After teams competed at the Lane Automotive Car Show in Watervliet, Michigan this past weekend, two more schools made the cut to compete in the Dual National Championships held later this year at the SEMA Show & PRI Show. With the addition of these two Schools, the playoff team count now stands at 38.
Persistence paid off for Gordon Central High School who competed at the Chattanooga Cruise-In in Tennessee on April 2. This was their first ever competition, and ran a time of 60:16 with penalties. After 2 more weeks of hard work of dedication they returned to Summit Racing Motorama in Hampton, GA. At this event they were on pace to qualify for the Dual Championship, but an incorrect torque sequence of the Oil Pan cost them a four minute penalty. The total time of 36:23 was just 2:23 over the time of 34 minutes they need to qualify.
The team rallied after that heartbreaking penalty, and decided to travel 653 miles to the Lane Automotive Car Show in Watervilet, MI. This time they would not be denied their chance to qualify for the Dual National Championship with a final time of 32:04! Coach Tim Watkins states, “It feels great to qualify for the Dual Championship this year. The students have been working hard to improve and qualify this year since November.” Gordon Central High School has competed at the Chattanooga Cruise-In, Summit Atlanta Motorama, before finally making the cut at the Lane Automotive Car Show this year. “Hot Rodders have great opportunities for students, industry based, and students have a chance to receive scholarships and go to college,” says Coach Watkins. Team Painless is planning to attend the SEMA Show this November.
Team Be-Cool, from Elkhart Area Career Center in Indiana, finished in first place with an improved time of 20:24 at the Lane Automotive Car Show. Coming in second was Team Taylor, from Fremd High School in Illinois, with a great time of 23:26. And in third place came Team QA1, from Elkhart Area Career Center, finished with a time of 24:57.
Also heading to the Dual National Championships is Team Weathertech from Lakeshore High School in who qualified with a time of 29:56. With only two events left, time is running out to be able to qualify with a time of 34:00 or less for the 2016 Dual National Championship at SEMA and PRI. The first of the last two is coming up this weekend at the UTI Northern CA. Qualifier in Sacramento CA. It will be the last chance for west coast high school teams to compete for a spot in the Dual Championship Playoffs this year.
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