AMRA Harleys Go Big in Byron
When the PennGrade1 American Motorcycle Racing Association( AMRA) Harley-Davidson drag racing series came to Illinois ' Byron Dragway for the first time last year, raceday was a total wash-out. A few sprinkles made for only the slightest of delays this time around, as eliminations ran through the day to great side-by-side conclusions.
This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at www. eatmyink. com
Winners received special light-up, spark plug, " major prize " trophies courtesy of Nitro Bum Al Balice- a Pro Fuel racer and businessman in nearby Rockford. Johnny Mancuso ' s Circle M Ranch Top Fuel had a solid eight bike field, and no one was more solid on this particular weekend than Nashville ' s Chris Smith. The Jay Turner Racing team( JTR) that Smith races with has been shut out of the winners circle lately, but rider Smith, team boss Jay Turner, and tuner Rex Harris came out swinging at Byron. The combination qualified number one with a 6.33 at 220 miles per hour, followed by Ryan Peery ' s 6.41 at 216. The summer has mostly belonged to Peery so far, and there was no reason to think that his performance wouldn ' t rise to the occasion on raceday- until it didn ' t. His tune-up struggled with a bump in the track, causing the bike to drop a hole pass after pass. Still, good fortune shined on Peery and he found himself in the final against Smith. That ' s where fortune left Peery ' s side. An. 052 light put him. 011 ahead of Smith, but his 6.76 at 178- despite being his best lap of the day- wasn ' t going to do the job against Smith ' s 6.53 at 216. An unexpected highlight of the weekend was Baker Drivetrain founder Bert Baker making runs with JTR and earning his Top Fuel license before taking off to Sturgis.
Johnny Mancuso’ s Circle M Ranch Top Fuel winner Chris Smith
Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel winner“ Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow
Armon Furr Nitro Funnybike winner Kenneth“ Stubby” Hultman
" Bad Apple Mary " Dangrow ' s reign of Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel terror continues. After qualifying number one with a 7.34, Mary gave up a whopping. 117 to Richard " Have Nitro, Will Travel " Boone in the final. But Boone ' s bike faltered while Mary had the winning tune-up with a 7.45. Kenneth " Stubby " Hultman once again ran unopposed in Armon Furr Nitro Funnybike. His best of the weekend was a 7.21 at 189. " I will say I am about to enter the 6s," said Stubby. Nostalgia Fuel was back at Byron for the second year, growing and more popular than ever. Number one qualifier Bryan Hess rode a mix of old school hardware and current electronics to the win. Only. 006 separated him and Jordan Henry at the start, with Hess ' s 5.22 at 135 streaking to the eighth mile finish ahead of Henry ' s 5.83 / 122. Indiana racer David " Paco " Cartwright is making a new habit of guest riding Zipper ' s Performance Pro Bagger bikes. Paco won the U. S. 131 race on Bert Baker ' s turbo Bagger, but beat Bert at the Byron race while riding Nick Boey ' s bike. Paco was wildly slow off the starting line but kept it together when Baker faltered for the 8.65 at 142 win. Number one qualifier Jeremy Williamson broke his bike at the end of
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42 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER- SEPTEMBER 2026 www. AMDmag. com