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Romine
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 Shake, Rattle & Blow? | | Romine’s In Screamin’ Eagle Nitro Harley at the IHRA K&N Filters Nationals after Round 1 Qualifying |
Mike Romine Blows the Numbers off of the Nuclear Tomato during Friday qualifying upon return to Louisiana’s premier IHRA facility for another dance in the rain.
After early pro qualifying cancellation due to rain, the team saw the writing on the wall and went for it. With rain forecast for Saturday, Romine’s qualifying shot may be only the Friday round. Why else would someone get back into the throttle after backing off on a qualifying round?
Conditions were truly prime for a record shattering pass. Romine and his crew, Rex Harris knew it. They tuned for the 66 degrees and prime track temp following Pro Stock. Sure, there was 82 percent relative humidity, a barometric pressure of 29.89. but there was that steady, tailwind with overcast cloudiness. That, and Romine had been a bridesmaid enough. Time to put up or shut up.
Second pair off the line, Romine had just watched a 6.38 and he knew he could do it. Paired with his buddy Doug Vancil, he knew it would be good. He launched well then the tire shook rigorously. He had to let off. But he got back into it knowing that he had to make the field. Sometimes, that move’s dangerous to a nitro v-twin motor, but Romine had to gamble. When he got back into the throttle, he blew the wheelie bar panels off of the bike with the gust of fresh nitro and fire. At the finish, he clocked a 6.843 e.t. at 178.50 miles per hour – better e.t. than Vancil, and enough miles per hour to show that he was off of the throttle long enough to hurt the top end numbers.
Sure enough, the team’s in the pit tearing it down to check for damage preparing for the hope of another run on Saturday. Romine’s pretty safely in the field at sixth, with one team looking in from the outside for eliminations. As the IHRA event victory elides Romine and his team, he’ll continue to go for it, go for it, go for it in competition until it’s his.
Mike Romine’s Chromatic Nuclear Tomato is sponsored by Andrews Products, Saddlemen, Autolite, and Romine Racing. For up to date information on Mike Romine and the team, go to www.mikeromine.com
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