Victoria, B.C.-based Damian Cownden Racing headed to Mission B.C. for the CMDRA (Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association) Summer Nationals as both the defending event winner, and current CMDRA Top Fuel point leader.
The weekend started off slow for the team, sitting sixth after round one of qualifying, but their fortunes turned around by the third round moving up to second with a 6.582 at 215.95MPH (345.92) behind North Carolina’s Tommy Grimes who went #1 on the Ray Price Harley-Davidson bike at 6.582 at 226.41MPH (364.37KMH).
In round one Damian Cownden was able to get past Devin Pelrine and move on to face Lyle Newton of Nanaimo, B.C. in the semi-final. Newtown had the best reaction time of the weekend of .034 but Damian was able to power through to the win with a 6.659 at 212.26MPH (341.59KMPH).
The final round saw Damian Cownden face Tommy Grimes. The two have met in two final rounds in 2011, with Tommy Grimes taking the win at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol TN, and Cownden taking the win at the Race At The Rally in Sturgis, SD. With their knowledge of each other, and Grime’s having lane choice the team knew they would need to be aggressive in their tune-up.
Cownden left the line .078 early turning on the red light, allowing Grimes the win with a 6.552 at 213.87MPH (344.19KMH). Along with red-lighting Cownden spun the tire 1 foot off the start line which resulted in some engine damage.
Cownden retains the top fuel point lead going into the final CMDRA event at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, AB. The team will make their first appearance in the AHDRA (All Harley Drag Racing Association) in Woodburn, OR. August 25-26.
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