Trim-Tex backed Top Fuel Motorcycle legend Larry “Spiderman” McBride has taken fans and followers on a thrill ride in 2019, striving for a momentous milestone, a 20th career championship.
After starting out with a three-round deficit McBride has powered back to win the last two races and set a new Man Cup eighth-mile record to climb within nine points of leader Dave Vantine heading into this weekend’s penultimate MTC Nationals from the pines of Rockingham, N.C.
“We know what we have to do,” McBride said. “If we can win this race we can head to the Finals with the points lead. It will not be easy because Dave and his team have had a great season. They are not giving anything away.”
McBride has found plenty of success in Rockingham, winning the event three years in a row before Vantine put a halt to his streak in June of last year. In 2017 McBride eclipsed 250 mph for the first time in his career at this legendary Steve Earwood-owned facility.
“It’s a fast track with a lot of shutdown,” McBride said, coming off the tour’s only eighth-mile event of the season in Darlington. “I think you will see some big speeds and quick runs there.”
McBride and his brother have been hard at work in their Newport News, Va. headquarters Cycle Specialist, trying to further refine the world-record-holding, but sometimes temperamental, nitro-burring motorcycle.
“We made a brand new set of wheelie bars. We have been trying to get the balance right when it launches,” McBride said. “We have struggled smoking the tire this year. Getting it to leave better with stronger 60-foots is a big goal of ours.”
Joining McBride and Vantine in Top Fuel this weekend will be Tommy Grimes on the amazing motorcycle from overseas known as “The Beast.”
“I give those guys a lot of credit for coming over,” McBride said. “It makes things so exciting.”
Grimes and the Beast will run the final two Man Cup races of the season.
Qualifying gets underway Saturday.
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For all the continued support McBride thanked his primary sponsors; Trim-Tex Drywall Products, Pingel Enterprise, Drag Specialties-Parts Unlimited, Final Swipe Merchant Services, Web-Cam, APE, Donnie and Julie Wilson and Kibblewhite Precision Machining.
Vance & Hines Motorsports, Red Line Synthetic Oil Corporation, Federal Mogul, PR Factory Store, Ferrea Valves, World Wide Bearings, Vanson Leathers, Belt Drives Ltd, Simpson Race Products, Nitrous Express, EK Chain, Arias Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, B&J Transmission, Carolina Cycle, L.A. Sleeve, PJ1, Mickey Thompson Tires, Valco, Goodridge, Carlisle Belts, ProJack, Bullseye Visual, Gates Belts and Cycledrag.com
Larry “Spiderman” McBride DRIVE FOR 20th championship in 2019 Schedule
April 5-7 / South Georgia Motor Sports Park
July 12-14 / Dragway 42
September 27-29 / Darlington Dragway
October 26-27 / Rockingham Dragway
November 21-24 / South Georgia Motor Sports Park
Photos courtesy of Gary Rowe, Raceworks.com
There are more videos on the Cycledrag YouTube channel (please subscribe here) and the Cycledrag.com Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Check back daily.