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 Born
February 10, 1977 in Hyattsville, Maryland, Dale Stewart Hamilton
grew up with a divided interest in both sports and dirt bikes. When
Dale turned 13 he got into motocross but he remembers his dad taking
him to 75/80 Dragway on the weekends which planted the seed. It
wasn’t until a dozen years ago that Dale got into racing motorcycles
at the drag strip. Like many of the Schnitz Racing Person of the
Week alumni, Dale started the drag racing experience through street
racing cars which led to the safer move to racing at the dragstrip.
The move to motorcycles was the typical go faster for less money.
Dale began with a 1985 Suzuki 750 streetbike. He raced locally and
then at MIROCK events in Pro ET and Street ET. Eventually Marion
Ford at FBR (Ford Brother’s Racing) built Dale a real drag bike,
which has now led to quite a collection.
Fast forward to this
past season. Dale won the NHRA Division 1 Summit Series at US 13
Dragway in Delmar, Delaware last September giving him the
opportunity of a lifetime to travel and compete at the NHRA
superbowl of drag racing, Pomona. This is where Division champions
square off each year for the overall championship. NHRA’s Division 1
is one of the toughest divisions in the country and clearly the
farthest division from the sanction’s finals in California. After
winning the division championship then comes the shock of how to
budget for and plan for the six thousand mile round trip to compete
for the overall.
Luckily for Dale, his bike was able to catch a ride in one of the
many car teams (Vinny Dimino) who also made the trip allowing Dale
the comfort and speed of flying to Pomona. Now he had to decide
which bike to take. Unlike most racers Dale uses three different
bikes throughout the year racing in Super Pro. He has a streetbike,
small tire bike, and car tire bike which he rotates based on his
mood that weekend. He even has a Pro Mod bike, but that’s just to
play with. Dale is a big ‘ole boy and just wanted a toy to get him
into the 7’s. He chose to ship the streetbike to California to race.
After all, this is the bike that he won the Division 1 title on.
 Once
in Pomona, as dial-in runs started for the seven division Super Pro
Motorcycles, Dale’s bike almost seemed comical to the rest of the
field. For one, he was the only streetbike. Outside of Dale’s
Hayabusa plastered with decals, the only thing that distinguished it
from a spectator’s bike in the parking lot was the sidewinder
exhaust and an aftermarket clutch cover. Back in the early 90’s Mike
Thyen pulled off the rare Prostar championship in Pro ET racing a no
delay box bike, but to bring a no bar, no delay box, no auto-shifter
streetbike to the final showdown of the year is completely unheard
of. Who was this guy kidding? Dale was without doubt the David
amongst Goliath's. And in biblical fashion, Dale playing the roll of
David killed the giants becoming the 2010 NHRA Super Pro World
Champion. Now who’s laughing?
Other Areas of Interest
Residence: Mount Airy, Maryland
Spouse's Name: My girlfriend's name is Bonnie Pelphrey
Children: Sarah (17), Joshua (15), Brandon (14), Gina (12),
Melissa (12) Occupation: Owner of Ace Carpet Care
Home Track: Mason Dixon Dragway
Team Name: FBR Shop Crew Members: Bonnie Pelphrey, Tex
Hailey, Gina Hamilton and Joshua Pelphrey
Sponsors: Thurmont Auto Sales, FBR shop, and Bates Leathers
Accomplishments: 2010 NHRA Super Pro Motorcycle World
Champion 2010 Northeast Division ET driver of the year. 2010 NHRA
Northeast Division winner, Multiple MIR Pro ET and Street ET wins.
Current Race Bike/Class: I have multiple bikes 2004 Suzuki
Hayabusa street bike, 2008 FBR shop ATAK big tire dragbike, 2005 FBR
shop ATAK small tire dragbike, 2004 FBR shop ATAK Funnybike. I run
them in Pro ET and Street ET.
Interest outside of racing: What does that mean!!!!!!!
Favorite Foods: Spaghetti
Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump
Daily driver: 2005 Ford F-350 dually diesel
First Motorcycle: 1989 CR250 Honda
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