April 29, 2014
Stacy Hall Triumphant in PDRA Top Sportsman
The quiet and unassuming nature of Chesnee, South Carolina’s Stacy Hall may lead those unfamiliar with the Top Sportsman driver to count him out when behind the wheel. But anyone who’s ever lined up next to Hall in his ‘63 Corvette will be quick to tell you he’s a formidable opponent. A slew of victories span his 26 year racing career, and now he can add a Professional Drag Racers Association win to that list.

Hall qualified 13th in the PDRA Spring Open 16 car field with a 4.260. That paired him with number five qualifier, Chip Forman, in round one. Hall beat Forman on both ends of the track for a clear pass to round two. His second round competition would be number one qualifier, Ronnie Davis. Davis posted an incredible .003 light but Hall was right behind him with a .007. Davis would go four thousandths under his dial in for a break out loss, while Hall ran 4.26 on his 4.25 dial to take the win. In the semi finals, Hall ran another 4.26 with a .011 light to best Dan Ferguson’s dead-on run.

Hall claims to never eat on race day, but perhaps that just makes him hungrier for a win. It sure looked that way as he worked through the

competition. The final round would prove to be Hall’s easiest of the day as William Brown III ran into trouble early in the run and slowed off the pace, giving Hall an easy pass to the first ever PDRA Top Sportsman victory.

“I was very excited,” Hall said of claiming his place in PDRA history. “We all were. We have struggled with our combination and I think we finally have a base to go from.” Hall, who takes the early points lead, plans to continue his pursuit in Top Sportsman at the Georgia Drags, May 9-10.

For the man who almost literally eats, sleeps and breathes racing, the skill and passion to win started early on. He and his father, Tommy, built a Nova that Stacy took to a 7.11 with a .01 light on his first ever pass at Shuffletown Dragway. Stacy went on to become well-known for having one of the fastest small blocks in the southeast. In 1997 at Darlington Dragway Hall broke the small block record, an accomplishment that he still counts among the greatest of his career.

Since his teenage years, racing has been life for this man of few words. Hall spends his days building engines at Fulton Competition and admits that “racing is the only thing I have time for.” That works well for his racing-centered family. Stacy’s wife, Alison, grew up at the track, watching her father, Jimmie Flynt behind the wheel. Hall’s three daughters can often be found at the track- Brooke behind the wheel of her dragster with Rita helping crew or taking on various jobs around the track and Treyana always cheering her dad and sister on to victory.

“I have to thank, Gene Fulton, Tommy Mauney, Marco Abruzzi, all of my family and friends that support our racing,” Hall said, thanking those that helped him achieve this latest victory. “Also, my parents, Tommy and Rita Hall and Alison's parents, Jimmie and Anne Flynt.”

If you stroll past the Hall pits, you may hear the sounds of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” blaring as the team prepares for the next round. The song is a favorite song for the Champion, and one can’t help but wonder if it isn’t also a little prophetic for the next competitor that lines up beside Stacy Hall.