By Paul Cavanaugh

The first race of the NuSouth Drag Racing League was held on July 10^th in Montgomery, AL.  The NDRL is a new league that combines cars as well as motorcycles to give spectators a show that offers more for everyone.

I spoke with Chad “Chickenhead” Otts and Jay “Bird” Rhyne to get their thoughts on the race a few months later, giving them time to reflect on their experience.

Chad has been racing since he was in his mother’s womb, so I have been told. He has raced in every class with the exception of Top Fuel. Because of his not having raced in T/F may explain why he likes to do Larry “Spiderman” McBride burnouts, at least one per race on his Pro ET or Top Gas bike. Chad is part of the Doghouse racing team out of Memphis, TN and is an ardent supporter of any legitimate form of motorcycle drag racing.

At the NDRL race, Chad went to the finals in both NuBracket Motorcycle and the Outlaw 5.0 Semi Pro class.

Chad had this to say about his NDRL experience, “It was a good track; the cars were laying down plenty of rubber for the bikes. Marc was accommodating and open to new ideas, you could tell he wanted to help the racers and make the series work.”

He continued, “As racers we need to support these races now that AMA Dragbike is gone. We must go to as many of them as we can so they do not go away too.”

When asked why the bike count seemed to be down Chad replied, “There were a few problems that may have caused it, the heat was pretty bad, the economy and there was a call for rain which kept many home I am sure.”

Chad also had this to say, “I had a great time and would definitely go back again. It was fun having the cars in the mix. I think it will do well when it gathers more support.”

Jay “Bird” Rhyne is a 5 time Summit Racing point’s series track champion at Atlanta Dragway. He also has 5 “Wally” trophies from winning the NHRA National Dragster Challenge events. Jay also runs in the SEMDRA series.

He came to the NDRL race to run in the Pro ET division. Jay commented, “I found out about the race when Marc handed me a flyer at the Atlanta Dragway points series race. It seemed like it would have a good turnout and it was nearby being held in Montgomery, AL.”

Before the finals while in the staging lanes Otts and Rhyne were talking to each other. Otts said, “I asked Jay what his name was and he told me, then I told him mine and that most people call me “chickenhead”.”

Rhyne finished the story, “When Chad told me his nickname was “chickenhead” I told him some people called me “chicken hawk”.  So we had chickenhead and chicken hawk in the finals.”

It turned out the hawk won.

Rhyne said of the NDRL event, “It was well run and the track was in great shape. I would come back to race again when they hold another event.”

Next year the NDRL will be back with a schedule for their series. For all of us, that is great news.

Chad “Chickenhead” Otts  -  Outlaw 5.0 Semi Pro and NuBracket Motorcycle runner-up

Jay “Bird” Rhyne – NuBracket Motorcycle winner