DIALED IN
Grabbing Gears
Wheels-up, gear-jamming action at
Stick-Shift Nationals
By Van Abernethy
W
ith a massive field of 75
clutch-dumping entries in atten-
dance, the 7th annual Stick-Shift
Nationals at Farmington Dragway
managed to continue its upward
trajectory yet again, as the mega-gathering
of straight drive cars (and trucks) once again
broke all preceding records. The event, origi-
nally slated for May 27, was still going strong
at 10:30 p.m. on a beautiful Saturday at “The
Farm” with eight cars remaining in each elimi-
nator, when a fast-moving rain storm forced
August 2017
its postponement. The exciting conclusion was
eventually contested on July 15, in conjunction
with a Classic Gear Jammers points race held
at the same North Carolina facility.
In the main event, Donnie Benfield of Mor-
ganton, North Carolina, emerged victorious
while driving his ‘70.5 Camaro to the win. In the
thrilling finals, Benfield got around the Lenco-
equipped Ford Fairmont of Jimmy Hull. Benfield
got the jump out of the gate with a .013 reaction
time and quickly chased down Hull to secure the
win. Benfield is a regular competitor on the Clas-
sic Gear Jammers circuit, and also continued the
tradition of first-time winners of the Stick-Shift
Nationals, as no driver has yet to repeat the feat
during the event’s seven-year history. “I still can’t
believe I won it! This is the biggest race I’ve ever
won or even entered,” says Benfield.
In the second chance race, a separate elimina-
tor for those who lost in round one of the main
event, Lynchburg, Virginia’s Pete Wright drove
his Chevy LUV truck to the winner’s circle. He
defeated Mike Boyles, a multi-time IHRA Super
Stock world champion, as well as 2015 winner of
the Stick-Shift Nationals.
“It was another great race that once again broke
records!” commented Ken Regenthal, who has for
the last several years headed up the promotional
push of this once-fledgling event. Hard to imag-
ine presently, but just six years ago, a grand total
of five cars showed up to compete in this event.
About that same time, Regenthal retired from Pro
Mod racing in favor of a high-winding Corvette,
and promptly made it his mission to advance
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