NHRA Winner Among The AMA Dragbike Competitors at Bristol Dragway

BY ALEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Michael Phillips executed a loud burnout, then thundered down the track.

The Louisiana native has been following the same routine for 30 years, yet there was something different about his latest pass Saturday afternoon.

Phillips was not battling with his Suzuki against the stars of the National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock Motorcycle world. He was at Bristol Dragway, competing in the Pro Mod division at the inaugural AMA Dragbike Summer Nationals.

“A lot of (NHRA) guys won’t do this,” Phillips said. “I will ride anything, it doesn’t make a difference to me. I just ride it.”

And Phillips is far from the average rider. In fact, he became the African American racer to win an NHRA pro title with his victory at the 1995 Slick 50 Nationals in Houston.

“That was my goal,” said Phillips, referring to his historic triumph. “I actually told my bike owner that we were done after that win.”

Phillips was far from done, however. He finished fifth in NHRA points for the 1995 season, won another national event in 2003, and advanced to the final round at the 2006 St. Louis event.

Like many racers, Phillips now spends half his time racing for financial support from sponsors.

“I’ve been out a few NHRA races to build my sponsorship back up,” said Phillips, who has advanced to five NHRA final rounds. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m doing this Pro Mod deal. I can skip a few races and make a little extra money while I keep working for (sponsor) help.”

With the success of Phillips, Top Fuel competitor J.R. Todd and Pro Stock motorcycle rider Peggy Llewellyn, drag racing is far ahead of other forms of motorsports in terms of racial diversity. Llewellyn became the first African American woman to win an NHRA national event last year at Dallas.
African-American racer T.T. Jones won the most recent AMA Pro Mod event in Memphis.

“There are a bunch of (African-Americans) out there doing real well in drag racing,” Phillips said. “It’s kind of in our blood.”
For Phillips, the need for speed began early.

“My dad used to race in the Modified Eliminator class back in the 60s, and I actually started in drag racing when I was 10,” Phillips said. “Dad gave me a Suzuki 1000 and just told me to go.
“My first pass on the track was like an 11.60-second run. That was back around 1978, and I’ve been drag racing ever since.”

Phillips and the other AMA pro riders return to Bristol Dragway today for final eliminations that begin at 11:30 a.m.

In Saturday’s first round of qualifying for the marquee Top Fuel class, Larry “Spiderman” McBride topped the field with a run of 5.875 seconds at 238.17-mph.
Longtime NHRA crewman Keith Adams, whose resume includes a long stint with multi-time world champion crew chief Alan Johnson, is working as a consultant for McBride this weekend.

Phillips, who is riding for the New Jersey-based team owned by former competitor Dan Vasilik, is hoping to go even faster today once he sorts a few mechanical gremlins.

“I’m having a whole more fun on this Pro Mod than I am my Pro Stock bike,” Phillips said. “There’s just not enough research and development right now for the Suzukis to compete against the (Harley-Davidson) Buell’s. [The NHRA] has given everything the Buell’s want.”

Meanwhile, Vasilik is delighted to have an NHRA celebrity heading his team. Phillips entered the Bristol event ranked second in Pro Mod points.

“We approached Michael about riding, and this is his first full year with us,” Vasilik said. “Michael’s experience and ability speaks for itself. He’s really helped out our team.”

Phillips, who plans to rejoin the NHRA tour at the July 11th event in Denver, is enjoying his new fast seat.

“It doesn’t matter where I’m competing or what I’m riding, I just love the sport,” Phillips said.

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544.