardy reaction time would be sudden death is this league. Harris moved first with a .005, with Lambert right on his heels, tripping the starting beam with a .011.
It was an incredible semi-final peddle fest as Harris and Lambert both skated in and out of the groove, with Lambert eventually chasing down Harris to pass him in the lights and advance. Ronnie Gardner had his hands full with David Champbell in the other semi-final match-up. Campbell unleashed another impressive round of Eagle Racing Engine horse-power, but it still wasn't able to make up the difference of Gardner's quick-leaving gate job. Gardner's 4.24 held off Campbell's charging 4.22, advancing Gardner to a show down with local quick man, David Lambert.
A massive starting line crowd had assembled and was ready to watch the final run of the night. Burnouts complete, Lambert and Gardner slowly crept to the starting line; their entourage of supporters following after them as they watched intently for that first sign of yellow glow. Both drivers are in and ready as the tree came down. Gardner gained a massive starting line advantage as Lambert's Cavalier stumbled on the two-step. The tide turned instantly though as Gardner was shaking hard in Mooreville's right lane. In an instant, Lambert had recovered and the chase was on as Gardner struggled to get the Camaro to settle down.
Lambert was hooked up and streaking to the finish line, but forward momentum carried Gardner to victory in a margin so small, the competitors themselves had no idea who crossed the 660 stripe first. "I never saw David until he blew by me at the finish line and I thought he won," commented Ronnie Gardner. "I've raced in 3 or 4 of these Mad Dawg events, but this is the first one I've ever won," added Gardner.
Lambert, the local driver whose house is 5 miles from the track, still seeks his first win at Mooresville since the early 1990's. "I've probably had 15 runner-ups at this place in everything from bracket racing to Top Sportsman to this series," says Lambert. All things considered, Lambert still enjoyed his best qualifying position (2nd) as well as his best finish since taking delivery of his current ride, an ex-Pro Stock Jerry Haas Cavalier.
Mad Dawg action returns to Mooresville on August 16.
Story and photo by:
Van Abernethy Press Releases
<p style="width:310px;float:left;font-weight:bold;padding-right:0px;">
<img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii209/promodzone/MooresvilleMadDawg7-19-08082.jpg"
<br><font color="NAVY">"I've raced in 3 or 4 of these Mad Dawg events, but this is the first one I've ever won," said Gardner. </font>
<P> (7-20-08)Mooresville, NC -Diamond Jack Gaddy and his talented wheel man, Ronnie Gardner, continue to rack up wins among fast, heads-up competition around the southeast. Even a set of crooked-launching, mismatched slicks couldn't keep Gardner out of the Mooresville winner's circle last evening. The event, the 2nd annual DOORcarpalooza was headlined by the exceedingly popular Outlaw Mad Dawg series, of which Gardner and many other doorslammer stars compete.
Out of 16 hungry entries, Gardner drove his Prime Car Race Cars-prepared 68 Camaro to a 4.31 @ 169mph, to slide into the #6 spot after 3 full qualifying sessions were staged under sweltering conditions at Mooresville Dragway. Sitting atop the Mad Dawg pack was David Campbell, who clocked 4.24 at a staggering 179mph.
Sitting on the 8-car bump was season-opening winner, Gilmer Hinshaw. The past NHRA Top Sportsman champ drove his Don Ness Cobalt to a 4.33 @ 176mph.
In addition to eventual winner, Ronnie Gardner, opening round of eliminations saw David Lambert, Jason Harris, and David Campbell advance to the semi-final round. Approaching 10:00pm, the four remaining Mad Dawg entries begin to pair off in the staging lanes. Jason Harris and David Lambert were swinging for the fence out of the gate, knowing that a tardy reaction time would be sudden death is this league. Harris moved first with a .005, with Lambert right on his heels, tripping the starting beam with a .011.
It was an incredible semi-final peddle fest as Harris and Lambert both skated in and out of the groove, with Lambert eventually chasing down Harris to pass him in the lights and advance. Ronnie Gardner had his hands full with David Champbell in the other semi-final match-up. Campbell unleashed another impressive round of Eagle Racing Engine horse-power, but it still wasn't able to make up the difference of Gardner's quick-leaving gate job. Gardner's 4.24 held off Campbell's charging 4.22, advancing Gardner to a show down with local quick man, David Lambert.
A massive starting line crowd had assembled and was ready to watch the final run of the night. Burnouts complete, Lambert and Gardner slowly crept to the starting line; their entourage of supporters following after them as they watched intently for that first sign of yellow glow. Both drivers are in and ready as the tree came down. Gardner gained a massive starting line advantage as Lambert's Cavalier stumbled on the two-step. The tide turned instantly though as Gardner was shaking hard in Mooreville's right lane. In an instant, Lambert had recovered and the chase was on as Gardner struggled to get the Camaro to settle down.
Lambert was hooked up and streaking to the finish line, but forward momentum carried Gardner to victory in a margin so small, the competitors themselves had no idea who crossed the 660 stripe first. "I never saw David until he blew by me at the finish line and I thought he won," commented Ronnie Gardner. "I've raced in 3 or 4 of these Mad Dawg events, but this is the first one I've ever won," added Gardner.
Lambert, the local driver whose house is 5 miles from the track, still seeks his first win at Mooresville since the early 1990's. "I've probably had 15 runner-ups at this place in everything from bracket racing to Top Sportsman to this series," says Lambert. All things considered, Lambert still enjoyed his best qualifying position (2nd) as well as his best finish since taking delivery of his current ride, an ex-Pro Stock Jerry Haas Cavalier.
Mad Dawg action returns to Mooresville on August 16.
Story and photo by:
Van Abernethy Press Releases
