PCMS hosts first race of 2019

Phillips County Motorsports hosted their first racing event of the year last Saturday, June 1, through June 2, at the Hi-Line Drag Strip.

Chuck Haynes of Billings was the main attraction last week, as he took his jet-powered dragster down the track at an astounding 210.97 miles per hour (mph).

Haynes is a familiar face at the Hi-Line Dragstrip, even owning a track record for a jet car of 233.28 miles per hour, which he set on June 9, of 2012, the last time he had come to the track.

"This is such a fun race to come to," Haynes said of the PCMS race. "I absolutely love coming here. It has been seven years since we have been here and we always had a good time."

Haynes ran his car on Saturday, June 1, at 7 p.m. sending shock waves throughout the county. He went 185 mph in his first run.

"I think the spectators thought well of it," Haynes said.

During his first run, Haynes was cautious of fully opening things up because several years ago the shutdown area was a little less developed. After experiencing the updated shutdown area, Haynes was more adventurous.

"Now it is fantastic," Haynes said. "Last night I shut down a little early but today I will be much faster."

Haynes went on to say that he has run as fast as 319 mph in a longer 1/4 mile course. His best time in the quarter mile is 4.95 seconds.

Haynes described his car for those that couldn't see the event.

"We have a jet racer that is 24-foot long," Haynes said. "It has a Pratt and Whitney J60 jet turbine. That engine is still used today. We take it a step further and add an afterburner, which was never intended to be a part of a J60."

His other car also named "Vulcano," which was seen at the Hi-Line Dragstrip in 2012 was totaled six years ago in Anaconda after Haynes tapped the break trying to stop the car. Haynes admitted that tapping the brake is the worst thing you can do in the jet car and that you should rely on the parachute.

"We rolled about three times and destroyed that car," Haynes said.

Glasgow's Neil Stahl was the winner of the Box Super Pro Class last Sunday, Stahl posted a .0517 reaction time and a dial-in time of 4.92. Jessie Dobson of Scobey was the Box Super Pro runner up with a dial-in of 5.47 and reaction time of -.5000.

Havre's Steve Neiffer won the No Box Pro Class with an elapsed time of 7.3273, dial-in time of 7.31, and reaction time of .0629. His top speed in the final race was 93.21 miles per hour. Chinook's Dan Johnson had a top speed of 112.28 mph, a time of 6.26, dial in of 6.25, and reaction time of -.0008.

Josh Viall of Havre won the Sportsman Class with an elapsed time of 7.9399, dial-in of 7.92, reaction of .0626, and a top speed of 84.83 mph. Havre's Rob Harkins was the Sportsman class. runner up with a time of 10.4714, dial in of 10.40, reaction time of .0567, and a top speed of 69.42.

Hayley Vipond of Swift Current won the Junior Dragster Class with a time of 8.4104, dial in of 8.32, reaction time of .0545, and a top speed of 78.64. Glasgow's Blake Lloyd was runner up in the Junior Dragster Class with a time of 8.0084, dial in of 8.32, reaction time of .1631, and a top speed of 77.71 mph.