McBride
Doubles At Hometown Race
Larry 'Spiderman" McBride took home a pair of event victories
in front of dozens of friends and family members at the AMA/Prostar Lucas
Oil Spring Nationals/ MTC Elmer Trett Nationals from Petersburg, Va, April
28-29.
It wasn't the first time McBride pulled off the rare Top Fuel double-win.
Most recently he accomplished the feat in Memphis last season and St. Louis
in 2004. McBride says winning two races in a single weekend is always memorable
and this one was the greatest yet.
"To do it in front of all my family and friends made it very special,"
McBride said. "It was awesome. I give a lot of credit to my brother
and the entire crew for making the bike run so consistent."
On Saturday night McBride earned his first victory of the weekend by defeating
Korry Hogan in an under-the-lights final from the rain-postponed MTC Elmer
Trett Nationals in early April. Hogan got out of the groove and was forced
to shut off as McBride soared by with a blast of 6.11 at 236 mph.
Photo by Matt Polito, www.dragbikephotos.com
"The best way for me to describe what it's like to race Top Fuel
at night is to tell you to get on your motorcycle or drive your car down
the interstate and close your eyes," McBride said. "It's a pretty
scary deal at 236 mph. You're not totally blind but boy, you're not far
from it."
Earlier in the day McBride qualified on the pole for the Virginia race
with a crowd pleasing 5.88 - a number that would stand as low elapsed
time of the weekend.
"The bike just loves this track. To go 5.88 right out of the trailer
is pretty amazing," said McBride, who set the world record at Virginia
Motorsports Park with a 5.80 last season. "It could have actually
been better. It laid down a bit on top end."
In the Lucas Oil Nationals final on Sunday evening McBride was again pitted
against second-year rider and former Funny Bike standout Hogan. Priror
to the showdown McBride and his team came to Hogan's rescue and loaned
him a point box and helped fire up his motorcycle.
"We wanted to help the out. Korry is a great guy and a great addition
to this class," McBride said. "Plus we wanted to give the fans
a side-by-side show in the final. We didn't want to win on a bye."
McBride garnered his second victory of the weekend with a 6.06 at 235
mph. The pass immediately brought the McBride cheering section to its
feet.
"It was an unforgettable weekend," McBride said. "Races
like this are the reason we continue to do this."
Next up for McBride will be the AMA/Prostar Schnitz Memphis Blues Nationals
from Memphis Motorsports Park, June 8-9.
The team thanked; Pingel Enterprise, Trim-Tex Drywall Products,
Drag Specialties-Parts Unlimited, Red Line Synthetic Oil Corporation as
well as his other sponsors:
Vance & Hines Motorsports, PR Factory Store, Muzzys Performance, Web-Cam,
Kibblewhite, Ferrea Valves, Precision Machine, Vanson Leathers, Performance
Machine, Belt Drives Ltd, Street & Competition, Traci Dynamics, Simpson
Race Products, Nitrous Express, APE, EK Chain, Arias Pistons, R/D Spring
Corp, Autolite, MSD, Protect ALL, Whipple Industries, Cometic Gaskets,
B&J Transmission, Carolina Cycle, L.A. Sleeve, PJ1 Nology Engineering,
Mickey Thompson Tires, Corbin Seats, Stark Masonry, and Valco
