….Nathan Murry riding his ‘10 Suzuki dragbike led the rain shortened Top Bike Qualifying at the Houston “All Motorcycle” Championships Saturday July 17th. Made in the heat before rain showers along with thunder & lightning caused postponement of the race, Nathan laid down a pass that would have put him “up front” at any National Event in the country. The League City based team on their home track showed they were ready to take on anybody in the “wildly popular” Run-What-You-Brung Top Bike Eleminator.

…North Texas’ Robert Bechum was in the #2 position with his 1400cc turbo Kawasaki when qualifying was halted. Port Allen Louisiana based Derrick Holloway on his ‘08 dragster held down #3 and Giddings Texas’ Richard Holt aboard his Kawasaki dragster was in the 4th spot. The 1500cc ZX-7 dragster of Cedar Hill’s David Davis was #5 qualifier while Austin’s Curtis Nicholas III was setting at #6 aboard his ‘00 Suzuki dragster.

…Longtime Dallas racer Herman Freeman riding a 1150cc turbo Suzuki was in at #7 while the lone Harley Davidson entry to get in the top half of the 16 bike field SO FAR was Maize Kansas’ Jerry Griffin riding a 120 cubic inch nitromethane powered dragster that stood in the #8 slot when the rain came.

…Riding his 120” Harley fueler, Dallas based Jocko Mitchell posted a lap good for #9 & last fall’s Dallas Championship’s winner Champ Waggoner from Oklahoma City rode his turbo Kawasaki dragster to #10. Houston’s George Gooch was in 11th spot with his ‘08 Busa dragster & Harley racer “Houston Hal” Cort stands at 12th with a troubled pass that broke a rocker arm & spit pushrods on the big end.

…A Suzuki owned & ridden by Austin’s Randy Hamilton was in “the show” at 13th & Desoto’s Kevin Blanton (no relation to the deceased Burnout Blanton as best as we know) was holding down 14th. Bill Flaherty was taking some easy laps aboard his new Paul Jones prepped Nitro Harley but still got in at #15. Ricky House with BMC Racing sounded great aboard his 150” Nitro Harley but having downtrack problems only rolled thru the lights to squeek in on the #16 bump spot.

… Roy Sears’ nitrous turbo Suzuki dragster turned around at the starting line, suffering breakage for the 2nd race in a row on the powerful bike. BUT the popular always smiling Californian’s luck is due to change, mabe starting with the month break inbetween the July 17th rain-out and the August 14th resumed qualifying. Being as the race was halted during qualifying, the decision was made to count the qualifying passes that were made July 17th and to count what ever new passes are made during the August 14th Qualifying session towards finalizing the 16 bike Top Bike Field.

…Top bike was looking like a MAJOR DRAGSTRIP BATTLE with nitrous Pro Mod’s mixing it up with turbocharged Import Dragsters & nitromethane powered Harley Dragsters at the Houston “All Motorcycle” Championships. The Spectators in Houston Raceway Park’s grandstands were getting into it, hollarin’ for their favorite brand and then it RAINED.. Which might sound “Like a Downer” BUT - - Just think of it as a month BETWEEN ROUNDS!!! There’s gonna be LOTS of wrenchin’ & tunin’ & scheemin’ going on in the next month as racers that are already IN want to get better. AND there’s gonna be racers that ain’t made it in the field that will show up August 14th with their dragsters SET ON GO!!! & GO FASTER!!! AND the entire race IS STILL OPEN TO NEW ENTRIES.

…We didn’t just leave the elapsed times and speeds out of this story by accident… You’re just gonna have to show up August 14th to the BIGGEST & BADDEST Dragstrip in the State of Texas - Houston Raceway Park, And EXPERIENCE Top Bike Eleminator IN PERSON!!!!!!!