By SEMA Editors
 Gordon Central High School qualifitied for the Dual Championship playoffs with a time of 32:04. |
After teams competed at the Lane Automotive Car Show in Watervliet, Michigan, last weekend, two more schools made the cut to compete in the Dual National Championships held later this year at the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show. With the addition of these two schools, the playoff team count now stands at 38.
Persistence paid off for Gordon Central High School, who competed at the Chattanooga Cruise-In in Tennessee on April 2. This was their first-ever competition, and they ran a time of 60:16 with penalties. After two more weeks of hard work, they returned to Summit Racing Motorama in Hampton, Georgia. At this event they were on pace to qualify for the Dual Championship, but an incorrect torque sequence of the oil pan cost them a four-minute penalty. The total time of 36:23 was just 2:23 over the time of 34 minutes they needed to qualify.
The team rallied after the penalty and decided to travel 653 miles to the Lane Automotive Car Show. This time, they qualified for the Dual National Championship with a final time of 32:04.
“It feels great to qualify for the Dual Championship this year,” said Coach Tim Watkins. “The students have been working hard to improve and qualify this year since November. Hot Rodders of Tomorrow has great opportunities for students, and they have a chance to receive scholarships and go to college.”
Team Be-Cool, from Elkhart Area Career Center in Indiana, finished in first place with an improved time of 20:24 at the Lane Automotive Car Show. Coming in second was Team Taylor, from Fremd High School in Illinois, with a time of 23:26. And in third place came Team QA1, from Elkhart Area Career Center, with a time of 24:57.
Also heading to the Dual National Championships is Team Weathertech from Lakeshore High School, who qualified with a time of 29:56. With only two events left, time is running out to qualify with a time of 34 minutes or less for the 2016 Dual National Championship at the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show. This weekend’s qualifier in Sacramento, California, will be the last chance for West Coast high school teams to compete for a spot in the Dual Championship playoffs this year.
Stay tuned for more information on the last qualifying event at the 11th Annual NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing in Joliet, Illinois, in July. Visit www.HotRoddersofTomorrow.com or connect with them on Facebook for more information.