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Romine
Racing News
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After runner-up finishes to Steve Stordeur at the AHDRA races in Gainesville and Phoenix, and the NHRA race in Las Vegas, Mike Romine finally breaks the 'bridesmaid's curse' with a win in Dallas.
'I made a real easy pass during the first round of qualifying. My goal was to just get into the program.' Sitting in third and fourth after first round (Mike - 6.64, Mark - 6.74), Mike decided to get a little more aggressive. 'I went up for the second round of qualifying and grabbed a handful of throttle. I wanted to see what the track would hold. It didn't - I smoked the tire immediately.' Mark, however, was able to improve on his time by running a 6.62 and moving into second.
'For third round, I felt like I had a pretty good idea of where the track was, so I made a minor clutch adjustment. It all worked and I ran a 6.46, which qualified me second behind Bill's excellent 6.44.' Meanwhile, Mark's bike was also responding to the adjustments Mike was making, as he improved his time to a 6.58, qualifying him third.
As with many other bikes at the Dallas race, all three RMC bikes were experiencing tire problems. 'A lot of the bikes, including all of ours, have been chunking tires. Our crew has been very busy changing tires in addition to all the normal maintenance.'
First round of eliminations saw Mike facing off against Dave Bawcom. 'I had a new tire on and I hate to do that to start eliminations, but I had no choice. My goal was to try to make an easy pass, not smoke the tire and beat myself, and try to get the tire scuffed in. I was hoping I could do all this and still beat Dave.' Mike was able to win the round with a conservative 6.93. Mark was also able to get by his first round opponent with an excellent 6.63.
The entire complexion of the race was changed after Bill Furr's crash at the beginning of second round of eliminations. Because of concerns about tire safety the race was shortened to an eighth mile and because of concerns about Bill many racers had lost their desire to race. Mike was able to get around his second round opponent, Chaz O'Neill, when Chaz broke on the atarting line. Mike ran a respectable 4.40. Mark lost to Ron Houniet in a very close race in which neither rider knew who had won.
Another very close race was in the offing for the third round of eliminations between Mike and Ron Houniet, with Mike coming out on top with a 4.30.
This set up the finals - Mike and Mark Revels, who had been busy mowing down the other side of the ladder with excellent e.t.'s. 'My plan for the final was to maintain my consistency and try to get a really good reaction time. Mark had been running very well and I knew it would be a real good race.' Consistency and reaction time were the key words as Mike ran another 4.30 with a reaction time of .011, while Mark smoked the tire at the hit of the throttle.
'I am really happy to finally break the 'bridesmaid's curse' and win one. I was beginning to feel like I'd never win again! I'm just really happy that this race is over and now I need to go find out how Bill is doing.'
The entire RMC Racing team sends out best wishes to Bill Furr for a speedy recovery.
Mike Romine is sponsored by Romine Cams, Chromatic, Inc., Performance Machine, Lucas Oil, Fram, Autolite and Ross Pistons.
Mark Conner is sponsored by Oceans 11 Sports Bar, Alamo City Harley-Davidson, Lucas Oil, Fram and Autolite.
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