MIROCK FBR Shop Bike Nationals
Rockingham Dragway

The double-up victory propelled the Pennsylvania pro into a commanding lead in the MiRock standings with the next two events to be contested at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Md.

Procopio, who won last year’s MiRock Quick 32 title and was runner-up to Dave Norris for the Outlaw Pro Street championship, took the early series lead by beating the category’s dominant rider the on both days at The Rock.

On Saturday, Procopio saved his best for last, using a 7.027 second time to turn back Norris in the final round when the Bryans Road, Md., rider couldn’t get his bike anywhere close to the national record 6.920 time he posted in March qualifying.  On Sunday, in a semifinal showdown, the race was closer but the result the same as Procopio’s 7.086 at 188.15 miles per hour was just enough to nip Norris, who was clocked in 7.103 seconds at 193.21 mph.

Unfortunately, poised to join Demito as a double-up winner, the Wake Forest rider stumbled in the final round where he allowed Youngsville’s Robbie Hunnicutt to escape with the victory despite a slightly slower time, 7.283 to 7.267.  The difference came at the starting line where Hunnicutt forged an .038 of a second advantage on a spectacular .018 of a second reaction time.

Other Spring Open winners included Darion “Nanu” Payne of Hyattsville, Md., in True Street; Robin Procopio, Ronnie’s wife, in 5.60 Pro Comp; Matt Davies of Richmond, Va., in Pro ET; and Clay Davies of Petersburg, Va., in Steeet ET.

On Sunday, Keith Thompson of Upper Marlboro, Md., claimed the FBR Shop True Street title while Jim Shifflitt of Waynesboro, Va., took the 5.60 Pro Comp title championship and Christopher Harris of Wilson, N.C., won in Quick 32.  Andy Lynch of West Columbia, S.C., rode his Kawasaki to the Pro ET title and Chris Harris missed a double-up opportunity of his own when he fouled away his final round chance against Preston Dickson of Richmond, Va., in Street ET.

Next race will be June 7-8 at MIR.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Results from the rain-delayed Honda-Suzuki of Sanford Spring Bike Open at Rockingham Dragway, first of eight events in the 2008 Mickey Thompson Performance Tires MiRock Superbike Series:

SPRING OPEN OUTLAW PRO STREET
 Round 1 – Steve Brindle, Mandeville, La., .8.062, 126.08 mph, bye; Robbie Hunnicutt, Youngsville, N.C., .7.137, 192.19 mph, def. Tim Hays, Matthews, N.C., NA; Dave Norris, Bryans Road, Md., 7.155, 193.79 mph, bye; Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., .7.041, 191.57 mph, def. Johnnie Boutwell, Houma, La., 7.385, 181.11 mph.
 Semifinals – Norris, 7.155, 193.79 mph, def. Brindle, foul; Procopio, 7.065, 189.76 mph, def. Hunnicutt, 7.125, 187.68 mph.
 FINAL – Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 7.027, 188.57 mph, def. Dave Norris, Bryans Road, Md., .7.474, 186.90 mph.

SPRING OPEN PRO SPORT BIKE
 Round 2 – Rodney Williford, Rougemont, N.C., 8.124, 177.58 mph, def. John Kulcycki, Phoenixville, Pa., 8.366, 177.46 mph; Donnie Taylor, Bena, Va., 7.830, 171.95 mph, def. Shaun Roles, Pottstown, Pa., 8.168, 174.71 mph; Dimey Eddington, Winston-Salem, N.C., 7.787, 185.61 mph, def. Anthony Navarro, Royersford, Pa., 13.622, 108.64 mph; Vince Demito, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., 7.875, 186.10 mph, bye.
 Semifinals – Eddinger, 7.756, 185.15 mph, def. Taylor, 10.212, 104.70 mph; Demito, 7.830, 188.28 mph, def. Williford, 7.956, 183.49 mph.
 FINAL – Vince Demito, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., 16.814, 48.10 mph, def. Dimey Eddinger, Winston-Salem, N.C., foul.

SPRING OPEN TRUE STREET
 Round 2 – Darion ‘Nanu” Payne, Hyattsville, Md., 8.313, 170.19 mph, def. Norman Jackson, Upper Marlboro, Md., 8.956, 132.44 mph; Ehren Litten, Louisburg, N.C., .8.707, 164.23 mph, def. Anibal Merced, Richmond, Va., .8.738, 155.29 mph; Keith Thompson, Upper Marlboro, Md., .8.338, 166.13 mph, def. Butch Bouldin, Rockingham, N.C., .115, 8.824, 160.56.; Rickey Grayson, Louisburg, N.C., bye.
 Semifinals – Payne, .127, 8.180, 170.17 mph, def. Litten, .045, 9.201, 161.32 mph; Grayson, 8.289, 166.09 mph, def. Thompson, .8.379, 168.81 mph.
 FINAL – Darion “Nanu” Payne, Hyattsville, Md., .8.245, 170.51 mph, def. Rickey Grayson, Louisburg, N.C., .369, 166.66 mph.

SPRING OPEN 5.60 PRO COMP
 Round 2 – Robin Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.755, 113.16 mph, def. Kenny Lewis, Columbia, S.C., 5.856, 110.61 mph; Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., 5.707, 114.62 mph, def. Shawn Welch, Moncks Corner, S.C., 5.639, 109.03 mph; Matt Davies, Midlothian, Va., 5.734, 110.80 mph, def. Warren Hard, Burgan, N.C., 5.868, 116.83 mph; Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.664, 121.79 mph, def. Gary Clontz, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.511, 115.60 mph.
 Semifinals – R. Procopio, .5.647, 118.16 mph, def. Davies, 5.657, 119.58 mph; Shifflett, 5.657, 118.95 mph, def. J. Procopio, 5.740, 121.75 mph;
 FINAL – Robin Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.656, 116.99 mph, def. Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., 5.670, 118.38 mph.

SPRING OPEN PRO ET
 Round 5 – Matt Davies, Richmond, Va., 9.043 on an 8.870, 125.17 mph, def. Michael Rankin, Staunton, Va., 9.043 on an 8.885, 153.49 mph; Clay Davies, Petersburg, Va., 9.781 on a 9.821, 131.37 mph, def. Jason Herron, Lexington, S.C., 9.239 breakout on a 9.320, 144.00 mph; Gary Clontz, Wake Forest, N.C., 8.735 on an 8.730, 142.22 mph, def. Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., 8.354 breakout on an 8.370, 144.33 mph; Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., bye.
 Semifinals – M. Davies, 8.913 on an 8.870, 146.35 mph, def. Clontz, 8.666 breakout on an 8.730, 142.22 mph; C. Davies, 9.819 on a 9.780, 134.23 mph, def. J. Procopio, foul.
 FINAL – Matt Davies, Richmond, Va., 8.859 on an 8.850, 146.00 mph, def. Clay Davies, Petersburg, Va., 9.833 on a 9.780, 134.56 mph.

SPRING OPEN STREET ET
 Round 5 – Brandon Hall, Beaufort, S.C., 9.024 on an 8.96, 146.99 mph, def. Tyrone Edwards, Fayetteville, N.C., 11.177 breakout on a 12.110, 119.04 mph; Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., 9.364 on a 9.290, 132.23 mph, def. Emerson Bivens, Wingate, N.C., 9.354 on a 9.300, 142.46 mph; Clay Davies, Petersburg, Va., 9.820 on a 9.830, 131.70 mph, def. Jimmy Jackson, Hyattsville, md. 9.214 breakout on a 9.250, 139.16 mph.
 Semifinals – Harris, 12.860 on a 9.280, 61.81 mph, def. Hall, 8.935 breakout on an 8.970, 141.19 mph; C. Davies, bye.
 FINAL – Clay Davies, Petersburg, Va., 9.900 on a 9.780, 118.40 mph, def. Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., 9.415 on a 9.260, 139.30 mph.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Results from the FBR Shop Bike Nationals at Rockingham Dragway, second of eight events in the 2008 Mickey Thompson Performance Tires MiRock Superbike Series:

FBR SHOP OUTLAW PRO STREET

 Round 1 – Brian Owens, Baltimore, Md., 7.200, 177.60 mph, def. Jamie Hunnicutt, Youngsville, N.C., 8.632, 143.35 mph; Dave Norris, Bryans Road, Md., 7.221, 183.89 mph, def. Steve Brindle, Mandeville, La., 8.702, 105.05 mph; Willie Hebert, Luling, La., 8.527, 127.16 mph, def. Bill Vose, Columbia, S.C., NA; Brian Rich, Brandywine, Md., 7.391, 188.86 mph, def. Johnnie Boutwell, Houma, La., 14.912, 48.19 mph; Robbie Hunnicutt, Youngsville, N.C., 7.205, 182.21 mph, def. Tim Hays, Matthews, N.C., NA; Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., bye.
 Round 2 – Norris, 7.116, 188.15 mph, def. Owens, 7.140, 187.36 mph; Procopio, 7.082, 194.72 mph, def. Rich, 8.268, 141.36 mph; R. Hunnicutt, 7.236, 188.12 mph, def. Hebert, 7.493, 175.34 mph.
 Semifinals – Procopio, 7.086, 188.15 mph, def. Norris, 7.103, 193.21 mph; Hunnicutt, bye.
 FINAL – Robbie Hunnicutt, Youngsville, N.C., 7.283, 184.52 mph, def. Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 7.267, 182.67 mph.

FBR SHOP PRO SPORT BIKE
 Round 2 – Anthony Navarro, Royersford, Pa., 7.802, 190.89 mph, def. Dimey Eddinger, Winston-Salem, N.C., 8.031, 183.82 mph; Vince Demito, 7.790, 183.27 mph, def. Sean Walsh, Patchogue, N.Y., 8.047, 181.67 mph; Shaun Roles, Pottstown, Pa., 8.115, 183.62 mph, def. Donnie Taylor, Bena, Va., 16.873, 48.52 mph.
 Semifinals – Demito, 7.824, 186.48 mph, def. Roles, 8.126, 189.79 mph; Navarro, 9.842, 96.32 mph, bye.
 FINAL – Vince Demito, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., 7.827, 185.33 mph, def. Anthony Navarro, Royersford, Pa., 7.857, 190.30 mph.

FBR SHOP TRUE STREET
 Round 2 – Ehren Litten, Louisburg, N.C., 8.678, 164.17 mph, def. Darion “Nanu” Payne, Hyattsville, Md., 8.661, 162.5 mph; Norman Jackson, Upper Marlboro, Md., 8.284, 167.26 mph, def. Rickey Grayson, Louisburg, N.C., 8.315, 167.88 mph; Keith Thompson, Upper Marlboro, Md., 8.303, 162.98 mph, def. Buthc Bouldin, Rockingham, N.C., 8.532, 163.99 mph.
 Semifinals – Jackson, 8.278, 159.78 mph, def. Litten, 8.836, 162.80 mph; Thomspson, bye.
 FINAL – Keith Thompson, Upper Marlboro, Md., 8.341, 163.71 mph, def. Norman Jackson, Upper Marlboro, Md., NA.

FBR 5.60 PRO COMP
 Round 2 – Gary Clontz, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.635, 121.95 mph, bye; Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., 5.569, 120.07 mph, def. Shawn Welch, Moncks Corner, S.C., NA; Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.717, 122.91 mph, def. Robin Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 5.575, 124.59 mph; Matt Davies, Midlothian, Va., 5.646, 120.08 mph, def. Bruce George, Chambersburg, Pa., 5.597, 122.53 mph.
 Semifinals – Clontz, 5.665, 110.36 mph, def. Davies, 5.649, 120.08 mph; Shifflett, 5.593, 112.24 mph, def. J. Procopio, 5.495, 124.26 mph.
 FINAL – Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., 6.270, 78.91 mph, def. Gary Clontz, Wake Forest, N.C., NA.

FBR SHOP QUICK 32
 Round 3 – Preston Dickson, Richmond, Va., 9.059 on a 9.030, 135.05 mph, def. Michael Rankin, Staunton, Va., 8.916 breakout on an 8.930, 139.04 mph; BayBay Yarbrough, Eatonton, Ga., 10.311 on a 10.260, 125.72 mph, def. Michael Rankin (second bike), Staunton, Va., 9.429 breakout on a 9.530, 142.52 mph; Jason Herron, Lexington, S.C., 9.433 on a 9.300, 141.24 mph, def. Andy Lynch, West Columbia, S.C., foul; Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., 9.338 on a 9.300, 139.96 mph, def. Lee Shierts, Charlotte, N.C., 8.338 on an 8.320, 162.57 mph.
 Semifinals – Harris, 9.354 on a 9.300, 144.60 mph, def. Yarbrough, 10.291 on a 10.260, 125.22 mph; Dickson, 9.041 on a 9.030, 138.76 mph, def. Herron, 9.276 breakout on a 9.300, 136.33 mph.
 FINAL – Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., 9.318 on a 9.300, 138.77 mph, def. Preston Dickson, Richmond, Va., 9.063 on a 9.030, 139.59 mph.

FBR SHOP PRO ET
 Round 4 – Todd Wright, Asheboro, N.C., 9.545 on a 9.520, 126.89 mph, def. Preston Dickson, Richmond Va., foul; Andy Lynch, West Columbia, S.C., 10.166 on a 10.130, 123.31 mph, def. Jason Herron, Lexington, S.C., 9.444 on a 9.330, 140.31 mph;  Ronnie Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 8.321 on an 8.160, 135.33 mph, def. Matt Rinker, Harrisonburg, Va., 9.041 on an 8.830, 154.47 mph; Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., 8.493 on an 8.510, 147.13 mph, def. Jim Walker, Hazen, Ga., foul.
 Semifinals – J. Procopio, 8.513 on an 8.500, 144.18 mph, def. Wright, 9.561 on a 9.530, 120.00 mph; Lynch, 10.159 on a 10.130, 122.57 mph, def. R. Procopio, 8.324 on an 8.189, 156.01 mph.
 FINAL – Andy Lynch, West Columbia, S.C., 10.174 on a 10.130, 128.57 mph, def. Joe Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., foul.

FBR SHOP STREET ET
 Round 4 – Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., 9.383 on a 9.250 dial-in, 128.92 mph, def. Whitney Grant, Montpelier, Vt., 9.158 breakout on at 9.220, 149.76 mph; Boo Brown, Potomac Falls, Va., 9.398 on a 9.400, 150.03 mph, def. Festus Clanagan, Culpepper, Va., foul; Preston Dickson, Richmond, Va., 9.178 on a 9.180, 142.84 mph, def. Clay Davies, Petersburg, Va., foul; Josh Eudy, Monroe, N.C., 9865 on a 9.550, 118.84 mph, def. Matt Rinker, Harrisonburg, Va., 8.806 on an 8.830, 155.35 mph.
 Semifinals – Harris, 9.341 on a 9.290, 131.80 mph, def. Brown, 10.297 on a 9.450, 112.37 mph; Dickson, 9.257 on a 9.170, 134.36 mph, def. Eudy, 11.848 on a 9.700, 100.42 mph.
 FINAL – Preston Dickson, Richmond, Va., 9.171 on a 9170, 144.15 mph, def. Christopher Harris, Wilson, N.C., foul

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Demito Bags Two Wins at The Rock MIROCK Series All Drag Bike Events

The clouds that rained on the first two events of the 2008 MiRock season finally parted at Rockingham Dragway, granting perfect weather for this weekend’s FBR Shop Bike Nationals. The weekend also included Rockingham's rescheduled March race, which was run on Saturday. "I hate double races," an exhausted Vinnie Demito said at the end of the fairly hot weekend. Demito  may not have been fond of the extra workload, but he was leaving The Rock with two of track owner Steve Earwood's winner's checks and the points lead in Orient Express Pro Sportbike.
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Already the defending class champion, Demito is certainly starting the season off right. The Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania contractor also qualified his Velocity turbocharged Hayabusa on the pole at the similarly rained out Maryland event in April. That race will be run at Maryland International Raceway June 6-7, and Demito's 7.759 qualifying lap will be tough to repeat in the June heat. But Demito delivered a 7.752 for the top spot for May's Rockingham race.

Back in March's perfect pre-rain qualifying conditions, Anthony Navarro, Royersford, Pa., nailed number one with a 7.644. Navarro is also a former champion, but he bogged and lost to Dimey Eddinger of Winston-Salem in round 2 when that race was finally run on Saturday at this event. Eddinger later redlit against Demito in the March final, giving Vinnie an easy win. Navarro kept it together on Sunday, but still lost to Demito by .028 in an all-out, closely fought final round.
 
Schnitz Racing Outlaw Pro Street champ Dave Norris of Bryans Road, Maryland rotated the earth in March with a record 6.92 ET and 200 mph top speed, then qualified number one at Maryland in April as well. But the Rockingham track surface wasn't so kind to Norris in May, as his Suzuki's 7-inch slick spun under the influence of massive shots of nitrous. His DTM Performance quasi-teammate Ronnie Procopio of Wake Forest took advantage and beat Norris with a career best 7.02 in Saturday's final.
 
Procopio made his way to Sunday's final as well, and there he found another fellow DTM racer, Robbie Hunnicutt of Youngsville. Still bruised and bandaged after coming off of his Pro Mod on a 168 mph pass a week earlier, Hunnicutt came through for the holeshot win over Procopio.
 
Like Norris in Outlaw, Norman Jackson, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland qualified number one for March's HTP Performance True Street race and the April Maryland rainout. And like Norris, by the time a race was actually run the field had caught up with Jackson's early performance advantage. He lost to Darion "Nanu" Payneof Hyattsville, Maryland in round 2. Payne went on to beat Rickey Grayson, Stafford, Va.,  in the final, lowering the ET record and qualifying number one with an 8.18 for the May race along the way. Then Payne lost in round 2 on Sunday, while Jackson made his way to the final. It was a costly trip for Jackson, though, as the string of 8.20s he ran getting there broke his GSXR. His old K&N Racing teammate Keith Thompson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland took the win on a solo shot.
 
Ronnie Procopio's wife Robin beat Jim Shifflett, Waynesboro, Va., for the March Honda Suzuki of Sanford 5.60 Pro Comp win, but Shifflett won on Sunday when Gary Clontz of Wake Forest broke. Matt Davies beat his brother Clay, both from Midlo, Va., in Saturday's Nitrous Express Pro ET race, but a short time later Clay beat Christopher Harris of Wilson in Fish's Customs Street ET. Harris made it to the Street ET final again on Sunday, but he lost again-this time on a redlight to Preston Dickson, Richmond, Va. Harris and Dickson also raced for the FBR Shop Quick 32 spoils, and this time Harris took the win. And lastly, Andy Lynch of West Columbia beat Procopio's cousin Joe in Sunday's Pro ET final.