London Dragway emerged from the pack to take the win at the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Division 2 (Heatwave) Summit Team Finals at Memphis International Raceway.
The Kentucky-based team finished with 44 points to edge Holly Springs Motorsports with 39 points and the home MIR team with 38 points.
Other tracks who participated were: Beacon Dragway, Brainerd Optimist, State Capitol Raceway, Prescott Raceway and Knoxville Dragway.
Leading up to the main event, racers participated in Gambler’s races and “best of” awards.
Main Event:
Top — Jeremy Bargo (London) combined a 6.523-second pass at 90.32 mph with a .045 reaction time to defeat Justin Bowers (Prescott) with a 10.667-second run at 41.60 mph and a .021 reaction time.
Mod — Lucas Walker (Beacon) won on a holeshot with a .008 reaction time along with a 6.028-second run at 110.51 to defeat Benny Combs (London) who finished in 6.113 seconds at 110.81 mph after a .048 reaction time.
Sportsman — Aquinas Grandberry (Memphis) also had a great start with a .008 reaction time and ran 7.724 seconds at 88.19 mph. Runner-up Marty Goldsmith (Brainerd 2) had a .027 reaction time and went 7.857 seconds at 83.89 mph.
Junior — Grace Varner (Brainerd 2) captured the win when Hunter Ray (Memphis) red-lighted. Varner had a package of 8.360 seconds and 76.19 mph along with a .028 reaction time. Ray went down the track in 8.007 seconds at 81.01 mph.
Other Results
Thursday’s Gambler’s Race
Top — Steven Farrow (Brainerd) 4.72 dial-in split with Ian Woods (London) 6.23 dial-in.
Mod — Charlie Lockhart (Beacon) 5.806 on a 5.80 dial-in, .012 reaction time defeated David Elam (Memphis) 5.988 on a 5.99 dial-in, .014 reaction time.
Sportsman — David Bigham (Brainerd) 7.753 on a 7.75 dial-in, .072 reaction time defeated Marty Goldsmith (Brainerd) 7.898 on a 7.90 dial-in, .066 reaction time.
Junior — Kaden Harrill (Knoxville) 8.191 on an 8.17 dial-in, .070 reaction time defeated Rylan Hamby (Brainerd 2) 7.925 on a 7.92 dial-in, .133 reaction time.
Friday’s Gambler’s Race
Top — Keith Thomas (Knoxville) 4.875 on a 4.85 dial-in, .009 reaction time defeated Allen Owens (London) 4.799 on a 4.80 dial-in, .017 reaction time.
Mod — Shane Kay (Brainerd) 6.040 on a 6.02 dial-in, .059 reaction time defeated Kyle Rumley (Memphis) 6.660 on a 6.67 dial-in, -.004 reaction time.
Sportsman — Tim Samuel (Beacon 2) 9.473 on a 9.44 dial-in, .011 reaction time defeated David Bigham (Brainerd) 7.724 on a 7.74 dial-in, .068 reaction time.
Junior — Rylan Hamby (Brainerd 2) 7.903 on a 7.90 dial-in, .082 reaction time defeated Maddie Calhoun (Brainerd) 7.985 on an 7.90 dial-in, .043 reaction time.
Friday’s 700 Index Race — Jake Clayton 7.025 at 97.02 mph, .017 reaction time defeated Ray Zumstein 6.979 at 97.10 mph, .098 reaction time.
Special Awards
- Best Appearing Open Bodied Car — Lee Mashburn, Brainerd Optimist
- Best Engineered Open Bodied Car — Rusty Edwards, Beacon Dragway
- Best Appearing Full Bodied Car — Michael Benton, Beacon Dragway
- Best Engineered Full Bodied Car — McCoy Mashburn, Brainerd Optimist
- Best Appearing Junior Dragster — Paige Smith, London Dragway
- Best Engineered Junior Dragster — Jodie Jent, London Dragway
- Best Team Spirit — Knoxville Dragway
- Best Appearing Team — Brainerd Optimist
- Best Appearing Grandstands — Holly Springs Motorsports
- Track Operators Race — Jackie Lewis, Prescott Raceway
- Golf Cart Race — Jake Clayton (win), Nick Lucas (runner-up)
- SSS Track of the Year — Beacon Dragway
Team Standings
- London Dragway 44
- Holly Springs Motorsports 39
- Memphis International Raceway 38
- Beacon Dragway 32
- Brainerd Optimist 28
- State Capitol Raceway 22
- Brainerd Optimist Team 2 22
- Prescott Raceway 19
- London Dragway Team 2 17
- Knoxville Dragway 15
- Beacon Dragway Team 2 4
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