09/15/2026
This past Saturday, CCMP presented by HGR's Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc., rolled into Darana Motorsports Park - Benson, NC for race #4 of the 2026 season. Although we only had 5 cars at this event, my personal opinion is it was one of the tightest fields we've had yet.
We started out Saturday late morning with our 1st qualifying run. The first pair to hit the track was Darrion Houston in his F/MP Camaro & Robbie Draughon, A/MP Corvette. Houston went a 6.245 at 109.31 mph on his 6.80 index (-0.555) while Draughon went a 5.288 at 130.39 mph on his 5.90 index (-0.612). Steve Johnson C/MP Nova & Ronnie Yopp C/MP Corvette were the 2nd pair for Q1. Both of these are on a 6.20 index. Johnson went a 5.571 at 123.36 mph (-0.629) & Yopp went a 5.650 at 121.61 mph (-0.55). Joel Moreland E/MP Firebird took a single hit to complete our 1st round of qualifying. His index is 6.50 & he went a 5.878 at 116.46 mph (-0.622). Steve Johnson will find himself at the top of the qualifying sheet following Q1.
Next up shortly after noon., was our final qualifying run. Houston & Draughon are the first pair of cars once again. Houston slows down on this run to go 6.261 at 108.92 mph (-0.539) while Draughon improves over his Q1 run going 5.263 at 130.23 mph (-0.637). Yopp & Johnson, C/MP are also the 2nd pair again. Like the 1st pair, one improves & one slows. Yopp slowed going a 5.711 (-.0489) while Johnson picked up going a 5.555 (-0.645). Moreland will take the final pass to determine final qualifying & set the elimations ladder. He also slowed to go a 5.888 (-0.612). Steve Johnson would lay claim to his first G-Force South Top Qualifier of the race & pick up the first money envelope of the day. Ladder is now set with #1 Steve Johnson having a bye in round 1, #3 Moreland would have lane choice over #5 Ronnie Yopp, & #2 Draughon would have lane choice over #4 Houston.
Final qualifying was as follows:
1. Steve Johnson C/MP -0.645
2. Robbie Draughon A/MP -0.637
3. Joel Moreland E/MP -0.622
4. Darrion Houston F/MP -0.555
5. Ronnie Yopp C/MP -0.55
It's now time for eliminations to begin. Let's not change the routine from the past 2 runs so Draughon & Houston are the 1st pair out. Neither are stellar at the hit but Draughon comes out on top picking up the R1 win. Both drivers showed from the 2 previous runs but it's also about 3 p.m. too. Robbie went a 5.291 (-0.609) for his round 1. Moreland & Yopp are the 2nd pair for R1. Yopp had the advantage at the tree but Moreland drove around him at the big end to get the E1 win. This run would also give Joel the Dave Hunt Racecraft Bounty Hunter money for taking out Farmington Dragway winner Ronnie Yopp. Joel went a 5.915 (-0.585). Johnson would take his R1 bye run running a 5.577 (-0.623).
Round 2 pairings were as follows: Johnson would have lane choice over Moreland while Draughon would have the bye run to the finals. Joel knew it had a slight disadvantage overall but he used his "bracket racing mentality" & had a .007 RT over Steve in E2 to ultimately give him the holeshot win. Steve wasn't too late having a .061 RT & stopping the clocks at 5.591 (-0.609) while Joel went a 5.938 (-0.562). This .0073 MOV gave Joel the win to face up against Draughon in the finals. This was also a repeat of our first finals of the year at The Dragway at Coastal Plains Park. Robbie was .002 on his bye run stopping the clocks at 5.287 (-0.613) to give him lane choice over Joel in the finals.
The finals are set & stage up about 5:05 p.m. Both Moreland & Draughon had just came off .00x lights so we know it should be close in the finals. This run was over early as Robbie lit the red bulb by -.028 to give the Moreland his 1st CCMP presented by HGR's Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. victory as well as our 3rd first time winner. This makes 4 races for the season with 4 different winners so if that doesn't describe the competition that we have, nothing will. This was still an awesome side-by-side run as Moreland went a 5.925 (-0.575) while Robbie went a 5.323 (-0.577).
Joel earned himself a nice payday, the iconic CCMP custom built trophy by Caleb Beaman, employee of Redline Speed Shop with racing parts donated by PBM/Erson Racing Cams, a trailer check courtesy of MJ's Custom Printing & Graphics, Winner's hat sponsored by NC Elite RV Specialist. He also got the following contingency certificates: Hippie Fabrication $250.00, Zamp Racing 50% of 1 item, Meziere Enterprises $50.00, Fuel Factory F25 racing fuel, & Jesel Valvetrain Innovation 25% off. Robbie received his race winnings as well as a smaller trailer check courtesy of MJ's Custom Printing & Graphics, as well as the following contingency certificates: Hippie Fabrication $150.00, Altronics Inc $100.00, AutoMeter Products, Inc. $50.00, Renegade Racing Fuel-Ford’s Fuel South East Master Distributor PRO 116+ racing fuel, & $50.00 Meziere Enterprises.
We would like to give a special THANK YOU to the staff at Darana Motorsports Park-Benson, NC for an awesome weekend of racing!! Y'all went above & beyond to accomodate us in which you didn't have to do but we hope y'all know how appreciative we were of it. We look forward to see the upcoming changes there & would like to return to the facility in 2027.
Our final stop of the 2026 will be in November at Ronnie Humphrey's The Dragway at Coastal Plains Park. There is plenty of racing action taking place between now & then so we'll see y'all at some of those event. Let's finish out our season on the strong note!!!
