The Ray Price Harley-Davidson drag race team captured its first NHRA Harley-Davidson Dragbike Racing Series win at Virginia Motorsports Park, Dinwiddie, VA as part of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on April 4 – 5, 2014.
With the win came a Top Fuel Harley Dragbike NHRA speed record with an impressive 234.66 MPH run in the final round of qualifying.
The Akea/Ray Price sponsored drag bike started Friday’s first of two qualifying rounds by spinning the big rear tire and popping the motor. The team worked against the clock to swap the motor in time for the second round, but due to strong cross winds NHRA officials made the decision to cancel round two and move it to Saturday morning.
During final round of qualifying Grimes twisted the throttle on the Akea Express drag bike and the 1,000 horsepower top fuel motor delivered a 6.393 ET at 234.66 mph run to secure the number two spot and set a new Top Fuel Harley NHRA speed record.
“The track and weather conditions are ideal for making good horsepower and the Akea Express should be able to put up some strong numbers during eliminations”, commented Ray Price.
Eliminations for the field of five top fuel Harleys took place late Saturday afternoon and into the evening.
Round one of eliminations the team ran an impressive 6.283 ET at 232.35 mph to advance into round two. Then in round two Grimes posted a 6.281 ET at an incredible 237.80 mph to win the round. Facing Drums Brancaccia in the finals, Tommy Grimes captured the teams first win of the 2014 race season with a 6.368 ET at 233.64 mph.
“I am very proud of my team’s effort this weekend. They worked hard to get the win and its really rewarding to set a new NHRA record”, said Ray Price.
The Akea / Ray Price Racing heads back to Royal Purple Raceway for the first of two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals April 25 – 27, 2014.
The Ray Price Motorsports team sends sincere thanks to all their sponsors for their support for the 2014 race season. They include our Primary Sponsors: Akea, Ray Price Harley-Davidson, with special thanks to our Associate Sponsor Raleigh H. O. G. and our Support Sponsors: Vanson Leathers, PJ1 Products, RC Components, Nationwide Insurance, CP Pistons, Royal Purple, Barnett Clutches & Cables, Autolite Sparkplugs, Mickey Thompson Tires, Gates Belts, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, JIMS USA, Industrial Machine Solutions and Wiley X. Additional thanks: Bill Hayes, Hargis Consulting, Ultra Pro Machining and Freddie Robbins.
Ray Price Harley-Davidson – Raleigh, NC – www.rayprice.com www.LiveToRideLonger.com
