event: PennGrade1 AMRA D.C. Jones Memorial Fall Nationals
when: September 19-21, 2025
where: Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
There are two titan events on the Nitro-Harley drag racing calendar, and this weekend’s PennGrade1 AMRA D.C. Jones Memorial Fall Nationals at Bowling Green, Kentucky’s historic Beech Bend Raceway is one of them.
Beech Bend’s wooden seats, covered grandstands, and even the rollercoaster will shake, rattle and roll from the sound and fury of Nitro Harleys in full-blown, quarter mile competition.
The biggest and baddest are the Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch Top Fuel bikes, and this event brings out the best of them.
Ohio racer Ryan Peery is trying to regain that title of “The Best.” The multi-time champ has struggled since winning the season opener, but thinks that his last pass at the rain-shortened Byron Dragway event may have pointed him in the right direction.
Rookie Top Fuel racer Paul Anderson is already going the right direction, qualifying number one at Byron on his former Vance & Hines bike, ridden at NHRA races a few years ago by Doug Vancil.
And talk about direction, how about Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile? Tracy parked the bike for much of the summer, had his trailer recently obliterated, then came back and won the most recent IHRA Ironman trophy. He’s stoked and ready for Beech Bend glory, and also ready to have teammate Jimmy “Mac” McMillen back on track.
North Carolina Hall of Famer Jay “Bulldog” Turner is also a recent IHRA winner. He and teammates Chris Smith and John “JT” Toth will roll up their sleeves and fight for the win.
The defending race winner is Iowa’s Jordan Peterson. He and Chris Stewart Racing teammate Samu Kemppainen (all the way from Finland) each have wins this season and will be looking to put the CSR brand on Beech Bend.
Juha “Sushi” Hintukainen is also from Finland—the land of big men with heavy throttle hands. Sushi’s ProCharged Nitro monster is ready to bust loose and lay down a searing lap.
Michael Balch will once again be on Craig Caulk’s bike, and expect Robert “Ziggy” Schwartz and a host of other big-timers at this event.
Armon Furr Nitro Funnybikes are the slightly smaller brothers of Top Fuel, and Jordan Peterson has been having his way with the class on the Phil Lower-owned bike, tuned by Mike Romine.
But Bad Apple’s Cameron “Flash” Gunter qualified number one at Byron and is looking to defend his season title from last year.
Both guys will have to deal with former champ Jim Doyle and Universal Fleet and Tire’s Racin’ Ray Robinson and Jason Leeper
Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel bikes are the carbureted cousins to Top Fuel and Funnybike.
“Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow’s year of Pro Fuel domination has earned her a bounty placed by nitro rookie Loren Potter. Dangrow has won every race this year, but Potter is learning quickly and qualified third at Byron.
Number two qualifier at Byron was Hot Rod Carlisle on Mike and Harriet Ann Blair’s bike, and he’s looking to make it crowded at the top.
Curt Sexton is the defending Beech Bend winner. He thought he was ready to win at Byron before grenading his engine there. His mount is back together and ready to roll.
White Lightning Racing’s Sam White is the defending class champion, but has taken a backseat as he reshuffled his team priorities this season. He’s still riding, but put newbie Darren Brinkman on his number one bike.
Floridian John Jenkins, Illinois’s Jim “Bad Influence” Martin, Universal Fleet and Tire’s Jason Leeper, Brian Conley Jr., Stubby Hultman, Rocky Jackson, Al Balice, Kyle Rogers, Mark Shones, Louis Sansone, Hayley Caulk and more are all expected to compete in the popular class.
Gasoline racers Charley Douglass, Shannon Poor, Kim DeShields, Jason Crisp, Jimmy Maikranz, David Doremus, Robert Alther, Heather Jendruch, James Garey, Joe Perry, Bryce Creek, Billy Doherty, Clayton Danford, Chris Hoppe, George Futch, Jim Clarke, Chad Traynor, Steve Lacy, David “Paco” Cartwright, Kevin Winters, Jeremy Justice, Jeremiah Disbrow, Tony Curtis, and many, many more are all expected to compete in Pro Outlaw, Zipper’s Performance Pro Bagger, Zipper’s Performance Modified, Axtell Cylinders Hot Street, Thundermax Street Bagger, Top Eliminator, Huffman Performance Super Gas, BK Electric Super Pro 10.30, Pro Eliminator 10.90, Thundermax Street Eliminator 11.50, and Baker Drivetrain Eliminator Dial-in.
The event also includes live music Friday and Saturday nights, stunts and bikes show, and a general celebration of the biker lifestyle.
Can’t make it to Bowling Green? Watch live on https://motormaniatv.com
The Nitro Harley competitors look forward to seeing the whole Harley-Davidson drag racing family, riders and fans at the classic Beech Bend’s Harley Drags in Bowling Green, Kentucky on September 18-21.
The Nitro Harley racers thank Bad Apple Racing, Chris Stewart Racing, DayStar Machine and Cycle Concepts, White Lightning Racing, P and C Johnson Trucking, RP Motorsports, Hawaya Racing, JT’s Auro & Cycle, Universal Fleet and Tire, and Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch.
This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com
