ROCKINGHAM — Vick Helms (Catawba, South Carolina) outlasted 46 others to win the Mopar Bracket Championship on Saturday during the 26th annual Grffin Motors Mopars at the Rock all-Chrysler drag race and car show at Rockingham Dragway.

Helms and his 1972 Plymouth Duster got a free ride in the final when Greensboro’s Scott Cheek was guilty of a foul start in his 1968 Dodge Dart. Footbrake and Top ET racers ran separately until the fifth round, setting up a free-for-all from which Helms emerged victories for the Top ET contingent.

In the featured Hemi Shootout, former winner Tank Crosswhite (Glade Spring, Virginia) drove the Crosswhite Brothers’ hemi-powered 1968 Dodge Dart to a final-round conquest of Dan Meile (Jamesville, New York) driving a 1968 Plymouth hemi-Barracuda for Salisbury’s “Bullet Bob” Reed.

Brian Roberts (Charlotte) won the Charger Shootout, Mark Rantt claimed the Challenger Shootout and Tom Lauber (Asheboro) claimed the Trophy bracket — ending the reign of James Lowe (Colfax), who had won the Trophy class six straight years in his 1969 Dodge.

Lowe reached the third round Saturday before losing to the 2010 Jeep of Steve Goode Jr. (Leesville, South Carolina), who, one round later, was beaten by James Faulkner (Apex). Faulkner, however, subsequently lost to Lauber in a double-breakout showdown in the semifinals.

In the car show competition, Alan Driver (Elm City) won “Best in Show Classic” with his 1968 Barracuda and Steven Thomas (Maiden) won “Best in Show Modern” in a 2010 Challenger.

Best Truck top award went to Doug Trom (Eden) in his 2003 Dodge RAM, with David Campbell (Cola, South Carolina) taking home the Editors Choice Award thanks to his 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.

The Long Distance Award went to Frank Farnelli (Farmingdale, New York) who drove his 1971 Dodge Charger SE 617 miles to attend the event.

Results from Saturday’s 26th annual Griffin Motors Mopars at the Rock all-Chrysler drag race at Rockingham Dragway:

HEMI SHOOTOUT FINAL – Tank Crosswhite (.191, 8.656, 153.96 mph) def. Dan Meile (foul).

MOPAR BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL – Vick Helms (.040, 6.660 on a 6.660, 100.12 mph) def. Scott Cheek (foul).

CHALLENGER SHOOTOUT FINAL – Mark Rantt (.323, 11.260 on a 10.800, 129.48 mph) def. Paul Cannata (.055, 13.910 breakout on a 14.000, 103.82 mph).

CHARGER SHOOTOUT FINAL – Brian Roberts (.288, 9.425 on a 9.400, 144.52 mph) def. Jonathan Cupo (.384, 10.179 breakout on a 10.200, 138.98 mph).

TROPHY BRACKET FINAL – Tom Lauber (.088, 13.987 on a 14.100, 98.79 mph) def. Nat Wolfe (.122, 12.173 breakout on a 12.370, 104.69 mph).

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For the Daily Journal