Madison drag racer Bernard Weaver wins big trophy

By Al Martin III
Special to The Eagle
Published: May 2, 2008

Two-time International Hot Rod Association World Super Rod Drag Racing Champion Bernard Weaver of Madison County has scored his best April ever in national level drag racing.

Weaver has been at the sport of drag racing for more than a quarter century and has moved steadily up from local drag racing to winning IHRA World Super Rod in 2001 and 2005.

Weaver’s national ambitions for 2008 took a giant leap on April 19 as he captured the Super Rod title at the 37th annual IHRA Nitro Jam Springnationals Super Rod title at historic Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.

Outlasting more than 50 competitors, Weaver made a run down the quarter mile drag strip at 150.4 mph in 9.887 seconds to win his final run.
The IHRA Springnationals at Rockingham is one of the association’s biggest events each year and a highly sought after prize. Weaver lists the Springnationals at Rockingham as one of his favorite events each year. After his win there, Weaver is ranked eighth in National IHRA points towards another world title.

The trail to the World Super Rod championship is made up of 13 events, which are split up between national and regional events as well. The combined national and regional points will determine the 2008 champion.

As a run-up to Rockingham, Weaver won the IHRA Patriot Regional Summit Pro-Am Tour event at Maryland International Raceway in Budd’s Creek. MIR is perhaps Weaver’s all-time favorite venue and it paid off April 12. He is currently ranked fourth in Regional points.

The twin wins in IHRA competition in April is the best April Weaver has enjoyed in national level Super Rod competition. Weaver concedes his present position in the points chases is better than in his World Championship years, but warns that can change very quickly.

“I’ve entered four events this year. I won two big shows but I was eliminated on the first round at the other two. Ours is a hero to zero sport and things can go bad really quick,” Weaver said.

Next up for Weaver is a national event in Milan, Mich.

Weaver still campaigns a 1984 Dodge he built that year. He builds his own MOPAR motors – “with a lot of help from Lee Edwards.” Weaver thanks his family and longtime crewman Jimmy Ward for all their help.

“You just can’t be successful in this sport without a lot of good folks behind you and I’m very thankful for them,” Weaver concluded.