Coming off her first pro victory in the All-Harley Drag Racing Association national series last month, Carrie “the Amazon” Tate brings “Brutus,” her 175 mile-an-hour hot rod Harley back to Rockingham Dragway for this week’s 21st running of the Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts Jim McClure Nitro Nationals.

A Pro Drag class semifinalist in the spring race at The Rock, Tate won last month at Numidia (Pa.) Dragway to move into second place and within striking range of points leader Steve Pier of Hatfield, Pa.  

However, both riders will have to contend with veteran Mark Cox of Fleetwood, N.C., who has won the last to Pro Drag races at the North Carolina track.

Champions also will be crowned in Top Fuel, Pro Fuel, Pro Modified, Pro Stock, Pro Gas and a variety of sportsman classes.  Douglas Horne of Aberdeen, Md., the reigning series champion in the top two categories will be trying to double-up at The Rock for the fourth straight time.

Horne, who also enjoyed some success in the NHRA national series in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, will renew his rivalry with Tommy Grimes of Pfafftown, N.C., whom he defeated by the narrowest of margins in last spring’s Top Fuel final after the two recorded identical quarter mile times of 6.306 seconds.  Horne’s Harley had a narrow edge in speed, 219.69 miles per hour to 219.47 mph for Grimes.

Gates open at 12 noon Friday for a special motorcycle edition of the track’s weekly test-and-tune session.  Pro qualifying begins at 12 noon on Saturday and eliminations at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Adult tickets are $30 for either Saturday or Sunday or $50 for two days.  Children 11 and under are free with a ticketed adult and admission also is free for active military personnel with valid ID.

Discount tickets are available in advance at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson in Fayetteville, Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Asheboro and Ray Price Harley-Davidson in Raleigh.