Friday — August 30th
This was a well attended Friday night Test & Tune event leading into the SBRA three day Labor Day weekend event. Weather no problem, temps in the low 80’s at the start of racing that got underway at 6 pm sharp. About 80 cars, bikes and junior dragsters made several passes each throughout the evening. We finished up right at 10 pm. A good start for the weekend for sure.
Saturday — August 31st
Right at 11:30 am we got going with our excellent Junior Dragster racers with 29 entries. All got two time runs then getting underway with round one. In the end it was Cameron Boyd with a .002 light winning over Parker Fields. The semi racers were Cole Rudy and Harley Ely. Of note, Parker Fields was killer on the tree and this was his best effort in a good while right up to the final, great to see him have a strong outing. Now the big cars, they started at 2 pm. We had an excellent car count but now the weather turned out to be the story. Storms were predicted for late afternoon and sure enough clouds rolled in, lightning everywhere and then the rains hit causing us to halt racing for the day. Pro did get two rounds completed and Super only got in round one. Pro split money and Super got free entry for next day. There were 93 Pro cars and 77 Super cars today.
Sunday — September 1st
Weather not an issue today, still humid, temps in the low 80’s but no rain. The Junior Dragsters took the track at 9:30 am with 28 entries in round one. Logan Anderson won out over Shane Konner with Cole Huth and Parker Fields the semi racers. Now the big cars, they got going at 11:30 am. In Pro With 105 car / bike field it was Travis Hill Sr. over Brandon Michaels, Kris Konner was third. Super Pro had 77 entries and George Hoff won out over Bobby Spence and Danny Hoff was third. We finished up about 8:15 pm.
Monday — September 2nd
Now weather changed dramatically with very low humidity and temps in the low 70’s and everybody ran way faster, most a full tenth quicker and and 2 mph faster than Saturday and Sunday. The Junior Dragsters got going at 9 am with 28 entries. This was an all girl final, Carleigh Forrest winning over Paisley Anderson with Luke Chronister and Jackson Greiner the semi racers. How about Luke Chronister, this was his best outing with four round wins, great lights and hitting the dial and also making his quickest ever passes, all in the mid 9.90’s @ 60 mph, well done Luke! Cassidy Fields made her license runs today. From her first to last pass, every one was dead straight, all mid 13 second 48 mph passes. That might have been the best license pass session I’ve seen in a long time, totally well done Cassidy! Now the big cars…..now typically the racing on a holiday Monday the car counts fall off some, not today, we had 110 Pro cars 88 Super cars! Pro cars got going right at 11:30 am. Cayton Garber took the win with his Buick running a string of 6.01 Ets throughout the 8 round race over Kallie Kline, Mike Chronister was third. In Super the final three were door cars, Delbert Baldwin won out over Dale Jackson, Leah Starner took third. We finished up about 7 pm.
Ok some thoughts on the weekend. Other than storms that hit us Saturday the whole event was an excellent one. The track itself was dynamite. Bobby Spence with his Pro-charger big block Chevy Dragster ran mid 4.30’s @ 160 mph with 1.01 sixty foot times all day Sunday. Hard launches with big wheel stands from many, ask Bob Ford about his Sky high wheely on Monday. The racing itself was terrific. many .000 and even quad zip lights in all the classes including our Junior Dragster class. Speaking of Junior Dragsters, the Kenny Mallow fund covered the first round buy backs for the Juniors on Saturday and also added $100 to the winner. $75 to the runnerup and $50 to the semi racers Saturday and Sunday, Sandy Ely handled the payouts, very nice. Bob Bair donated $50 to the Junior Dragster winner on Sunday. Paul Burruss / Mutt and Jeff Promotions gave $100 runner up money and $50 runner up money to Super and Pro class on Sunday. Steve Dickey came down Saturday and announced a good bit, we love having him with us, he likes being here too! We also want to thank the many regular Maple Grove Raceway racers that were with us all weekend, we loved having all of you with us, when have you have a chance to comeback again, you know where we are! Lastly a shout out to the owners, management and all my coworkers at Mason Dixon Dragway….Great job to all, it’s a pleasure to work with and hang out with all of you. See you Saturday for a Test & Tune, Gamblers race 5 pm to 10 pm at Mason Dixon Dragway!