Points race tightens as dragway season winds down - Wilkes Journal Patriot

The 37-year-old from Newland has been racing for 27 years. He has made it to the finals of the Top ET class four times this season, earning three wins and a runner-up finish. McKinney, who drives a 1969 Camaro Z28 with a 509 Merlin Crate Engine, is assisted on his race team by his father, Clyde, Jim Goddard and Jerry Carpenter. ” Hodges is currently in second place and is also in search of his first Top ET championship. At 52 years old, Hodges started his drag racing career in the early 1980s but took a 14-year break from racing. He races in a 1999 race craft rail dragster that is powered by a Chevy 454 big block. Twenty-five year veteran Clyde “the Glide” McKinney is looking to capture his second championship this season. McKinney, who has made it to the finals twice this year winning both times, won the Top ET championship in 2008 and finished second in 2011. McKinney won on Saturday by beating Joe Julesrud in the final. His son, Mitchell, Jerry Carpenter, Danny Cole and Jim Goddard, join the Newland resident, who drives a 2002 Camaro Z28 powered by a 585 Steve Shmitt engine, on his racing team. A 20-year veteran, Ferguson has raced elsewhere for several years but decided to come back to Wilkesboro Dragway this year to support the new owners. Source: www.journalpatriot.com