By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Burlington-based Travis Harvey turned into quite a debut last weekend in the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) Mod Series.
Harvey won the competition at zMax Dragway in Concord in his debut at the elite level as part of the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
Harvey, steering a Camaro for the Bahrain 1 Racing team, went 247.61 mph to defeat Dmitry Samorukov in the finals.
Harvey, known in drag racing circles as “The Carolina Kid,” was filling in for former champion Khalid Al Balooshi. His success came in what’s considered one of four major competitions in the “Road to the Championship” playoffs.
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“It’s awesome. I can’t even believe it,” Harvey said in an NHRA report. “I just want to thank Bahrain 1 Racing and Khalid Al Balooshi and all the guys on the team that helped me get here. I’m just thankful for all the support and this is just awesome.
Samorukov reached the championship round for the first time in his 18th NHRA Pro Mod start.
After qualifying 14th, Harvey defeated Rickie Smith, Mike Janis and reigning world champion Mike Castellana.
Harvey has competed at Piedmont Dragway in Julian, just across the Alamance County line in Guilford County, for more than a decade.
He tuned up for the mid-September opportunity with the Bahrain team at Rockingham Dragway.
