SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Ratcliff revels in nationals victory
The Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis took place on Labor Day weekend from Sept. 2-7.
The event, sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, is regarded as The Masters of drag racing, and no one was more masterful than former Bowie High School graduate Kyle Ratcliff.
See, Ratcliff won the stock championship with an elapsed time of 10.608 seconds and a top speed of 120.55 miles per hour – defeating veteran driver Tom Rambo.
Ratcliff overcame plenty of odds to win the title – including a field of 181 other drivers.
“It was very grueling,” said Ratcliff, who also works as a financial planner in Denton, “especially the heat. It was very hot over that weekend. I was hot, and I was tired.”
Pete Peery, Kyle’s stepfather who lives in Bowie, serves as the crew chief. Peery was understandably proud with the accomplishment.
“It’s the Super Bowl of drag racing,” Peery said. “It’s the biggest race you’ll ever win in the NHRA. There are more entries at this event, and there’s much more prestige than any other race.”
Ratcliff’s road to the title wasn’t easy, having to win seven rounds to take the trophy.
In the opening round, all Ratcliff had to do was defeat 95-time national winner Dan Fletcher, and that’s exactly what he did.
Ratcliff said he had a “little bit better light” to defeat Fletcher, as was told to senior editor Kevin McKenna in National Dragster magazine, the official publication of the NHRA.
Then Ratcliff was challenged by four-time national champion Jimmy DeFrank. Ratcliff defeated DeFrank because he fouled by one one-thousandth of a second.
That’s how drag racing works. Every second counts. But every thousandth of a second means even more than that ever will.
The sport takes its toll mentally and physically.
Ratcliff said his ribs were sore after the final day because he beats his chest to prepare for every race.
In the final versus Rambo, Ratcliff dialed at 10.58. He took a lengthy lead and eventually claimed his second career win. Kyle also won at Topeka, Kan., a couple of years ago. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Kyle Ratcliff, a 1983 Bowie High School graduate, won the stock division at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in September. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (Courtesy photo from National Dragster magazine/NHRA)
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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